My 8yr old son has been taking 20mg slow release ritialin (and is also supposed to take 10mg fast release in am also but can't get it down) and we are having sleep issues. The pediatrician suggests we give him double doses of over the counter meds (chlor-triplon/gravol) to help him sleep. I am very uncomfortable doing this to him and wondered if anyone has info about melatonin. I have heard it is a natural supplement that will help with sleep, but I would like more information. I am in Canada and it is not approved or available for children but I can access it as a supplement at the health food store.
Any info on what it is, what it does, dosage and your experience with it would be great. Thank you so much.
This is what I found on Melatonin at www.webmd.comMelatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain. Very small amounts of melatonin are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Melatonin is also available as a dietary supplement.
What does natural melatonin do in the body?Your body has its own internal clock (or circadian rhythm) that helps regulate your sleeping and waking hours. This internal clock controls how much melatonin your body releases. The normal level of melatonin usually begins to rise in the mid- to late evening and remains high for most of the night. Melatonin normally declines in the early morning hours, stimulating you to awaken.
Melatonin levels decline gradually with age. Some older adults produce very small amounts of melatonin or none at all and thus are at greater risk for sleep problems.
Natural melatonin production is partly affected by light. When there is less light in the winter months, melatonin levels may remain high, causing your body to think it still needs to sleep. This cycle can lead to symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).1
Why is melatonin used as a dietary supplement?Melatonin dietary supplements are sometimes used to treat jet lag or sleep problems (insomnia). Scientists are also looking at other possible effective uses for melatonin, such as to treat seasonal affective disorder, to help regulate sleep for shift workers who work evenings or nights, and to treat headaches.
Melatonin is also being studied for the treatment of epileptic seizures. It appears that levels of natural melatonin may be low right before a seizure and then very high after the seizure occurs. Melatonin supplements may be shown in the future to help control or prevent seizures, especially in people who have sleep problems along with epilepsy, but further research is needed.2
Is taking a melatonin dietary supplement safe?Melatonin dietary supplements are generally safe for short-term use. The safety and effectiveness of long-term use is still being assessed.
Where do I find melatonin as a dietary supplement?Melatonin dietary supplements are available without a prescription from health food stores, drugstores, mail-order catalogs, and on the Internet. Melatonin comes in either synthetic (man-made) or biological (taken from animals) forms. The biological form is not recommended because it may transmit disease.
If he is going to use melatonin supplements to this effect be sure to keep it short term. Though there is little information on long term effects (melatonin is sold as a supplement, therefor no FDA evaluation to it's effects have been made), There are solid links between melatonin levels and seasonal affective disorder, as well as possible sexual side effects: (melatonin, in addition to acting as antagonist in the body's natural sleep cycle, is partially responsible for the age sexual maturity is reached {the less melatonin in the system over time, the earlier puberty is reached} at this point there is little information to how it would effect sexuality in adults)
A few other things, speaking from personal experience with melatonin: time when you take it and make it part of your routine while getting ready for bed (i'd say take the supplement about half an hour before you are in bed with the lights out). And never take more than the recommended dose, a little goes a long way, taking more won't better help you get to sleep but will leave you very tired throughout the next day.
Danielsj3o3, Have you had a second opinion? My son is on Short acting Ritalin, and I have been told that if he takes it after 6 pm, it could effect his sleep. Maybe the long lasting Ritalin is not for your son?? I am in Canada also, and my sons pediatrition was mine when I was a child as well! He will not prescribe Ritalin LA.
As I always say, your gut instinct is the right one. Ritalin is a funny drug... it can suppress the symptoms of ADHD, but it can also make them worse if the dose is not right. Before you decide to put your son on anything else.... get another opinion before you put him on something else!
When we stopped meds, my son's sleeping cycle was so messed up. He couldn't get to sleep at night, woke up in the middle of the night, and would wake early in the morning. (He hadn't had these problems previously.) We used Source Natural melatonin, the 1 mg sublinguils, taken 30 min before bedtime and it was an immense help. I agree it is not a long term solution, but it can be a great assistance in the short term to solve a specific problem.
Calcium and magnesium can also assist with calming and sleep, and are more natural and beneficial. You might try a Cal/Mag capsule (200/200mg) 30 min before bedtime and see if you see a difference.