8 year old getting up at 3am for the day every day,

[Curiousss]

I am actually at the end of my tether, my son has ASD and for the last couple of months he has been getting up at 3am for the day everyday and he doesn't even have a nap in the afternoon to make up for it.
He goes to bed about half 8 and then up again at 3am. I literally don't know what to do, his communication isn't great so he can't explain to me why he's getting up at this time. It's now an engrained habit and his body clock is getting him up at this time.
I have been referred to a paediatrician for medication but that will take months so I'm going down the private route as I can't live like this and his behaviour and stimming has got so bad. The doctor prescribed us Phenergen iin the meantime which has been useless and has done nothing despite giving him 20mls a night. I also bought Melatonin syrup from an online pharmacy, it didn't work either.
So I'm going to go down the private route and hopefully get seen ASAP.
Could anyone who has been through this tell me what sort of medication I should be asking for?
Or what has worked for you?

There are loads of other medications that are sometimes used to aid sleep from the relatively mild, such as Alimemazine, to the more hardcore e.g. chloral hydrate, but it will depend on DS’s specific circumstances.

@StrivingForSleep thank you! I had never heard of any of these!

DS takes alimemazine. It works for him. He is 9.

in the meantime I would be trying to break the pattern by keeping him up as late as possible. DS is never asleep before 10/10.30 or he too would be up at a ridiculous time! Can you try and push on with that bedtime? If he’s going to bed (much) later it’s unlikely I would think/ hope that he will be up at that time. Even if it’s only temporary and you try and make it earlier later on. Some will say ‘it’s no good for DC going to bed at 11pm’ but if they sleep til a reasonable time it’s better than an early bed time and being up at 3/4 imo!

@carriebradshawwithlessshoes thanks so much for the medication recommendation, hopefully I can get something a bit stronger than melatonin for him. A few people have told me to try and keep him up a bit later so it is definitely something I will try. Can I ask what time does your son get up at now that he's taking the medication?

I meant to say also there is as you may know slow release and fast release melatonin. The liquid is fast release so look at a slow release you can buy the chews from biovea whilst you are waiting for your appt. We have used the 5mg in the past ones.

he has meds at around 9.30 and is asleep at 10/10.30. Sometimes a bit later at weekends. I’m usually having to wake him for school at 7.50 or on a weekends he sleeps til 8.30.

There are blips but this is rule of thumb for him.

I'm not sure if you will be able to get it online, but try slow release melatonin. The liquid will be immediate release. This works for my daughter who used to wake frequently throughout the night. Took some perseverance but it did help and she sleeps through til about 6 most days.