Melatonin dose and brand recommended

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2006
Melatonin dose and brand recommended
11
Mon, 05-07-2007 - 5:05pm

Hi, all. I think my PDD-NOS/Asperger's son who turns 4 years old in a few weeks (Kyle) could benefit from melatonin. He's having sleep issues lately - problems falling asleep and staying asleep (waking up WAY too early sometimes). And he's really misbehaving - probably partly due to lack of good sleep (and of course our new son and his frequent crying do not help matters).

What dose should I give Kyle, and what brand and form of it do you all recommend? I notice that some brands say do not give to children. My son is quite small for his age, so more like a 3-year-old (maybe even younger). And he cannot take pills. He can do chewables though.

TIA!

Michelle
Mom to Kyle (5-28-03) and Luke (3-28-07)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Mon, 05-07-2007 - 6:13pm

My kids are using an orange flavored liquid brand name "Source Naturals" which I found at an online pharmacy. The droppers are 1-ml, and each ml is 1-mg (you have to check 'cus I've seen stronger liquids). I've also seen peppermint flavored liquid melatonin, but my kids hate peppermint.

After reading the doses other people here gave their kids, and after reading stuff online, I started my 3yo at approx 1/4 mg, sometimes 1/3-mg. This seems to be sufficient for her, but I know other kids take multiples of that. I read the suggestion online to occasionally let your kids skip doses (like on weekends) if you don't want them to build up a resistance to the current dose. My 10yo ds started at 1/2-mg, but we bumped it up to 3/4-mg.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2006
Mon, 05-07-2007 - 9:43pm

We use the Trader Joe's peppermint chewables - they are .5mg each.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
Mon, 05-07-2007 - 9:50pm

I haven't neeed the liquid (althougth might for Cian). We've used the GNC sublingusl (dissolves under the tongue), orange flavor ones. I have found the ones they just sallow (pills) aren't as effective as the sublinguals. hth

Dee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 05-07-2007 - 9:58pm

We use the Trader Joe's mint chewables too. My son, who is almost 9yo and weighs about 58lbs takes one 500mcg (½ mg) chewable tablet every night whether he needs it or not. Just call him

-Paula

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2006
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 2:10am

Another vote for Trader Joes mint chewables.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 3:02am

Evelyn I just have to ask, do you ever wonder if david tics along with his ASD dx?

That loud phrase is something Nicholas will do sometimes, out of the blue. Nicholas is my younger one who has traits of Aspergers but has more Tourettes than anything else.

He will all of a sudden say "TAKE A BATH" really loud, or in school will yell out "WHERE'S MY PAPER"? He will also yell out other Inapproapriate things tho....

Just curious here.

Anyway I give Chris .5mg's of Melantonin I get from GNC. NIcholas the same but Chris seems to respond better with it. Chris is 11 and weighs about 90 pds and Nic is 7 and weighs about 70 pds.

But Chris is the one that needs it the most.

It has worked like a charm for us. Chris has never slept thru the night, and when I found this board and read about the Melantonin I finally decided to try it and I was shocked overnight. For once I can get a good nights sleep.

It even helps me sometimes when I can't sleep.

Lainie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 3:06am
I have to add my boys take a pill form, but I noticed they have a chewable form at the GNC. My oldest would never take a chewable as he has major OCD issues with tastes and food. A pill is the way to go with him.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 8:24am

You know Liam seems to have become immune to melatonin....not kidding here. Whether he has it or not he goes to sleep at the same time. Cian took half a mg (had to cush the sublingual) under his tongue the other night and he was out within 20 mins. Right now it's Cian who is fighting going to sleep; he will lie in his bed for hours after our ritual is over, and INSISTS the light be left on. He doesn't get up and play, just lie there, eyes wide open light on. We've tried night lights but they just won't work for him. So I am going to have to find the liquid kins as pills are a no no for him.

Dee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Wed, 05-09-2007 - 10:52am
Yikes! I hope we don't become immune. This stuff is a life saver for us!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2004
Wed, 05-09-2007 - 5:28pm

Wow... I just posted a question earlier asking if getting-to-sleep issues were typical with Aspie kids.

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