Question about melatonin dose???

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
Question about melatonin dose???
8
Tue, 08-22-2006 - 1:44pm

What dose of melatonin should liam get at night top help with sleep?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 08-22-2006 - 3:49pm

Typically melatonin helps you go to sleep more than stay asleep. I have never had that effect from it. My boys took 0.5 when smaller. I usually try to find the 1mg tab which I like best but they have even been fine with the 3mg tab.

I hate HATE to say this, but are they sure he didn't have a little seizure? Extreme fatigue (post ictal fatigue) and wetting yourself are both pretty common seizure type stuff. It may not be seizure related but since that is something you were concerned with it is important to note. Cait will be really sleepy for 2 days post seizure. She has wet herself during a partial seizure. It is just something to keep an eye on.

Other than that is it possible he is getting sick? Could it be the effect of getting all those meds out of his system? What meds was his on that you are decreasing? Could decreasing these possibly have some effect like lowering the seizure threshold.

Try giving him 0.25 tonight or even the 0.5 again and see if you have the same reaction tomorrow. Perhaps even call the neuro and ask.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
Tue, 08-22-2006 - 4:53pm

God Renee,


I think you may be right.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 08-22-2006 - 9:56pm

Hope it works and hope it wasn't a seizure. I have just never ever heard of a child reacting like that to melatonin. Not for that period of time on a low dose when it is a kid who is used to meds to sleep anyway. If anything it should be more gentle than the meds he was taking.

I was wondering if he was on any mood stabilizers that you were reducing. They often use seizure meds as mood stabilizers and I thought perhaps reducing those would lower the seizure threshold.

BTW, the neuro didn't want to believe it because she didn't see it and wouldn't commit to a dx, but I know Dave had 3 absence seizures when on stimulant meds. They were with 3 different people all who noticed the exact same symptoms that were perfect examples of absence seizures.

His EEG is abnormal but it is consistent with a kid with SEVERE delays. (Generalized diffuse cortical disfuntion). Doesn't make sense since he appears to be academically on track or advanced. They couldn't figure out why he had that EEG so they wanted to start stims again and monitor, then put him on seizure meds if he had seizures. I said "nuh-uh" no way no how. Lets just take him off the offending drugs and if he starts to have seizures again I will call you.

EEGs are not an exact science but hopefully you are able to get some good information.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 7:25am

Dee,

I've never heard of that kind of reaction to melatonin either. Please keep us updated. Sending P&PT's your way.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 3:12pm

Dee,


I'm just chiming in to say ITA with Renee.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 4:33pm

Thanks all,


I did give him 0.5 mg again last night.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-03-2006
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 7:44pm
can i ask what were the side effects of risperdal? At today's appt dr. put son on risperdal, left him on depakote and removed prozac. Today he also confirmed bipolar and adhd. We think the prozac made him active. It was GREAT for social anxiety. Afew weeks on it and son was inviting and being invited with other kids. I had to give melatoin so son would go to sleep. He also slept better waking only once during night (to come into my room after going to the bathroom).
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
Thu, 08-24-2006 - 10:28am

The main issue I have heard with risperdal is weight gain and huge appetite.

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