Sleep issues | ADHD Information
Let me know if this happens to any of you. You go so long with everything working okay and then you start to realize, slowly mind you, that it is not working as well as it was? DS has been on Daytrana for a year. He is doing VERY well in school on it. But the mornings and evenings are HORRIBLE. The past few months DS has been getting up at very odd hours like three am. He gets up and gets food, watched TV and doesn't go back to sleep. I almost smacked the heck out of him this am at about four when I caught him again in the kitchen making a sandwhich. I am beginning to feel like I have an infant again! He is almost ten for crying out loud. We have an appointment on Tuesday with the Dr. We are getting a sample of the vyvanse just to see......I am also going to tell the DR. these things and talk to him about the guanafine or however you spell it. Last thing I want to do is add sleeping pills to his list or mine. He isn't hurting anything when he gets up. He just makes a mess and doesn't sleep. How can a child thrive on four hours of sleep? How can I?
Both my son 9, and myself take Melatonin with pretty good results. It works better for him than I. It puts me to sleep quickly but does not keep me there. He has nightmares only occasionaly and did before the Melatonin as well.We've had trouble on melatonin too. I personally took only 1mg one night, and felt like I had a hangover and as if I couldn't wake up until 6pm the next day.It did help my son to get to sleep once or twice, but as we used it more often he seemed to wake up earlier and earlier, and then he started waking up in the middle of the night screaming about being afraid of spiders.
The only huge screamfest tantrums he's thrown while on Adderall were all the day after he'd taken melatonin. However this -could- be just because it interferes with his ability to get sleep, which makes him cranky the next day. It's so hard to figure out what's caused by the food, drugs, supplements, and what's just normal variance in behavior. :/ Anyways, just thought I'd add our experience to the mix.
Melatonin isn't regulated so you never really know how pure it is or what the other ingredients are in there, and that might account for different experiences too. I've found some with artificial colors (which are awful for my son), and some of the liquid stuff has alcohol in it!
Our situation sounds like yours - it seems things get straightened out, and then something stops working. My son is on Vyvanse right now. We just upped it and I am thinking we will need to up it again.
As far as his sleep is concerned, I don't think my son has EVER had a full night's sleep (he is 12). We took him to a sleep clinic. The Dr. there had us try Melatonin and when that didn't work something that begins with a C (sorry, can't remember the name). That did not work either. Finally his Dr. had us try Seroquel. I am so happy to report that he is sleeping great! He gets a good night's sleep, does not get up in the wee hours, and does not fall asleep at school anymore.
Good luck!
[QUOTE=Diane V]I took melatonin myself recently.............once..............it was horrible. I took 3 mg and am an adult. I had vivid dreams ALL night, and felt horrible the whole next day, nauseous, groggy, completely out of it. Many people love this supplement, but I threw the whole botttle away as soon as I got up. Please, please just start slow...................I wouldt call my dreams nightmares, that I was scared, but BOY, it was somethin'!!![/QUOTE]My doc gave me lorazepam once--I was so hyper on a small 5mg that I didn't sleep for two days!
It seems to be dependent on the person for some things. I can't "do" SSRI's or anything that affects seretonin levels so I suspect I would go honkers on melatonin too.
Yet, I had one friend who swore by the stuff...
It really does seem to depend on what brain chemicals your body tolerates?
Absolutely....I agree it depends on the person. I am just surprised I never heard anything about bad side affects before. Since my son had nightmare issues before he started on melatonin I want to be very careful about what I give him, so now I have reason to watch out for that, which is good. Knowing that could be a problem, I am going to see what other options I might have for him b/c being a little kid his body chemistry is going to change frequently and I don't want to be giving hims something that will give him nightmares. We haven't had a problem yet, but I don't want to see him go through what he used to ever again. **sigh** I thought this was a perfect solution.....
I have been there...Actually I am always there. Both of my boys have never required much sleep. In fact, my youngest son, almost 5, has never slept through the night. Okay, maybe a handful of times since his birth. But, I can honestly say that I am still waiting for the day this kid officially sleeps through the night EVERY night. But, this kid sleeps much better on melatonin. I started it about a year ago and it works. He does wake up once or twice a week, but nothing like he did a year ago. He does not have ADHD.
My other son, 7 years old, simply put - does not need sleep. The kid blows my mind. I don't see how it is humanly possible to keep living on such little food and sleep as this child. The kid could eat 2 cookies and sleep 4 hours and be good to go for a whole week...I swear. He takes clonidine at bedtime and regardless of the amount he just wakes up many times throughout the night. I get frustrated and blow my top about once a month...but, for the most part if he lets me sleep and watches TV quietly...That's all that I ask for. I just want my sleep.
