sleep problems and melatonin

Check with your pharmacist. They told me that it could interfere with gonad development. I stopped using it but my son too has problems with sleep even without a stimulant. We used melatonin for quite a while and it did help. Now, I give him Tylenol PM when he seems restless. Does your son get alot of exercise? My son does not but I am sure that would help matters.

My 12 yr. old has been on Melatonin for the past few months after our first visit to a neurologist. Be careful - it is much safer to use the synthetic form for kids than the herbal forms. After about 6 weeks we have noticed that he can now fall asleep much easier. We used to think he slept late into the morning because he wasn’t falling asleep until well after midnight. We also turn on a bright light in his room about 1 hour before waking him - it is all ment to help his sleep/wake cycle correct itself. NOW we are finding out he probably has sleep apnea! Despite falling asleep now by 10PM, he often sleeps through the first 3 periods of school! Has anyone had any experience with this? He is also tagged by the school system as Gifted with Learning Disabilities. I have read that sleep apnea may contibute to the disabilities. I need citations to take to the school system!

Thanks for the messages. I know that their is a herbal remedy available in Canada, but I too have been warned by the people conducting this study for prescribed melatonin, that herbal remedies you have to be careful about the dosage amount, etc. I am not sure what is meant by gonad development. Can you clarify what that is? how long did it take before you saw any change in sleep patterns? I am wondering if six weeks is the norm? Thanks.

Laura

I was told by both the Psychiatrist in charge of my son’s medications AND the neurologist who suggested the Melatonin regime’ that the synthetic OTC melatonin is measured carefully and every tablet contains the same amount and is more pure than the herbals can be (herbals can vary by quite a bit naturally). I have not heard anything about gonad development - however it is a well known fact that sleep impairment slows all kinds of development! I’d rather he have the ability to sleep and thereby develop as normally as possible. I don’t know if the 6 weeks is normal - our son’s sleep problems are complicated by the fact that he also probably has sleep apnea. All I can tell you is that for YEARS (he was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 2), he has been unable to fall asleep until midnight or later, despite a good bedtime routine, excercise, room temp. or any other factor! He has been using a fan for “white noise” for many years as well. In the past few weeks, he has been able to fall asleep by 10PM on a regular basis. Before the Melatonin, we tried Bynedryl and Tylenol PM (uses Bynedryl as the sleep component), but after 3-4 nights, he would revert back to not being able to fall asleep. The melatonin is relatively harmless and is water soluable which means it passes through the system fairly quickly. We started him on the 3mg since that is the only one I can find. I have heard there is 1mg dosages as well OTC.

You have mentioned a couple times about using noise to help your son sleep. I had not thought about this before. We let him listen to a walkman for the radio or to listen to a tape, but that does not seem to lull him to sleep, but still keeps him awake, but at least in his bed, quiet. What things have you tried to make a “noise” that would help your son go to sleep? Thanks.

Laura

My son had difficulty falling asleep at first— the same thing about 2 hours to get to sleep and then with nightmares. All that ended when we started giving him GABA about 1-2 hours before bed.

One thing about sleep issues. They are one of the few areas we can get lucky and have the treatment covered by insurance. I would check with your pediatrician to see if there is a physician who specializes in sleep disorders in your area.
Sleep disorders can mimic some of the signs of ADHD.

Laura,

My son also has sleep problems. He is now almost 11 and it has been almost impossible to get him to sleep earlier than 11 pm most nights. He’d be happy to stay up until 12 or 1 every night. He is very tired every morning unfortunately. We run a fan in his room at night which really helps to muffle all the other noises in the house (we live in a very old creaky house). You might want to try that for “white noise.”

I totally disagree in drugging your children to support the Drug Companies in America.

Not only do they drug our children but adults too.

The principal at my son’s school is in agreement with me. He believes that there are other alternatives besides drugs.

My son has gone through 2 other schools and the other 2 schools are both supported by the Drug Companies. I had complete pressure to have my son on drugs. Schools recieve money from the Drug Companies to promote them.

The principal also informed me that in latest studies of Ritalin that when children come off of the drug they experience tics (I believe this is probably when they are on it for a long period of time). I don’t think that there is enough study of this drug and they are using our kids as guinea pigs.

Check out the site gary.null.com under world issues.

I fought with the previous 2 schools that my son was in. I was even threatened if I don’t put my son on drugs.

I am very happy to find this Principal of this school who is in agreement with me. He apparently was a principal of a school with 14 special classes in it with all kinds of problems so he is very well experiences in these issue. Don’t let society pressure you into thinking that drugs are the only way.

Laura wrote:
>
> My son has ADD, and we are about to participate in a study in
> Canada for the use of melatonin to help with his getting to
> sleep difficulties. It takes my 9 1/2 year old son at least
> 2 hours each night to get to sleep. Its like he doesnt know
> how to fall asleep by himself anymore, since being on
> Ritalin. Does anyone have experience using melatonin? Has
> anyone heard anything good or bad to say about it? Thanks.
>
> Laura

My 14 year old daughter also has great difficulty getting to sleep, and consequently great difficulty in getting up. I also am an insomniac. I just got through a major sleep study at a local university. I had to keep sleep diaries, etc. I have come to the conclusion that with ADHD (which both my daughter and myself have) often has difficulty getting to sleep as one of the symptoms. It is as if my brain doesn’t know how to get to sleep. I just don’t transition from waking to sleeping quickly, then in the morning, I don’t transition from sleeping to waking well either.

I tried melatonin once for a while and found it didn’t work. I am going to see the doctor in charge of the study one last time, and I will ask about melatonin.

Dealing with poor sleep can be very difficult. I have accepted that it takes me an extra two hours to fall asleep and an extra hour or two to wake up. White noise or earplugs can help with the distractions.