< =text/>_popupControl(); Melatonin is meant to be given at night, to foster sleep, which is what the body produces it for. There are conflicting views about its use and just because you can buy it pretty much anywhere that sells vitamins doesn't mean that it's harmless. Omega's take a while to show results, if any.
Randyjim, I know from your posts that you and your son have had a hard time of it, but giving ANY kind of medication like benedryl or supplement like melatonin willy-nilly, without a plan is dangerous and can exacerbate problems you thought were under control. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I'm worried about your fragile son. If you and your husband have a hard time keeping track of who gave what and when, get a small notebook and make that Jon's medication journal. It will also be helpful for his docs in Miami to see what and how much he's getting.
Jon is continuing to have much better days. I am not giving him any melatonin during the day and I have not given him benedryl today except at bedtime and that is due to allergies.
He is starting to listen and only once used his middle finger. He is using strategies he learned at the hospital to calm himself down: deep breathing or a shower.
He played with children in the neighborhood today and was able to get along with them. He does not want to go back to school and his doctors agreed that the stress would outweigh the benefits. Meanwhile, he is doing the work I am giving him and doing quite well.
Tuesday we will tell the doctor about his behavior deterioring after 2 pm and that the resperidol is not having that much of an effect.
Hmmm. Jon was wonderful this morning. The 10mg focalin is working and he is a little gentleman until around noon. Even though this is supposed to be the long acting focalin it fizzles out totally by 1 or 1:30pm. Then it Mr.Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde time.
Today I realized I forgot to give him the Omega supplement: KidsZone in the morning so I gave it to him at lunch. It seemed to calm him down enough to where he would listen until dinner time at 6pm. He had a benedryl and melatonin at dinner and was asleep by 8:30pm after raiding my pantry and eating everything that was edible.
I would also not give Melatonin during the day, it defeats the purpose . I wouldn't mix it with benadryl either, could cause respiratory issues.
The Omega's are great, and sometimes do work, but it does take several months to see anything. Keep that in mind.
edbson39564.8650810185Jon is home from the hospital. The first day was very difficult with Jon pushing the limits and then saying I was going to bring him back to the hospital.
He was irritable, angry, defiant, cussing, sexually acting out and generally a pita (pain in the a..). He stayed up until midnight and got up at 3 or 4am and was on the go. Yesterday we took him to the beach and he was fine fishing until he tangled up his line and I accidentally caught a fish. Then he was threatening to swim out to sea and catch a shark. He threw his shoes, rod and anything he could get ahold of in the water.
I gave him a melatonin and two benedryl and he slept all night.
This morning I talked with him and boundaries were gone over: no cussing, no hitting or screaming, be respectful and obedient.
I had bought this product called KidZone. It is Omega's but with a specific ratio of epa to dha and contains gla. All things to help with the brain. he got 1/4 t with his 10mg of focalin and within the hour he was my wonderful smooshy Jon- helpful, quiet, polite and everything you could want from an 8 year old. I dreaded noon when the meds would wear off. Unbeknownst to me my husband gave Jon a benedryl at one pm and I gave him his riperadol at 4. So far he has been manageable but still hyper.
Tomorrow I am going to try a melatonin (1mg) in the afternoon to see if that helps. I can definately say the benedryl did work a little..tomorrow the melatonin and Monday melatonin and benedryl. Tuesday we drive back to Miami and I am going to ask for an afternoon dose of focalin.
Has anyone used melatonin and/or benedryl to calm their children down?
i only use melatonin a half hour before bedtime, to help my dd fall asleep, she is on concerta slow release, so it takes her a long time to fall asleep if i don't use it, it works great for her, but i have never used it during the day!Are the doctors not going to put Jon on any medications to help w/ the ADHD at all?
I used melatonin and got horrid results from it. Benadryl has used, and if it's working, I'd say stick to it! I hope everything goes well, you've been in my thoughts and prayers.
Please don't give him melantonin during the day. Please read about the hormone's purpose. Melantonin is made by the body at night. It helps regulate the body's circadian rhythym.
The most important thing you can do to help Jon is to set a very structured enviroment. If he knows that this is to be done and then this is done and it is done this way daily, it will make things easier for him. It wil also help you discover some of his triggers for his meltdowns.
And, please, even with the benedryl, always let your child's doctors know what you are giving him. Supplements are medicines ,too.
And, his risperidone can also make him antsy or restless.
Is he on the short-acting form of Focalin? If it's wearing off at noon, why can't you give another one to cover the afternoon?
Re the Benadryl, know that the body can develop a tolerance to it, so you may want to use it sparingly.
Has he been on a higher dose of Focalin XR? W/ my child, I found that higher doses lasted longer.With Jon, the problem has always been that his liver metabolizes the meds quickly. So I would rather have the 2 doses.
Jon was wonderful all day!!! The 5mg Focalin worked great this whole afternoon.