ATTN: jengerl

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
ATTN: jengerl
2
Mon, 04-30-2007 - 6:04am

I'm so sorry to do this, LOL, but I tried to send you an email and it bounced back. Here's what I sent:

I was reading this message (http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pspddnos&msg=6533.4&x=y) of yours from awhile back regarding Melatonin.

I found it very interesting that you pointed out that when you give your son 3mg tablets it isn't as effective as 3-1mg tablets.

My 3yo DD (who has PDD-NOS) has SEVERE sleep problems without melatonin (which is a MIRACLE to sleep deprived parents!!!). She falls asleep just fine, but wakes up all night. At least 3 or 4 times a week, she would wake up around 2 or 3 am and stay awake until 6ish.

We were originally using the 300mcg tablets and giving her 10 of them, which equals about 3mg. I accidentally picked them up, not paying attention to the pill size as I was new to all of this. She very rarely woke up even once throughout the night, and when she did, she'll fall back asleep almost immediately when I take her to rock.

I have to crush it all up in yogurt for her every night and crushing 10 tablets got to be really old, so I started getting the 3mg tablets. I've noticed the SAME THING about her not sleeping NEAR as well as she did with the 10 smaller dosage tablets. She's waking between 2 and 4 times every single night, and although the melatonin makes her drowsy enough to fall back asleep within 10 minutes or so, that's at least 30-45 minutes each episode that either her father or I am awake, so we're STILL sleep deprived (I'm beginning to wonder if that will ever go away, LOL).

Is this still the case for you? I'm wondering if this is where our newest problem is coming from and I would appreciate ANY help. We're due to have our second DD in August and I don't think I can handle two little ones keeping me up all night... especially if the little one is breastfeeding.

I'm going out tomorrow FIRST THING to buy smaller dose tablets and a pill splitter. I really hope this helps. I'm so thankful I ran across your message...

Thanks in advance for any advice or comments :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
Mon, 04-30-2007 - 7:02pm
*bump*
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 04-30-2007 - 7:47pm

Hey there, I didn't want you to wait forever. I haven't seen jen here in a really long time so I am not sure she will see your post. The one you noted is nearly a year old.

As for melatonin, i had never noticed a difference from giving many small amounts vs. giving one larger one though I hadn't tested it. I have read that sometimes it works better just to give a smaller dose (0.5 mg or 1mg) rather than the larger. It also makes a difference if you use a good quality supplement.

I wouldn't give the melatonin numerous times a night at least not the full dose. I have heard that too much can do the opposite and make sleep problems more apparent, and she is little yet.

perhaps get the 300mcg and give one or 2 and see if that works to help her fall asleep and give more if she wakes. Titrate up slowly to see if a certain dose helps her sleep all night. Chamomile may help as well.

Renee

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