Melatonin | ADHD Information

We use .33mg occasionally, and it seems to work better at a lower dose. I got the .33mg at Wal mart, relatively cheaply.I started at 1 mg for my son. The tolerance increases over time. Now he is at 3 mg. At 3 mg he started with nightmares which I am sure were caused by the higher dose of melatonin. So I added magnesium. Magnesium relaxes the nervous system. Worked like a charm. He falls asleep easily and has no nightmares with this combo. He is not on meds though. I'm not sure this would be strong enough to counter the sleeplessness side effect of a med.Low dose is better.  My gs uses 1 1/2 mg of maelantonin and 1 mg guanfacine [switched from clonidine] and has been on this combination for over 3 years .  He takes both nightly. From a child  who never slept more than 2 hrs at a time ,he now slepps at least 5 hrs and usually 8.My 7 year old takes only Focalin XR.  Pre-melatonin, he had a lot of trouble falling asleep.  It's due to ADHD (meds are worn off at that point).  W/o melatonin, he'll pace around his room, roll a ball against the wall -- tons of hyperactive behaviors.  The melatonin helps him settle down and get to sleep at a normal time.  I can't say enough good things about it.  There aren't tons of studies about it, but there are some.  He takes 1 mg sublingually (it dissolves in his mouth). He doesn't have any side effects.Mom2ADHDboy39180.7408333333Yes, we use melatonin. Low doses work the best. If too high, may have opposite effect.

Has anyone tried Melatonin to help their child sleep?  My son who is taking Focalin XR on school days and Pamelor nightly is seeming to have more and more trouble going to sleep.  Some days I think it's the meds but we've been on vacation now for a week (no Focalin) and he has been up after midnight on at least 3 different nights this week.  By that time he is getting tearful because he wants to sleep.

Even before his dx (Inattentive ADD) he had problems sleeping at times.  He would be up late one night, not be overly tired the next day and then go to bed at his normal time the next night and be fine for days...then the pattern starts over.  Last time we saw the doc I mentioned it and he was suprised as the Pamelor can make them sleepy.  We discussed trying Clonidine but I really don't want to change meds and the Pamelor is for his anxiety and I feel is really helpful so I don't want to mess with a good thing. 

There's not a whole lot of research on Melatonin in children...the studies are small and limited.

If you are using it or have tried it I would love some feedback.  Dose, side effects, etc.  My son is 9 and 55 pounds. 

Thank you!

I have used it in the past for Chase when he was just the same size and age as your son.  The optimal dose is 1-3mg one half to one hour before bedtime....the lower the better.

Chase says that it makes him "cozy and drowsy" and more easily able to drift off to sleep.  It does NOT sedate like clonidine does.  The higher doses are said to disrupt sleep patterns and possible cause nightmares, so more is not better in this case, stick to the 1mg if at all possible, though Chase took up to 3mg at times (before I knew of the lower dose pill.)