I would ask them why the no melatonin....many of the children on the stimulants use it with great success. Maybe they would let you just use a very small dose....1/2mg, or 1mg.....
It is so frustrating when they cannot sleep.
I really don't understand why they are against the Melatonin? It is a natural sleep aid. Our bodies make it anyway...When we give the pill, we are just giving ourselves (or our children) a little more of it. My DD's Pediatric Neurologist and his Nurse Practitioner both recommended it for my DD. Before actually starting it, I also mentioned to the Pedatrician and Psychologist that the other two (Neurologist and NP) had recommended it, and those two both supported the idea as well. You could ask about Guanfacine I suppose. Many Doctors prescribe that to give at night if stimulants are causing sleep issues (it may also help w/ your DD's behavior a little), but honestly, although Guanfacine is relatively mild, has few side effects, etc., and I personally have no fears about it (DD also takes that for her TS), it is a prescription, so I feel the Melatonin (which is all natural) should give the Doctors less concern.
Jillett, sometimes I think we need to go with our "Mother's Intuition" unless someone gives you a really good reason why you shouldn't. As long as you have done a little research on something (Melatonin), I would be tempted to give it a try anyway. Ask your Doctors this....."I understand you have concerns about Melatonin. Can you please explain why & what those concerns are? What about the effects of lack of sleep? Over time, can't that have negative consequences on my child's well being and health?"
I think any effects from the Melatonin are very rarely possible (I don't think I have heard of any, but there could be for a few people I suppose). I think effects on physical, emotional, and mental well being from lack of sleep are very probable.
Oh, and for the record, my DD also takes Ritalin (Metadate CD), yet the Melatonin was recommended none-the-less.
I guess some Doctors are just more conservative than others and I'm sure you have faith and trust in yours, as I do in mine. I just don't quite understand their thinking on this one.
Best of luck!
MamaBear39116.7811574074Yes Chase was on concerta (ritalin) when he took it...
Very good points mamabear!
I completely understand. By 5pm Tyler has dark circles under his eyes and is starting to get that pale I feel like !*&# look to him, howevereven though weeknight bedtime starts around 8 or 8:30 he is still getting into trouble at 10 or 11. I have to give him credit though, he is getting better at faking sleep, the other night my husband noticed a light shining under his covers so he had Tyler give him the gameboy. Well when Tommy brought it to the room he noticed no game in it. So when he went back in there he saw light again. Turns out that his gameboy had run out of batteries and he got his sisters to finish his game. So when he was caught (with his quick thinking) he gave his dad the one that no longer played and kept the other for himself. I have to say I was laughing so hard at this inginuity that Tommy had to be the one to talk to him and ground him. But he is almost impossible to wake up in the am, no matter how early we put him to bed it is the same fight every night. help!!!!!!
Chase was always good as gold too! I would sometimes not notice that he was still awake until I went to bed myself. His light would be off, and he would be quiet...but awake.
They really need their sleep, and I think it is unhealthy for them not to get 8-10 hours at least....Chase goes to bed at 9:00PM, and I get him up at 7:00AM. The tenex he is on helps him to sleep so he no longer needs the melatonin.
My girl is good once we put her in bed she only comes out to use the bathroom and will lay in bed listen to music and read a book to herself. We are going on week 2 and last night I got excited she fell asleep around 8:30 pm but she woke at 5:30 am this morning and still is up. I had already a few cups of coffee and tried to doze off to be awoken again by her wanting attention. This stinks especially she has school tommorow and i have to go to work. My child was terrible for two weeks then got better however once the nasty defiant behavior ended she is not having trouble sleeping. We put her to bed by 9pm and she is still up until 11pm and falls asleep shortly after then I have trouble waking her at 7:30 am. After one week I called her doctor to ask about Melatonin and was told he did not know much about it and wanted me to just document how many days and ask the psychologist. Friday we say he psychologist who was familiar but does not want us to put anything in her body since she is on Ritalin and has been on it now since December. So now we are done with week 2 and she has bags under her eyes and is acting tired the psychologist even agreed she looked tired. Last night she went to bed after 11pm and woke herself around 9 am and appears tired all day.