Chlondine doesn’t work! | ADHD Information

He has a cd player in his room that we play soothing music.  He also takes quiet things to bed.  He has a binder with paper that he can draw with.  He takes books to look at even though he can't read.  Sometimes he takes some legos.  I don't mind if  he is quietly playing but after 2 or 3 hours of playing he wants to get out of bed!We do have a bedtime routine.  He has ezema so he has to take an oatmeal bath every night.  After bath, it's lotion, p.j's a snack and to bed for books.  After books he can have a few quiet toys and then he would be out like a light with the melatonin.  Now we go through the whole routine and instead of lights out it keeps talking to me from his bed, is up many times and then when I am ready to go to bed I finally give in and take him to my bed    Even the teacher mentioned today that maybe the lack of sleep is causing some of his behaviors.  All I know is that I am a very tired mom at the end of her rope

This is probably obvious, but can he be allowed to be in his bed and reading, or doodling on paper, or some other quiet activity, but no talking to you?

Perhaps if he is bored enough, the meds will work more easily.  Pop in a calm, classical music CD, or a lullaby CD and walk away.....could work, but you have probably already tried some version of it.....

Hi Cheesehead,

My DD takes Tenex, which is similar to Clonodine, as well as Melatonin.  She still has trouble falling asleep many nights.  I would certainly ask the Dr. or Pharmacist before adding the Melatonin to the Clonodine though, just to be safe.

I do not think an 8-9 pm bedtime is too early for a Kindergartener.  I always tried to get my DD in her room around 8:00- 8:15pm at that age.  We would read a few stories and have lights out by 8:30.  Even now as an 11 yr. old 5th grader I tuck her in by 9:00pm, but she does often listen to her CD's for awhile, or sit up and read, bead, or do a latch hook kit or something for awhile, until she feels sleepy.

You may need to evaluate your child's normal day.  Does he get enough physical activity to wear him out?  Is the house calm and quiet that last hour or so before bed, so he has time to unwind, or is he running around playing Power Ranger's (or something similar) and totally wound up 10 minutes before bedtime?  Try to get him unwound an hour or so before bed....A warm bath, snuggling for stories etc.

We are convinced my DD is just a night owl like me, because she had difficulties falling  asleep at an early hour long before medications entered the picture.

Good luck!

MamaBear39133.3124074074you mentioned that your son has been taking it for "quite sometime"
Clonidine worked quite effectively for him so that he would fall asleep where he was sitting with us.  Later it didn't appear "to work."  Dr said that clonidine taken 1 to 1 1/2 hrs before bed provides a "window of opportunity for sleep" and that they need to be in bed with the lights off.

Also I know of one mom who slowly weaned her son off clonidine by decreasing the dose and introduced Gaba (natural relaxant, helps sleep) simultaneously.   She used them at the same time which was deemed to be safe with her doctor. 

Your question is best anwered by your doctor.

My ds has sleeping problems.  We used the melatonin for quite some time, but now with his new meds the melatonin just wasn't cutting it any more.  The dr rx'd chlondine to help him sleep.  The orders from both the dr and the pharmacist is to give 1/2 tablet and hour before bed....if he is still awake an hour later give the other 1/2 tablet, but never exceed a total of one tablet.

We used just 1/2 tablet for the first few nights and it worked great.  Now 2 nights ago I gave him the 1/2 tablet and an hour later he was still awake.  Then I gave the next 1/2 tablet and an hour later he was still awake.  I finally gave in and let him come sleep with me.  I have no idea what time he fell asleep as I dosed off long before he did.

Now last night I gave him a full tablet an hour before bed and two hours later he is still wide awake 

Has anyone added melatonin to the chlondine?

Also my ds is 6 and in kindergarten.  My goal is to have him sleeping any where between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.  Is that too early for kindergarten?

Any suggestions would greatly help as I am at the end of my rope. I thought the chlondine would be the magic pill to helping him get some sleep...and if he gets sleep so does mom.

This may sound weird to some, but my son had trouble sleeping, always has (like me) before we started the melatonin and sometimes even now we "wind down" together along with my daughter.  I bought a Tai Chi DVD, very soothing music, very slow stretching and calming movements.  We also have a nighttime Yoga DVD.  Now I am normally not even one to exercise or do any of this except in occasional spurts (new years resolution time or something) but this helps us.  I also do not allow any toys in the bed (legos) but do allow books or music and even gave in and let him look at his pokemon cards.  Every now and then though we still pull out the DVD's.  They are very relaxing, I was really amazed and the beginners level is not too hard.   Good luckYeah I figured you had already tried it, but had to throw it out there.  I am fortunate in that we have been able to deal with the sleep issue fairly easily, with the melatonin and the guanfacine.  Now we just have to get the acid reflux under control.....that wakes him up every other night or so for hours.....in the wee hours, like 2-3 AM...frustrating.