Melatonin questions

[Jas]

I know there are hundreds of threads mentioning melatonin, but I have specific questions and can't find any answers. This is my first post In SN, but I am a long time lurker.

I recently saw a paediatrician for our first appointment to assess ds (I am clueless regarding the whole process and he varies between ASD type stuff and ADHD) Although he does have social problems, my main issue is the lack of sleep. He was prescribed malatonin straight away, and it is like a miracle
BUT - I think it is giving ds nightmares. He is very happy to take his tablet at the moment, but I can see that changing once he makes the link.

He is taking 2mg slow release tablets, which I know I shouldn't cut in half/crush, but I was hoping a smaller dose may reduce the nightmares and give us a better balance. Is there a smaller dose option available i the uk? What would happen if I did cut it in half (or quarters) and only give him one small piece?

Sorry for the slight essay. And thanks for and info/advice/ you can give.

Im sure you can get a lower dose, not sure how effective that would be in aiding sleep though.

Slow release shouldn't be cut, as the purpose is to slowly release throughout the night, although I thought slow release didn't take the form of a tablet that could be cut?

Also depending on what your ds's difficulties are with sleeping, you could try the other sort not slow release Melatonin (they could be cut). Ds takes these just to help him get to sleep, once asleep, he stays asleep. His problem isn't waking during the night.

Thanks - they are definitely tablets - not designed to be cut though.

He was prescribed 6mg a night, but I was supposed to increase it gradually from 2 over the first two weeks. I have never given more than the 2mg as it has had such a dramatic effect.

If he went to sleep before 11, I was genuinely surprised, and if he went to sleep before 10 I would have thrown a party! (it only happened once, when he had chicken pox). He is now consistently going to sleep between 9 and 9.30.

I may try calling the hospital to ask. I am not convinced he needs it to be slow release at all, as there was only ever an issue with getting to sleep, not with staying asleep, of dropping back off on the odd occasion he does wake in the night.

Cross posts with you there. I will definitely call and ask!
Thankyou.

Yep call and ask, slow release shouldn't be needed if the difficulty is just getting to sleep and not staying asleep.

2mg is quite a low dose, although im sure you can get lower. Ds takes 3mg.

Are you sure its the Melatonin that is giving nightmares? Melatonin has worked the opposite on ds, he used to have terrible nightmares frequently, since taking Melatonin these have reduced.

Anything else that could be responsible for the nightmares? for ds it was the stress of school and anxiety about school that was causing him not to sleep and subsequent nightmares.

I am assuming it is the melatonin, based on the fact that he has only been taking it for 2 weeks, and has had three nightmares in that time, but never had any at all in the previous 7 years.

Just googled apparently a side effect of Melatonin can be nightmares, but its uncommon, 1 in 1000. That's not to say that your ds might be that 1. I also remember reading somewhere that very low doses of Melatonin can work just as well as larger doses in some cases.

I have found that increasing ds's Melatonin, has no more effect than the 3mg he already takes.

For ds I would say it was cause of him not being able to sleep (anxiety), that was responsible for his nightmares. His nightmares always seem to consist of something chasing him.

I just wanted to report back as you were kind enough to take the time to answer me, claw2...
The consultant did ring me back but due to cost/licensing/supply issues, he was not willing to prescribe non slow release tablets. He was fairly insistent that nightmares are not a listed side effect of melatonin (I also found info stating otherwise after a fairly brief look online), and suggested I gave two or three tablets, as any smaller dose would be in the homeopathic (IE too small to be significant) range. He did also agree that cutting the tablet would stop the slow release but not change the actual drug, so last night I gave half a tablet.

DS slept all night, with no nightmares, so I will keep going with that for a few more days and see what happens.