Melatonin side effects

[Throgglesprocket]

My DD (9) has always problems getting to sleep, and although hasn't yet been prescribed this by the paediatrician (awaiting an appointment...) she was referred to a sleep therapist and we've implemented ideas for the usual night time routines which have helped somewhat, but we've bought some chewy tablets for her which have worked a treat - they help her to fall asleep when she would usually be stressing about something or really excited about something instead of being in and out of bed for hours on end.

The only problem that we've noticed is that when she's using the melatonin she is also having nose bleeds. Has anyone else experienced this as a side effect at all?

My son has been on melatonin for 3 years, he is 6. We’ve never noticed any side effects at all. Are you sure it’s related to the melatonin?

We did wonder if it was, but if we stop the melatonin, the nose bleeds stop, and if we start it again, they start again, and she doesn't usually get them.

It's very odd/concerning.

Melatonin is not risk-free, I had awful nightmares/almost psychosis and have heard similar accounts. I'd not heard of nose bleeds with it before, but a quick google suggests it's a known side effect in just under 1% of people taking it.

I think my DS also gets the nosebleed thing. But he sometimes gets them anyhow, and wouldn’t sleep without melatonin so it’s worth it for us.

if you take too high a dose, it can cause restless sleep and nightmares/vivid dreams, but my children have been prescribed it, and I sometimes take it myself without any side effects

I may not have understood properly but where are you getting the melatonin if you haven’t been prescribed it yet?

I also ask because I notice you said ‘chewy’ tablets - neither type of Melatonin DD has been prescribed was chewy. (Though that might be helpful - as it is we have to cut up the BioMelatonin tablets and stuff them into raisins...)

DD is prone to nosebleeds but there has been no increase since she started taking Melatonin.

Bran even at lowest possible therapeutic dose (0.2mg) I get the side effects, but like many autistics I get weird side effects with many meds. It can be great (worked a treat for my ds), but dismissing side effects is not helpful.

We bought the adult chewable tablets and cut them in half so she's only on a very small dose. Fortunately the paediatrician appointment has been brought forward, so we can hopefully get them prescribed and see if the side effects continue.

Just wondering, Can melatonin help with our issue of waking once in night, and waking up for day at 4:30? Or is it more of a helping you drop off to sleep medication?

ive been using it the last few nights and ive definitely been having vivid dreams. Sometimes they even wake me up which is not good, so im going to try and lower dose tonight

Blossom slow release might help, because melatonin has a very short half life.