Melatonin night wakes

[polkadothotspot]

DD6 has ASD and ADHD has been prescribed a low does of melatonin for sleep. Before the melatonin she was unable to sleep and up till midnight most nights and absolutely exhausted. The melatonin has changed our lives we've had half the amount of meltdowns since she started taking it and is such a happier child it's been amazing to see.

She started taking it in early December and has been going to sleep at 8pm and happy to go to bed.

She's now started waking at 1/2am and unable to go back to sleep. I could cry. She's now up for hours in the middle of the night. Has anyone had any experience with this and can offer and suggestions?

Thanks

Just bumping

Some people find this happens, unfortunately. Have you tried giving the melatonin a bit later? Some give another dose if DC wake up early in the night. Or others need another medication adding in.

Our DS was the same, he was prescribed melatonin last july and it worked wonders until around November, after talking to other parents a lot of them suggested giving it to him only during the week because some children build up a tolerance to it. We tried that and by Christmas break he was having it once a week. Now he’s back in nursery he has it week a 2-3 times as week and in the February half term I’ll give him a break.

@Curlygirli thanks, does he sleep on the nights he doesn't take it?

@SearchingForSolitude thanks so much, I'm back at paediatrics next week so I'll ask them about that then!

@polkadothotspot yes, he sleeps all the way through on the nights he doesn’t take it, and most of the times sleeps in until 7:30/8. Also what the pp said about giving it to your DD later is a good suggestion, DS has his around 7:30/8pm.

Thanks so much for this. I'll give it a try!

@polkadothotspot You’re welcome! I remember that feeling of relief when they finally start sleeping through, then the worry and anxiety when it suddenly goes back to sleep deprivation. It’s all trial and error but you’ll find a rhythm/routine that works for your DD, ours is currently three nights of no melatonin then one night with it……but DS loves to keep us on our toes so it could be different in a few weeks time!

The paediatric doctor will have some suggestions too.

@Curlygirli thanks so much. Yes it's exactly that after 6 years of no sleep it felt like a bit of a miracle. I actually gave it to her an hour later last night and she slept through. Thanks so much for your advice!

@polkadothotspot thats great news! May the long peaceful nights continue.