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SN children

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Original poster

after melatonin. what next?

16 replies

ThatVikRinA22 · 31/03/2010 00:07

so DS is just desperate for sleep. desperate. he is 18. melatonin no longer works, even an adult dose of 10 -12mg....he is tearful, falling asleep at college or on the bus, but just cant sleep at night.

im going to phone the pead (yes i know but he is still under her care) tomorrow. what can he take to get some rest?

he is very stressed which i know isnt helping. i sympathise with him...im a night owl. but he doesnt sleep at all while i do when i eventually turn in.
he is looking ill through lack of sleep and cant cope with people at all at the min....any ideas? ta.

OP posts:

sarah293 · 31/03/2010 08:46

This reply has been deleted

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lou031205 · 31/03/2010 10:23

What about Vallergan?

donkeyderby · 31/03/2010 10:36

Vallergan Forte (Alimemazine - lots of pharmacists are currently saying it doesn't exist at the moment so ask for the proper name). Otherwise, what about regular sleeping tablets like Zopiclone or whatever similar the GP prescribes?

I have heard that increasing the dose of Melatonin is not effective. Not sure if that's true.

He may just need to get back into a regular sleep pattern by short term use of sedative. Have you done the usual non-drug things? Lovely candlelit baths with lavender oil, no computer at bedtime etc., or am I being patronising?!

Original poster

ThatVikRinA22 · 31/03/2010 16:49

yep done all the relaxing stuff before bed but he just cannot switch off on a nighttime.

ive left msg for paed to phone me back. ill see what she says, i think he will end up on sleeping tablets but surely thats better than looking like a zombie most of the day.

i think if i just go straight to GP they will question it as he is only 18. paed will maybe sanction use of something. we'll see.

OP posts:

eatyourveg · 31/03/2010 20:58

Agree with donkeyderby - vallergan forte. It works wonders, we used it for ds2 and it used to knock him out for 12 hours at a time (to the minute)

Original poster

ThatVikRinA22 · 31/03/2010 22:48

so this vallergan - is it prescription only?

OP posts:

wraith · 01/04/2010 11:21

ask for zopiclone and amatrptlyne? i tihnk is how its spelled

use the ama reguarly and the zopi when things re really bad

missmarples · 01/04/2010 23:33

its amitriptline and works well, but is also a antidepressant and seems to have a lot of side effects including a hangover effect the next day, its hard to way up really which is better

Sazisi · 02/04/2010 00:06

My friend's autistic dd has had success with refloxology; the refloxologist worked on the big toes and showed the client's mum (my friend!) how to do it also. She has to do it every night I think, and it takes about half an hour, but it has worked.

wraith · 02/04/2010 00:30

i havent found it i find its almost lagless for me
anyhow just my .02

eatyourveg · 02/04/2010 10:21

yes vallergan forte is prescription

Original poster

ThatVikRinA22 · 02/04/2010 11:47

ok i am confused!

is vallergan also known as zopiclone and amitripyline? are they all the same thing? i could check this out at work next week in the MIMs but im sure MN will be quicker!

OP posts:

Original poster

ThatVikRinA22 · 02/04/2010 11:53

ive just googled.

they all sound a bit heavy duty but i think if he doesnt sleep soon he will drop.

will wait for paed to phone and discuss.

OP posts:

DJAngel · 03/04/2010 23:19

Maybe some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may help in the longer term, to try and break the cycle of negative expectation of not getting any sleep and to try and re-programme self to some kind of sleeping mode.. Can help some people - of course not all. GP could refer? Also not sure of the reason for your sons sleep probs but Cerebra have sleep disorder nurses- check website - but there's a long wait for them to get in touch we found.. Could get some medication in the meantime to try and get some much needed rest.. I've recently found Rescue Remedy Night time stuff seems to have helped a bit.. Not sure if it's placebo or not but it doesn't really matter if it gets me a few hours.. We're at the stage where melatonin still works getting dd off to sleep although she frequently wakes later on in the night but I dread it stopping working and really feel for you..

wraith · 03/04/2010 23:29

zipiclone is powerful hypnotic but addictive, siome people adapt to it easily

amitripline isnt adictive and can saflty be used for long periods of time..

eatyourveg · 04/04/2010 21:37

on my bottle of vallergan forte the name of the drug was trimeprazine tartrate and we also had triclofos elixir. No mention of zopiclone and amitripyline. just googled vallergan forte and it came up with Alimemazine tartrate. don't understand what this means. all i know is that the medication for ds2 kept us all sane. In a way you could say we gave it to him for the benefit of me dh ds1 and ds3 who was a newborn at the time. without it i would have cracked. only explanation may be that our prescription dates back some 8+ years.sorry can't be of more help

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