Only me Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 We are still trying to find a solution for dd (14) and her insomnia. We went to a sleep specialist last week and one thing that she recommended was increasing the melatonin that I give dd. I was giving dd 1.5 mg. She wants me to give dd 6 mg. The 6 mg doesn't seem to help dd sleep any better but she hates the feeling it gives her. She is also extremely drowsy in the morning on top of all ready being tired from her lack of sleep. She falls asleep a little quicker but wakes up several times during the night. Over the past week I've taken Melatonin a few times. I get insomnia certain days of my cycle and I thought I would try it. I only used 3 mg and I can see what dd is talking about. It makes me sleepy but gives me a weird, very heavy sensation. In the morning I am very drowsy. This morning when I woke up my dh said I looked drunk. It takes me at least 20 minutes to get to the point where I'm even coordinated. I doubt I would be able to drive for at least an hour after waking up. If I feel this way taking 3 mg I can't imagine how it makes dd feel since I weigh a good deal more than she does. I can't imagine how she feels on 6 mg. What kind of dosage are you using? Do you have the same kind of side effects? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in Jax Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I'd try 3 mg melatonin if 6mg is too much and 1.5 too little. Still, the issue may not be melatonin if her main issue is mid-sleep waking. In that case, you might want to research 5-htp. 5-htp (5-HydroxyTryptoPhan) is just before serotonin, which is just before melatonin in the chemical chain. In a healthy body, it converts to melatonin when the right cofactors (b vitamins, etc.) are available. Serotonin is related to STAYING asleep, so 5-htp can help with staying asleep, where melatonin generally helps only with falling asleep. If your dd is having mid-sleep waking issues, 5-htp may solve the problem for her. Another idea: You might want to consider having her take Epsom salts baths at bedtime. Start with 1/2c in a comfortably hot bath, and let her soak 20 minutes or more. Rinse with clean water after soaking, or she'll feel gritty. Over a period of a week or two, work up to 2 cups per bath. This may help her relax (b/c she'll be absorbing magnesium in the bath), and can help her body works its chemical "wheels" better by increasing sulfation. The better her chemical wheels work, the better she'll be able to make her own melatonin, etc., in the body. Zinc, antioxidants, b-complex vitamins (don't take them at bedtime, b/c they can be stimulating), valerian, selenium, calcium and magnesium can all aid in healthy sleep. HIH, Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niffercoo Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 My kids each take .5 mg (HALF a milligram!). I got the 1 mg sublingual tablet and break it in half. 6 mg sounds like a lot to me. Our doctor had suggested starting with the half mg to see if that worked, and to build up from there if necessary. But it worked for both kids (well, the little one still wakes at night occasionally) so I left it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only me Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 The original problem was that she has a delayed onset sleep pattern. She wasn't falling asleep until 2 am regardless of when she went to bed, what time I woke her up in the morning, etc. She wasn't really having trouble waking up in the middle of the night until this past week. She would do it once in awhile but this week she says she is waking up several times a night. It really seems like the increase in Melatonin has caused this. I also noticed with the Melatonin that I fall asleep right away but wake up more during the night. Is this usual with Melatonin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Has she tried inositol? Melatonin hasn't helped my insomniac dc, but inositol has. You might ask her doctor if he has any objections to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KS_ Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 My kids each take .5 mg (HALF a milligram!). I got the 1 mg sublingual tablet and break it in half. 6 mg sounds like a lot to me. Our doctor had suggested starting with the half mg to see if that worked, and to build up from there if necessary. But it worked for both kids (well, the little one still wakes at night occasionally) so I left it there. This is what my kids take, too. I found 500mcg chewable tablets at our store and it works well for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niffercoo Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 The original problem was that she has a delayed onset sleep pattern. She wasn't falling asleep until 2 am regardless of when she went to bed, what time I woke her up in the morning, etc. She wasn't really having trouble waking up in the middle of the night until this past week. She would do it once in awhile but this week she says she is waking up several times a night. It really seems like the increase in Melatonin has caused this. I also noticed with the Melatonin that I fall asleep right away but wake up more during the night. Is this usual with Melatonin? It might be that the dose of melatonin is too high and disrupted her normal pattern. We give melatonin to my son because he wouldn't fall asleep at a reasonable time, though once he was asleep he'd sleep right through. It sounds exactly like your daughter. The .5 mg is all he needs and he's asleep at 10, which is fine for us! Another option is an extended release melatonin. With my daughter, she would fall asleep right away, but then would be awake between 2-5 AM every night. I just can't find a sublingual extended release melatonin in so small a dose for her. But the small dose seems to help on most nights, unless she's had a really busy day. I think I'd try a smaller dose first, and see if that helps any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I agree use the 3 mg. My big kids each take 6 mg but they started with 3mg, my ds5 takes 3 mg. I would try the 3 mg, and then slowly increase as warranted. Jumping from 1.5 to 6 is too big a jump for her body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Avon make strips that desolve on the tongue. I think they are 2.5 mg. My dh says they work better for him than tablets. They are called "Sleep". I couldn't find them online, but was able to get them through a representative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristyB in TN Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Melatonin makes my husband drowsy in the a.m. but I can't feel anything. I would go with the 3 mg, though! I've been taking 3 mg with a calcium/magnesium supplement and it seems to be working. I love the advice you are getting on here. The epsom salt bath makes sense to me. Maybe you could even get the one with lavender essential oils mixed in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.