Melatonin for sleep problems with anxiety DD15 - any experience?

[StaplesCorner]

Just that really - DD has developed severe anxiety and depression she has been accepted on the waiting list for CAMHS but in the meantime she is having to sleep with me and not managing to get to sleep till about 12-1am, then normally wakes with nausea and panic around 5am - she has to be up at 7.30 for school. I am at my wits end I've had so little sleep - I have left a message for GP asking if we could talk about a prescription but what - melatonin maybe, and does it work - or, as I have read, does it make anxiety worse?

(Have also posted in Mental health)

[AornisHades]

I was going to say the GP can't prescribe for children without a consultant authorisation but I think that's been covered. It does work well for me and dd (ASD & anxiety) so dd has it prescribed and I get it shipped by a friend in the US.

[StaplesCorner]

Nothing yet PJ67 as we are awaiting a face to face CAMHS assessment and GP wont prescribe anything without psychiatrist's instructions, but I think that's the policy in all health authorities, at least in England. Its a long wait for many people although luckily we have our appointment next week.

[PJ67]

Is she on any medication for her anxiety? Some of the SSRI antidepressants that might be used for anxiety are also a bit sedative so can be taken at night to also help sleep.

[StaplesCorner]

Mamaryllis I was on that for some time so knowing what it can do, even 10mg, I think that definitely needs medical supervision - but I am glad its helped for your DD and I would never rule it out.

[Mamaryllis]

Dd2 takes amitriptyline to help her sleep (also anxiety disorder/ OCD). Prescribed by psych though, not GP. She’s almost 15.

[cyclotherapy]

I've been hearing more about cannabis stuff too which you can buy in Holland and Barrett.... !

[StaplesCorner]

Thank you cyclo. I was at a support group meeting today and they were recommending canabis oil, which apparently you can buy OTC too? news to me, and there I was worrying about giving her a melatonin gummy bear!

[cyclotherapy]

Oops...posted on other thread and realise more helpful here...

Hi

DD15 who has ADHD finds melatonin very helpful - been using it for a year

Recnetly, with added anxiety, we've added - on the recommendatin of our pharmacist - Phenergan (an antihistamine) - recommended dose of 2-5 tablets for 10 years and up. She's taking 3 and says they really help. Its an over the counter one and doesn't conflict with her other meds.

[TheThirdOfHerName]

DS1 took melatonin during his GCSEs. It was prescribed by a consultant.

Now he's doing his A-levels and the GP has given him zopliclone, which is only suitable for very short-term use. He took it for 3 nights this week, will take it for 4 nights next week, then that's it.

[StaplesCorner]

OK I got a call back from our GP saying only psychiatrist can prescribe in this area, so I ordered some of the gummy bears 5mg and will proceed with caution. She starts mocks week after next so she can't go on like this with 5 hours a sleep a night. Neither can I

[Roseau18]

My daughter was prescribed it by a CAMHS psychiatrist and she took it for about six months. It made a significant difference to her ability to fall asleep (she was already on antidepressants) and there were no side -effects. The leaflet given to us by CAMHS didn't list any major side effecs (unlike for the antidepressants)

[TwilightSparklePants]

Last year my then 10 year old got prescribed melatonin to help him sleep but it made his depression worse and he tried to kill him self twice and started self harming.

We stopped giving it to him with doctors advice and they couldn't help anymore, he just had to try and cope 😕

[nooka]

Melatonin is a bit odd, you can buy it very easily in North America where it is treated as a supplement (like a vitamin or mineral) but in the UK it is prescription only, in fact it may only be available through a consultant. Very different views about it's safety.

My dd has anxiety and sleep issues and we did try melatonin for her (I use it for jet lag and occasional insomnia, bought at an airport pharmacy) but she said it made her feel very muggy in the morning. Then she was told to take a large magnesium supplement as a preventative for migraines with the advice to take it at bedtime because it would also make her feel sleepy and it really helped. She's just weaning off to a much lower dose now (five years later) as she was a bit worried about dependency but I don't believe that there are any issues with long term use.

[Rikalaily]

Ds (16) has aspergers and was prescribed it when he was 13, it really healped and eventually we were able to take him off it as it helped regulate his sleeping so well!

[butterfly990]

here are some available on line. If you google Melatonin Sundown tablets on Amazon US you can see reviews on the gummy bears.

www.biovea.net/uk/product_detail.aspx?PID=13318&TI=GGLUKR&C=N&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5rfg1J_E2wIVBrDtCh0sGA3QEAYYBCABEgKjvfD_BwE

[mrsreynolds]

got him through a difficult patch...not on it anymore

[mrsreynolds]

You can but melatonin from biovea

Worked wonders for ds2

[Toddlerteaplease]

My friend gave me some that he got in the US, I only use it when I know I'm going to have an issue. Post night shifts or if I'm away. It's amazing!

[StaplesCorner]

will have a look at that Decanter thanks

[Decanter]

mumy = my

[Decanter]

OP I’ve no experience of melatonin (I did look into it for one of mumy DC) but was recommended the Headspace mindfulness app meantime, and can honestly say it worked and we’ve never had to follow up on the melatonin. Hope things improve

[StaplesCorner]

Thank you all. I am asking this on a USA site and someone there said to get 5HTP supplement as that is the same as melatonin. I will see what GP says later today but everything I have heard so far no one has had bad side effects etc

[lucysnowe]

Hi if you are on the waiting list for CAMHS you may find that the paed there has to prescribe it, so you may have to wait.

Do you know what's causing the anxiety - is it related to school for eg? some CBT type processes might also be good - this book may be a bit childish for her

www.amazon.co.uk/What-When-Dread-Your-What/dp/1433803186?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[MrsFamily]

Oh, and DD also being treated for anxiety and it hasn't had any adverse impact on that.