Meletonin seems to freak DS out

[lmkmip67]

I don't think we can take it anymore to help with sleep. He is ok if we can get him into bed first and timing it JUST right. But if not he becomes a raging lunatic. And he only takes 1mg. So I think we may be done with it. TOo bad as it helped him fall asleep for good long time. He is flaring this week big time, though.......does anyone else find meletonin does NOT mix with their PANDAS child?

[peglem]

We've had times when melatonin seemed to make things worse. I'd either cut back on the dosage or lay off for awhile. When we go back after an off period, it works again. I wonder, though, if there is something this can tell you about your child- like when antihistamine sets them off, they probably have low histamine. So, this response to melatonin, what could it mean? Does he have trouble sleeping w/o it? Maybe thyroid? Interaction w/ another supp or med?

[MomtoJake]

Just wanted to add that I have taken Melotonin myself occasionally over the years. I always had to stop it due to bad/vivid dreams. The last time I tried it, hoping for a different result, I actually felt very strange immediately, almost "other worldly" as if I was living in the bad dream while awake. Not sure if something like this could be happening with your son. It is a shame because the first time I took this was on a week's beach vacation and it worked like a charm, go the best sleep of my life! As I continued after the vacation the second week, the bad dreams started.

[lmkmip67]

I do wonder. He does have nightmares sometimes. But I just figured it was his OCD as one of his huge fears is ghosts and noises in the night, etc. I am going to lay off of it for a while and see how he does. If he has a bad night, maybe I will give him a half dose of benadryl to catch him up, but that is it. It does help him fall asleep. But if you don't get it just right, he flips out if it is given too early and he doesn't get into bed just at the right time.

[dcmom]

We have used melatonin with both pandas daughters. It has been a lifesaver!

 

Is it possible the pandas flare is the cause of the night time issues, and not the melatonin? I know how much the child and the parent needs sleep during a flare up. Maybe take a few days off, see how bed time is, and then try again for a few days. I would be SURE that it is the melatonin before taking it off the table (for your sake, if you know what I mean).

 

Is it possible the dose is too high? My daughter takes .5mg. I give it to them once they are totally ready and in bed. Then I read them a story for 10 minutes. By the end they are relaxed and ready for sleep

 

Both girls have night waking and bad dreams during bad pandas episodes. It subsides when they go into remission.