frugalmama Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 (edited) *Update post #13* Can anyone give me a good starting dose for my dd for melatonin? She is 6yo and weighs about 45lbs. She sleeps well once she gets to sleep after hours of getting back up and playing, but her days and nights are totally turned around and we've had no luck with attempts to fix it. I bought 3mg today, but I'm not sure how much of a pill to give her. Does it come in a liquid / chewable form for kids? Edited September 23, 2012 by frugalmama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 I would give her 1/2, but nit hesitate to give the other 1/2 if it didn't quickly help. Mine can take up to 10mg (55lb ds, and 100lb dd) as per neurology. We currently have 3mg and ds just took his. They're not chewable, but he chews it every time he takes it. I think it's nasty, but whatever works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 I took my dd who is 15 and is grown up size to a sleep specialist. He recommended a whole procedure for getting her to sleep but part of it was melatonin. The dose for her, as a fully grown 15 yo, is 1mg. And yes, it does work, particularly if she does the other things the doctor recommended - hot shower, read dull book, and use special light in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacie Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 The dosage can vary for people. My kids take 1 mg. They are about 45# each. I take 2 mg, if I take more than that I will be very groggy the next day. My mil takes 10 mg, we weight about the same amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAPeachie Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 My three year old takes 1ml every other night. We started at .5 twice a week and have increased per our FP. We aren't seeing results though. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 My 50lb 7 year old takes half of a 3 mg pill each night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 You want the lowest effective dose. The higher doses have a greater incidence of causing vivid dreams, drowsy waking, or building tolerance. My son takes .5 mg. He's 8 but about the same size. He's been taking it (per his doctor) at the same dose since he was 3.5. It's been a wonderful thing for him. I wouldn't start with 3 mg. You could try to break that one up or you could get 1 mg and split it in 1/2. We purchase .5 mg but we have to get that dose from Amazon because they don't sell 1/2 mg doses around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 I started ds (130 lbs at the time) at .5mg. He is now at 1mg and will soon be increasing to 1.5mg. We take Friday and Saturday off. He is a big kid, but he is very sensitive to most things. We go for the lowest effective dose for everything he takes. It's best to start low and slowly increase. I gave ds a 3mg by accident, and he was having some freaky dreams, lucid dreaming, etc... It was a bit scary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 My DD is 12 and nearly 100lbs. She takes 1mg. If she takes 2mg, she wakes up complaining of freaky dreams. At 140lbs, I started out at 3mg and am now up to 5mg. All this to say, skip it tonight and go locate the 1mg tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornelia9805 Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 I can't believe the difference in dosing for the same size kids. My 13yo takes 5mg. It only even sort of started working at 3mg. She does have a very fast metabolism and so I'm sure that contributes. She is about 95lbs and 5'4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKidAcademy Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 At that age/weight, my son took 1/2mg. Even now he only takes 1mg (11yo/70lbs). Start with the lowest dose and work up from there. We get the cherry flavored tablets from GNC. I'd never get him to take an unflavored pill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 My DD 6 is that size exactly. She takes 6 mg. nightly, 30 min. before falling asleep. We crush 2 tablets up with the back of a spoon and mix them into a bit of apple juice. Her dose is based on the recommendation of the developmental pediatrician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frugalmama Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Thanks everyone for your help. I gave her about 1/6 of a 5mg pill last night {so about .75mg} and it worked WONDERFULLY. *Fingers Crossed* it wasn't just a fluke. She took the pill just fine, I put it in a spoonful of pudding :D Dd woke at close to 7am {when I did}, and got right up without even being sleepy! She's been going strong all day - not her normal I'm tired self. She said she felt much more rested than normal and that it was easier to fall asleep. And in her words - "I'm not a sleepy possum today mama, I'm a bright eyed bushy-tailed squirrel!" We always called her possum because she possums and goes back to sleep all day long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 My DS almost never takes melatonin anymore, but back when he did we actually cut the Trader Joe's .5 mg ones in half, and that did the trick for him. Which makes one wonder if it was a placebo effect, so small is that dose. But without it he was up for HOURS; with it, asleep in 10 minutes. Shrug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I found 3mg to be too much. However, my 18month old is on 3mg and it seems just fine. His is liquid. Dr said to do it for a time to reset his clock. Before we did it, he would carry on in his crib for hours and then wake up in the night and wake up early. Now, he is out pretty quickly and out all night. Though he is often first to wake up, it isn't at an altogether inappropriate hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Thanks everyone for your help. I gave her about 1/6 of a 5mg pill last night {so about .75mg} and it worked WONDERFULLY. *Fingers Crossed* it wasn't just a fluke. She took the pill just fine, I put it in a spoonful of pudding :D Dd woke at close to 7am {when I did}, and got right up without even being sleepy! She's been going strong all day - not her normal I'm tired self. She said she felt much more rested than normal and that it was easier to fall asleep. And in her words - "I'm not a sleepy possum today mama, I'm a bright eyed bushy-tailed squirrel!" We always called her possum because she possums and goes back to sleep all day long. Yay! I'm glad it worked for her. It sounds like she desperately needed the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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