Anyone's dc on antihistamines for sleep?

[mariasalome]

ds1 has been on melatonin for 4 months, it's changed his life (and ours) by curing his awful insomnia. he's now developed hay fever, and needs loratadine for that.

The combination knocks him out (not necessarily a bad thing!) so I suspect he doesn't need both, but I'm a bit anxious / superstitious / irrationally fearful about messing with his magic melatonin even on a trial basis.

Hi maria, as far as i know, loratadine is one of the non drowsy antihistamines.

I think you should check with your GP if your ds is more drowsy than normal.

I have been known to take piriton and give it to Dd3 when we have trouble with sleeping, although not at the same tiame as loratadine.

Good luck

DD (NT) takes Piriton Syrup for hayfever an it knocks her out too. So much so I only give it to her in the evening after school to help her breathe as if I give her a dose to go school with she nods off in class! :)

How long did the melatonin take to start working for your ds? (not experienced with any of these meds)

If it was quick to work maybe trial it for a couple days over the weekend say?

I would have a word with the dr that prescribed it as it is never an idea just to stop medication.

Having said that, melatonin is not stored in the body (exits pretty quick actually) and can be stopped at any time. It is produced naturally in the body in normal circumstances, though some children seem to be lacking in it, hence giving it artificially as medication.

It is unlikely to become ineffective after stopping and restarting if that is what is worrying you. I would not give both as you say its making him unusually drowsy.

DS is on Vallergan Forte (extra strong antihistamine) plus Melatonin and he still wakes up in the night! The night before he went on respite it was at least 7 times! Melatonin and antihistamines operate in different ways but you should check I guess. Some of the 'drowsy' antihistamines, e.g., Phenergan, create the opposite effect in some children, i.e., mania and insomnia

Dd1 was prescribed phenergan many years ago saint and it made her completly loopy. Actually it knocked her out cold for about 2 hours and then she ran round the house all night.

It was a nightmare, i was only trying to stop her getting up at 4 in the morning. The GP said i had to try it for 2 weeks. It was hell.

Hi guys, thanks for all the responses

Ineed, it's only 'relatively' non drowsy ie still has a small print warning in the product info, and it's worn off by 6am! I'd always been scared of antihistamines with him, for fear of the 'loopy' hyperactive reaction. But seems we've missed that one.

The melatonin worked from the first night he took it. It was a small dose 2mg, and I actually thought it wasn't going to do much, so I don't think it was placebo

I think i'll skip a few doses (paediatrician had said to give when necessary, rather than it being a compulsory thing) and see.