posted
Does anyone know how much melatonin is ok to give children? He is 10 and is about 120 lbs.
It seems to work and then we have to keep uping the dosage every few weeks. We are at 4 ml now and he can't sleep again. I am afraid to give him more!
-------------------- My lyme disease blog: http://lymetimes3.blogspot.com/ One BIG Lyme family! I tested CDC + 10/08 My mom Igenex + 11/08 & My brother Igenex + 4/09, My 2 boys some + & IND bands, clinical diagnosis 3/09 (youngest has Aspergers too) Posts: 470 | From Painesville, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2009
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Cut the dose in half make sure all lights are out melatonin is what the body makes must keep eyes closed and no lights. Or it wont work because body will convert it. You can also get magnesium it inhances the effects of melatonin. If he /she is having pain youll need a Dr to control that.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Thanks. I heard that about the darkness but didn't know if it was true. I bet that is the problem! Sometimes he puts the tv on until he can fall asleep. We were up until 6 am last night! UGH!!
Thanks Tracy. I heard 9 mg but wasn't sure? My husband worries about giving him too much or him becoming dependent on it. He doesn't understand why he can't sleep. I do b/c I have insomnia too.
-------------------- My lyme disease blog: http://lymetimes3.blogspot.com/ One BIG Lyme family! I tested CDC + 10/08 My mom Igenex + 11/08 & My brother Igenex + 4/09, My 2 boys some + & IND bands, clinical diagnosis 3/09 (youngest has Aspergers too) Posts: 470 | From Painesville, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Melatonin can cause depression in some people. Most do fine but there are a few reports of deep depression with a couple days. It there are signs of this, its best to discontinue.
I have read that melatonin should not be used in anyone under 25 years of age (however, as above, some seem to do okay with it). For myself, I've tried several times. By day three, I'm suicidal. Guess it's just not my cup of sleepy time tea.
Topic: NATURAL SLEEP - Links to articles & supplements
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From that thread,
soleil16 writes:
Yes, melatonin can be very bad for those under 25. A misinformed doctor told me to take it when I was 17. . . I had absolute night terrors on melatonin! . . . .
=======================
A Google search for: "Melatonin, Children" lead me to this:
. . . To find out about the safety of using melatonin as a sleep aid for children, I consulted two experts: Rubin Naiman, Ph.D., a sleep and dream specialist and clinical assistant professor of medicine with the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, and George C. Brainard, a melatonin expert at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
. . .
Dr. Naiman told me that children's brains produce significant amounts of melatonin. Because of this, and since the effects of extra melatonin on development are unknown, sleep specialists have cautioned against using it with kids.
Dr. Naiman noted that some preliminary data suggests that melatonin may be effective in helping developmentally delayed children, especially autistic kids, with sleep problems . . . .
. . . . ==========
Lyme creates serious problems with sleep and the endocrine system that Dr. Weil does not consider. The fact that autistic kids do well with it says something about lyme kids possibly benefiting from it. (Many kids with autism also have lyme.)
posted
Thanks! I read a few articles somewhere saying it was being studied to be used on autistic kids. My son has Aspergers so I thought it was a good choice.
The only problem is that it isn't working anymore. Not sure what to give him at this point??
-------------------- My lyme disease blog: http://lymetimes3.blogspot.com/ One BIG Lyme family! I tested CDC + 10/08 My mom Igenex + 11/08 & My brother Igenex + 4/09, My 2 boys some + & IND bands, clinical diagnosis 3/09 (youngest has Aspergers too) Posts: 470 | From Painesville, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2009
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
My pediatrician said it is safe and fine to use. It did lose it's effectiveness though, and I had to increase the dose.
That is how he got up to 10 mg. He did great on 9 or 10 mg, and fell right asleep.
I found it best to alternate with other things. The one I found to work the best is Super Snooze from Puritan's Pride.
My son has been in treatment now for six months. The one change I have seen is that he now no longer has insomnia. This has been a life long thing, since birth.
He is now falling asleep on his own at a reasonable time for the first time in his life. This has been for about a month now, so no more sleep aids for now, anyway!
I'm not sure if this signals improvement or just that he is really tuckered out from treatment.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Have you tried the sustained release version?
Regular Melatonin did not help me even at 5mg (my doc told me not to go over 5mg). A friend recommended that I try the sustained release version and start back at 1mg.
I'm currently taking 2mg of sustained release Melatonin along with NOW foods "Nighttime herbs". It has Valerian, Passion flower, and hops.
This combo seems to help for now. The "NIghttime Herbs" helps me fall asleep and the melatonin helps me stay asleep. I still wake up a couple times in the middle of the night but not nearly as often as I was before.
Hope you find the right combo for your son. Insomnia is terrible.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Thanks! I have read about these other herbs that are good for sleeping. The only problem is that he needs them in liquid or very small round pills.
I wish they would show a picture of the pills on the box when you are trying to buy them.
Where do you get sustained release?
-------------------- My lyme disease blog: http://lymetimes3.blogspot.com/ One BIG Lyme family! I tested CDC + 10/08 My mom Igenex + 11/08 & My brother Igenex + 4/09, My 2 boys some + & IND bands, clinical diagnosis 3/09 (youngest has Aspergers too) Posts: 470 | From Painesville, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
I cut my 3mg tablet into 4 quarters. I weight 135lbs and .75mg is enough for me.
I thought I read somewhere that lower doses were more effective, or something to that effect. That is why I tried this small dose, and it's a good dose for me.
Posts: 175 | From SW PA | Registered: Mar 2008
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