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Anyone try this? It was suggested for my 3.5 yr old aspie
Melatonin for aspies
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we were given 2.5 mgs. Does it help with sleep and behaviour??
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You don't need that much. Cut the pill. My son takes .25 mg. I take .5 and I'm an adult. You want to use the lowest dose that works. If you do too much you can have issues with waking as it wears off and also tolerance. Start small.
We've used it for 1.5 years (starting at 3.5 as well). I did it after an OT, then a neurologist, then a geneticist all suggested it within a three month period for him. We've used it pretty continually in that time frame as it has helped so much.
If behavior/developmental stuff is being caused by fatigue from lack of sleep melatonin can certainly help. Lots of daytime issues are caused by sleep stuff so if you're seeing difficulty getting to sleep I do think it's worth trying. It helped my child. Melatonin also has neuro protective and immune boosting effects as well as effects with some GI stuff so can help in other ways too. But I think at small doses increased sleep is what gives the benefits.
We've used it for 1.5 years (starting at 3.5 as well). I did it after an OT, then a neurologist, then a geneticist all suggested it within a three month period for him. We've used it pretty continually in that time frame as it has helped so much.
If behavior/developmental stuff is being caused by fatigue from lack of sleep melatonin can certainly help. Lots of daytime issues are caused by sleep stuff so if you're seeing difficulty getting to sleep I do think it's worth trying. It helped my child. Melatonin also has neuro protective and immune boosting effects as well as effects with some GI stuff so can help in other ways too. But I think at small doses increased sleep is what gives the benefits.
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We give our son 1 mg 20 minutes before bed and this seems to work well. He really has a hard time transitioning to sleep. Although I might add that it doesn't effect his behavior.
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We use it. He gets one tablet (chewable mint) from Trader Joe's. It has worked well, but recently he's been saying it isn't working as well.
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Mine can go to sleep OK but wakes up at night A LOT and seems to have the "wheels spinning" 24/7 (a bit like his mother
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The GP said the starting dose was 2.5 mg and went to 7mg though
The GP said the starting dose was 2.5 mg and went to 7mg though
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Melatonin is better for going to sleep than staying asleep. And in my opinion large doses are going to backfire for you because waking is his issue anyway. I'd be more tempted to try an extended release form in a small dose if you can figure out an extended release form that will work for him. And I'd dose it twice...once at the start and then again when he wakes if there is at least 3-4 hours left in the night.
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Yup. It works wonders. We use 1.5 mg (ds1 and I) and it really helps.
I prefer, though, 2-stage release in 1mg pills. You might have to look for that.
I prefer, though, 2-stage release in 1mg pills. You might have to look for that.
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Quote:
I think that sounds like a good option for you! The two stage release will give you another dose part way into the night. Normally melatonin sleepiness clears in about 3 hours (give or take) so otherwise I'm afraid he'll wake as it wears off.
Originally Posted by Justthatgirl  I prefer, though, 2-stage release in 1mg pills. You might have to look for that. |
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I use it for both of my kiddos. The oldest had trouble going to sleep and would wake hourly and go right back to sleep usually. He now sleeps through the night. He didn't do that until after he turned 4.5. The little guy goes to sleep well but wakes and is up for hours if he does. It has helped him not wake up as often. He used to get up and party at least 4-5 nights a week. When we started the melatonin, it went down to about 1 night a week. Now as long as he gets the melatonin, it only happens about once a month.
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To all the previous posters; How long does it take to see results?
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Immediately here (self and son). If you start low though, which is recommended, you may have to adjust doses upward. So that may take a while. If you start at .25 and it doesn't help you might go up to .5 and then to 1 mg and find 1 mg is what works.
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I think your doctor is a little off! I don't even take that much and I weigh 170 lbs! Our 3 year old takes about 1mg and we worked up to that. We don't use it much because it really only helps to fall asleep, not stay asleep. She will fall asleep easily with it but still wake multiple times a night.
Originally Posted by Britishmama Mine can go to sleep OK but wakes up at night A LOT and seems to have the "wheels spinning" 24/7 (a bit like his mother
The GP said the starting dose was 2.5 mg and went to 7mg though |
Just wanted to put this out there- I haven't really researched it enough to know the reasoning...
My son took melatonin for about a year due to various sleep issues. It helped him fall asleep, but definately not stay asleep, and we did try a few extended release kinds.
Then a behavioral/ developmental pedi (at an evaluation) recommended that we stop due to a family history of depression....
I had been thinking of stopping anyway because it wasn't helping his main issue, staying asleep, and wanted to try some relaxation techniques since a year had passed, and maybe he as more able to do those. So, I don't know what the link is between depression and melatonin, but I wanted to put it out there in case this would apply to you and you wanted to research it more. It really did help sleep onset, so it might be a weighing the benefits issue.
My son took melatonin for about a year due to various sleep issues. It helped him fall asleep, but definately not stay asleep, and we did try a few extended release kinds.
Then a behavioral/ developmental pedi (at an evaluation) recommended that we stop due to a family history of depression....
I had been thinking of stopping anyway because it wasn't helping his main issue, staying asleep, and wanted to try some relaxation techniques since a year had passed, and maybe he as more able to do those. So, I don't know what the link is between depression and melatonin, but I wanted to put it out there in case this would apply to you and you wanted to research it more. It really did help sleep onset, so it might be a weighing the benefits issue.
Definitely start with .25mg. My 6.5 year old takes 1mg shortly before bed, and we worked up to that from .25 over a period of time. We just cut it - not too difficult.
We get the Source Naturals brand of Melatonin in 1mg. sublingual form. My DS really likes the orange-flavored ones. I found it at a natural food store in the area. It wasn't too expensive.
We get the Source Naturals brand of Melatonin in 1mg. sublingual form. My DS really likes the orange-flavored ones. I found it at a natural food store in the area. It wasn't too expensive.
The sleep clinic at our Children's Hospital is reccomedning the melatonin with (no reportable side affects) after like a 14 year study, which we found reassuring. The starting dosage point is MUCH lower than your doc. suggested though.
It was .25 mgs and up dose from there as needed. My little man goes through periods of night waking and we have switched to the slow release tablest with great success. We cut the tab down. Good luck!
It was .25 mgs and up dose from there as needed. My little man goes through periods of night waking and we have switched to the slow release tablest with great success. We cut the tab down. Good luck!
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is there a name for the slow release tabs?
Here's one brand - http://www.herbs-wholesale.com/Melat...lease-716.html
Type in melatonin timed release into a search engine and you'll get more. The only thing is you cannot crush them or change them in any way. They are timed release because they break down inside your body slowly. If you crush them they won't work. That is why I haven't tried those ones yet even though I think they may help, because there is no way my 3 year old would be able to swallow a pill.
Type in melatonin timed release into a search engine and you'll get more. The only thing is you cannot crush them or change them in any way. They are timed release because they break down inside your body slowly. If you crush them they won't work. That is why I haven't tried those ones yet even though I think they may help, because there is no way my 3 year old would be able to swallow a pill.
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