[SPAM] Re: MELATONIN AND BEHAVIOUR

[Guest guest]

My son who is almost 10 has been taking Melatonin for 2 years, he also takes Risperdone. We have tried to do without the Melatonin quite a few times and have always gone back to it. My son will even ask for it when he can;t sleep. Sleep is a huge component for good behavior. Get back on it and increase it if needed. I believe in giving and doing what ever it is to make our kids feel and act better. Good luck!!On Jul 16, 2010, at 8:11 PM, Bill wrote:Sounds like you saw a "rapid decline" in behavior before you increased the Risperidone. If so then the regression may not be related to increasing the dose. Also, the Melatonin wasn't stopped until the Risperidone was increased, so reducing the Melatonin probably didn't cause the regression. Try and take a closer look at what changes occurred (medication and environmental) at the time the the "rapid decline" started. You mentioned some difficulties at school and home just prior to the regression? As far as medication, the increase in medication didn't help, and may have hurt. I would reduce the medication back to what it was when he was doing well. I would add the Melatonin back again. Go back to when he was doing well. Get some blood work done and see if anything is out of wack. Once Risperidone is back down, if behavior still is occurring then you might want to try a mood stabilizer. If regression is still evident, I would probably clear the Risperidone all together and then try a SSRI (paxil, zoloft, or luvox) and possibly an anti-anxiety medication (clonidine)in small doses. Just some ideas of what we have tried. I also would find a good psychologist to work on coping strategies, and behavioral strategies.Good LuckBill> > >> > > Hi Everyone, > > > > > > I am wondering if someone out there has noticed or knows whether giving their kids Melatonin at night to help them sleep actually helps calm them down during the day?? My 17 year old son had been making great progress over the past few years. Following a few difficulties at school and at home, he has regressed quite a lot and his behaviour became very aggressive with violent outbursts. This had not happened for a long time. The doc increased his Risperidone by 0.5mg twice a day - so he now takes 1.5mg twice a day - but I found that after this increase he did not need the Melatonin to help him sleep. So I stopped giving it to him and the doc said this was fine. But the increased Risperidone seems to have made his condition worse! And I was wondering whether its because of the lack of Melatonin? I am scared, confused and really, really worried and my son is almost psychotic! Look forward to hearing some comments if possible? Thanks, Love xx> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

We have only just started giving our 17 year old melatonin so I can't say how it's working yet for him. His doctor suggested it. He is also on Invega.

I found when I was taking melatonin that I developed a tolerance for it fairly quickly and had to increase the dose. At that time it was only available in 1 and 3 mg tablets. 3mg made me groggy the next morning, even after a full 8 hours of sleep. 2 to 2.5 was a good dose for me. I solved the tolerance problem by not taking it on the weekends, when I didn't have to get up at a set time to go to work. My problem wasn't that I couldn't sleep; it was waking up after 2 to 4 hours and never getting back to sleep.

I can only find Melatonin in our area in 3 and 5 mg doses now. I think one would have to have a really fast metabolism to take the 5 mg. without being tired the next morning.

From: cindyjane100

Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 6:34 AM

autism

Subject: [sPAM] Re: MELATONIN AND BEHAVIOUR

Hi, yes I agree............the reason I stopped it was because he was sleeping ok without the Melatonin after the increased Risperidone and I didn't want > > I also would find a good psychologist to work on coping strategies, > > and behavioral strategies.> >see what happens. Why was there an increase in the > > Risperdal if he was doing better?> > >

[Guest guest]

, my son has always taken six and yes, I agree, having a few days off does

help sometimes if developing a tolerance.

>

> We have only just started giving our 17 year old melatonin so I can't say how

it's working yet for him. His doctor suggested it. He is also on Invega.

>

> I found when I was taking melatonin that I developed a tolerance for it fairly

quickly and had to increase the dose. At that time it was only available in 1

and 3 mg tablets. 3mg made me groggy the next morning, even after a full 8

hours of sleep. 2 to 2.5 was a good dose for me. I solved the tolerance

problem by not taking it on the weekends, when I didn't have to get up at a set

time to go to work. My problem wasn't that I couldn't sleep; it was waking up

after 2 to 4 hours and never getting back to sleep.

>

> I can only find Melatonin in our area in 3 and 5 mg doses now. I think one

would have to have a really fast metabolism to take the 5 mg. without being

tired the next morning.

>

>

>

>

> From: cindyjane100

> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 6:34 AM

> autism

> Subject: [sPAM] Re: MELATONIN AND BEHAVIOUR

>

>

>

> Hi, yes I agree............the reason I stopped it was because he was sleeping

ok without the Melatonin after the increased Risperidone and I didn't want > > I

also would find a good psychologist to work on coping strategies,

> > > and behavioral strategies.

> > >

> see what happens. Why was there an increase in the

> > > Risperdal if he was doing better?

> > > >

>