We have tried all kinds of medication. We've tweaked the meds and no matter what he just doesn't sleep. And on top of that. I don't sleep well either. Can't get to sleep, can't stay asleep, etc. We are like the 24 hour family. Someone is ALWAYS awake.
LonerGirl39370.8725115741
I am a huge fan melatonin. We used to give DS just 3mg of regular melatonin, than a med change interfered w/sleep so now I do this:
1/2 a regular 3mg tablet (helps him fall asleep)
1 3mg time release melatonin to help stay asleep
There are 5mg time released tablet out there (I buy from vitacost.com)
DS is back to sleeping well.
((twodoodles))
How old is your son?
My dd (6) was taking melatonin when we began Ritalin the second week of September. She took 3 mg, an hour before bed and it worked GREAT! About one week ago, her doctor changed her meds from Ritalin to Adderall because of problems she was having. Now on the adderall, the melatonin does not work at all. I haven't thought of doing the dosages like you described. Where did you find a time release one? What medicine is your child on? Who told you can use divide the dosage up like that. I'm very intrigued as I do believe melatonin is much safer then a prescription drug to help her sleep.
Using more than 3mg of Melatonin in a 24 hour period is not recommended and can cause Nightmares and sleep problems on it's own at high doses.
edbson I'm wondering where you found that information. I researched melatonin for several months before we tried it, including confering with the peditrician, Psychologist and Psychopharmacologist. (he started taking meatonin before he ever took ADHD meds) In the research I've found clinical studies on both children (mostly the autistic population, who have similar sleep issues to kids with ADHD and/or SPD) and adults there was never any mention of nightmares. So, being an info geek, if you have a reference I can find I'd love to learn more about it.
In my case it was the exact opposite. Because my son's sleeping problems prevented him from reaching a deep state of sleep (REM) he was having nightmares nightly. After a week on Melatonin the nightmares twindled to just 2 maybe 3 a month. We've done the 1.5 regular plus 3mg time released for about a month and he had his first nightmare since that change last night, which I think had more to do with Halloweenish influences. Every kid has bad dreams sometimes, but the Melatonin has not had that affect on my son at all.
AMom,
My son is 5 1/2 and was taking melatonin b4 his first adhd med, which was adderall. we switched to concerta and the 3mg regular tab would help him fall asleep but he'd be up all hours of the night and that sets him up for a rough day. I called the pediatrian and we discussed my trying the 1/2 3mg regular tab and the 3 mg time released and she had no problem with that. Things have been much better for him since then.
As stated by a PP I would be careful about nightmares. I never heard about that connection before, and we have not had that kind of experience, but its something to keep in mind.
good luck!
Until you sort out the sleep options you could try...Making a sandwich and putting it with some milk in a thermos beside the bed. Saves muss and fuss. Then tell him he can't leave the room.
Or
Feeding him a before bed [to see if food helps him sleep]
I soooooooo "get" this kid. I didn't require much sleep as a child, either. And I was unmedicated.
As frustrating as it is for you--the boredom for him isn't easy.
If you can get him to be quiet and not wake you...at least until you get some assistance...at least your lack of sleep won't make you as angry or frustrated with him. Comic books beside the bed might help, too.
Just some suggestions from the other side
I took melatonin myself recently.............once..............it was horrible. I took 3 mg and am an adult. I had vivid dreams ALL night, and felt horrible the whole next day, nauseous, groggy, completely out of it. Many people love this supplement, but I threw the whole botttle away as soon as I got up. Please, please just start slow...................I wouldt call my dreams nightmares, that I was scared, but BOY, it was somethin'!!!
Hi there,
It's perfectly safe for you to give your son some Benadryl. I am a nurse, as well as a mother of a child with ADHD. He absolutely cannot go on so little sleep for an extended period of time. He needs his rest. Start with 12.5mg's and if that doesn't work, up it to 25 mg. If all else fails, talk to your MD. My child is on Clonidine, and that has been a godsend for us. But, your right to change your ADHD meds, it sounds as though he has built up a tolerance or has outgrown his dosage.
I've used Benadryl off and on for years for myself as a sleep aid. Intermittently though. I dont think I'd use it long term, he will build a tolerance. If you need to use it as an occasional sleep aid it is fine, but if every night he has sleep issues you need a more permanent solution. It may or not be a med change/med addition. Talk to his doctor. What is is his caffeine intake like during the day?