Melatonin

[MomWithOCDSon]

Anybody have experience and/or advice with respect to how much melatonin might help an anxious child fall asleep and stay asleep? Our DS12, 5'4", about 120 lbs., has been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately. Having tried relaxation techniques, reading before lights out, quiet music, all to no avail, we've decided to try melatonin. But what's the right amount? Can we give him too much? Any unwanted side effects?

 

Thanks!

[Suzan]

We love melatonin at our house. 2.5 mg sublingual peppermint flavor is what we use. I use that dose for all of us, even me so I would think it would be right for your son. Our doc says I can give up to 5 mg if I needed to but I never do. I have taken 5 mg before (I'm 5'4" but weigh quite a bit more than him!). We have never had any negative side effects.

 

It helps them fall asleep but not stay asleep. There is a time released one that I know some people use that I think is helpful for staying asleep.

 

Susan

[peglem]

I've been giving my daughter melatonin for years. Right now she weighs @ 100 lbs. I find that 1.5 mg works fine for getting her to sleep...3mg will do that faster, but only after a bit of ragey behavior. BUT, no amount keeps her asleep for more than 4 hours. If I only give her melatonin, she will awaken exactly 4 hours after dosing. I also give her valerian root at bedtime and with this, she usually stays asleep until morning.

[MomWithOCDSon]

I've been giving my daughter melatonin for years. Right now she weighs @ 100 lbs. I find that 1.5 mg works fine for getting her to sleep...3mg will do that faster, but only after a bit of ragey behavior. BUT, no amount keeps her asleep for more than 4 hours. If I only give her melatonin, she will awaken exactly 4 hours after dosing. I also give her valerian root at bedtime and with this, she usually stays asleep until morning.

 

 

Thanks, everyone. I bought the 3 mg. capsules, so I guess one should be enough! I didn't see the time release version on the shelf, but maybe I'll try that next time.

 

Peglem, do I need to go to a natural foods store for valerian root, or can you find it at like a GNC or Vitamin Shoppe? Is it a tincture or a pill/tablet? And how much do you give your child?

[peglem]

I've been giving my daughter melatonin for years. Right now she weighs @ 100 lbs. I find that 1.5 mg works fine for getting her to sleep...3mg will do that faster, but only after a bit of ragey behavior. BUT, no amount keeps her asleep for more than 4 hours. If I only give her melatonin, she will awaken exactly 4 hours after dosing. I also give her valerian root at bedtime and with this, she usually stays asleep until morning.

 

 

Thanks, everyone. I bought the 3 mg. capsules, so I guess one should be enough! I didn't see the time release version on the shelf, but maybe I'll try that next time.

 

Peglem, do I need to go to a natural foods store for valerian root, or can you find it at like a GNC or Vitamin Shoppe? Is it a tincture or a pill/tablet? And how much do you give your child?

 

Valerian root usually comes in capsules. 400-550 mg. per capsule is what I've seen available. I buy it from CVS, Walgreen's, Walmart, or the grocery store- anywhere that sells vitamins usually carries it. I give my daughter 2 capsules at bedtime. (whether its 400mgs or 550mgs). Be forewarned though, this stuff STINKS!!! A nice thing about valerian is that often, if someone is already tired, but cannot sleep- it relaxes them enough that they can sleep without the melatonin, but if they aren't tired, like during the day, it eases anxiety w/o causing drowsiness.

[Chemar]

Just an FYI that we have found that less melatonin is more effective for us, so we get the 300 MICROgram size and take two (ie 600 mcg) when needed.

 

both son and myself find if we take the higher dose ones, it has the opposite effect and we sleep a bit but then are restless and wake groggy and "edgy"

 

lol peglem, when I tried to give my son valerian he released a dreadful howl at the smell and said he refused to have something that smelled like yucky stinky socks

[peglem]

lol peglem, when I tried to give my son valerian he released a dreadful howl at the smell and said he refused to have something that smelled like yucky stinky socks happy.gif

 

My family said the same thing...until they tried it, then decided it was worth the benefits. It works really well for female cramps, also.

[Stephanie2]

My son is 5 yo, 45 lbs. and he usually goes down fast after about .75mg. I have a dropper so I can give whatever amount I think is warranted. I try not to go above 1.0mg. I think the max dose is 3 mg.

 

By the way, I have used it during rages for a tranquilizing effect and it does help a little.

Stephanie

Anybody have experience and/or advice with respect to how much melatonin might help an anxious child fall asleep and stay asleep? Our DS12, 5'4", about 120 lbs., has been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately. Having tried relaxation techniques, reading before lights out, quiet music, all to no avail, we've decided to try melatonin. But what's the right amount? Can we give him too much? Any unwanted side effects?

 

Thanks!

[tantrums]

Right before we got the PANDAS dx and the antibiotics, my doctor recommended melatonin for DS6. I use it myself, but I take 5mg and sure wasn't going to give that to him! I found the 2.5mg sublinguals and they hardly touch him Then when he started the abx (amoxi) I realized that if he took both the same night, he would throw up! And my DS is NOT a vomitter (thank goodness!!).

 

has anyone experienced that?

[thereishope]

I also remember seeing valerian root being listed as a supplement that helps with OCD as cited on the old OCD Foundation website

 

 

 

I've been giving my daughter melatonin for years. Right now she weighs @ 100 lbs. I find that 1.5 mg works fine for getting her to sleep...3mg will do that faster, but only after a bit of ragey behavior. BUT, no amount keeps her asleep for more than 4 hours. If I only give her melatonin, she will awaken exactly 4 hours after dosing. I also give her valerian root at bedtime and with this, she usually stays asleep until morning.

 

 

Thanks, everyone. I bought the 3 mg. capsules, so I guess one should be enough! I didn't see the time release version on the shelf, but maybe I'll try that next time.

 

Peglem, do I need to go to a natural foods store for valerian root, or can you find it at like a GNC or Vitamin Shoppe? Is it a tincture or a pill/tablet? And how much do you give your child?

[Suzan]

Thanks, everyone. I bought the 3 mg. capsules, so I guess one should be enough! I didn't see the time release version on the shelf, but maybe I'll try that next time.

 

Did you try it last night? If so, did you notice a difference?

 

Susan

[MomWithOCDSon]

Thanks, everyone. I bought the 3 mg. capsules, so I guess one should be enough! I didn't see the time release version on the shelf, but maybe I'll try that next time.

 

Did you try it last night? If so, did you notice a difference?

 

Susan

 

I DO think it has made a difference; we've given it to him for the last two nights, and he seems to fall asleep faster, plus he's slept through the last two nights for the first time in over a month. Before, he'd inevitably wake up around 3 a.m. or so and get up to go to the bathroom; then it would take him a while to get back to sleep.

 

I talked to him about the valerian root; as you might imagine, the accompanying "stink" is not something he wants to be asked to put up with! So the short-term deal is that we'll see if the melatonin is enough. If he returns to sleepless nights, however, then the "stink is on!"