Melatonin - dosage question

[Guest guest]

Hi Dan,

I gave Seth, at 42 pounds, 1/2 mg before bed. I found it helped him get on a

regular schedule, but didn't help with the getting up in the middle of the

night deal. He still does that.

Gail :-)

Hello everyone,

Luca has been waking up at 3 a.m. for the past few days and running around

his room screaming like a banshee all night long. We've decided it might be time

to finally try Melatonin. I read a study of kids with autism in which they

were given between 2.5 and 10 mgs of melatonin per night. When I read the

recommended dosage online for a Melatonin product it said adults should take 1

mg

per night. Does anyone have any first-hand experience with Melatonin? What

dosage do you use? Luca is a lightweight 7 year old (maybe 5o pounds at most).

Thanks,

Dan

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/28/2004 9:42:31 AM Eastern Standard Time,

dan_canale@... writes:

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with Melatonin? What dosage do you

use? Luca is a lightweight 7 year old (maybe 5o pounds at most).

Hey Dan,

Maddie (at around 80 lbs...she goes up and down 2 to 3 lbs) takes 3 mg a

night. I buy them over the counter and one whole tablet is 3 mgs. I crush

it along with her abilify and zantac. BTW, abilify is supposed to be a

*knocker outer* too and we still need the melatonin. Even with both, she is a

bugger to get to sleep at least once a week. But thank goodness for the

melatonin.....otherwise I dont' know WHEN we'd get to sleep!!!!

Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Dan,

This is one of those issues that may be good points on the trial and error to

see what will work as....what works with one might not work with another! Our

experiences with the sleep issues on what we use which the neurologist had

started my son out with the 1 mg and it had worked for about a week, then it had

quit and then upped it to 2.5 mg, it worked, than it had quit, than upped it to

3 mg. That was it I no longer wanted him on it plus he seemed pretty tired

during the day and kept getting an erection at a very young age and I spoke to

the pharmacist and he did confirm my suspicion that it was the sleep aid. Than I

spoke to my sons P-doc and he had prescribed Trazadone and it also did its trick

but down the road it had quit working and he was a Zombie during the days very

lethargic were it was just awful and then his P-doc wanted to up the dosage and

sure enough I spoke to the pharmacist once again due to my suspicion of having

erections and sure enough there was a warning on the directions. It did not help

with his sleep and caused side effects and I thought the safest route was the

Melatonin which I had also read but not for my son. Especially when he becomes

an adult around the 20's it would sometimes have some late effects but I know my

young man will not a sexual partner so just a word of caution and watch for any

side effects with any kind of sleep aids.

What has worked with my son now. I will not allow him to have sugar as it

becomes like an Opium for him. I allow him to jump on his mini-trampoline, soak

with supervision in Epsom salt bath, do not allow to swallow water and then do

some joint compression and deep massage which has worked great for my son.

Did find this and thought someone might find it useful:

The use of epsom salts for calming/organization/sleep is fairly

common in the autism world...it's magnesium sulfate, I think, which

has long been known to have a calming effect. Some have stated that epsom salts

sometimes can make a child hyper for a bit after application, so it may be best

to try it out in the morning at first to see how the child reacts.

many people recommend a cup to a cup and half of epsom salts for a bath, but

don't use the full amount the first time...just a few tablespoons in a tub of

bathwater at first. If you see

this is tolerated, then you can add more next time. I'm just suggesting

this " low and slow " to keep you from having negative surprises. The

biochemistry reason for starting slow is that the body adjusts to having

low levels of something like sulfate, so the effect of a small amount is

greater in such a person because their cells may have increased the

proportion of transporters that manage sulfate in an effort to make much of

little. A normal amount becomes for them like someone suddenly turning up

the dial on the radio to blaring.

Provides sulfate and magnesium. Magnesium helps with hyperactivity. Autistic

kids are often deficient in sulfate, and sulfate is used in the body in one of

the liver detoxification phases, to rid the body of toxic substances. Put 1/2

cup to 2 cups in bathwater. Note: Minimize child injesting bath water that has

epsom salts. many kids can get diarrhea from drinking bath water that has epsom

salt in it. You can also used epsom salt cream for hyperactivity. Most parents

find giving 3-4 epsom salt baths a week really helps their kids. For those who

don't like to take a bath, you can also make a " spray " for your child. To make a

" spray Epsom Salt Solution " : Boil 1 cup of pure, filtered water, pour in a glass

bowl and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup Epsom Salts. Stir to disolve. Let cool, then pour

some into a pump spray bottle (available at the pharmacy for about $2). Spray on

the skin and rub in. This pump spray solves the problem of providing a dose

while away from home - it travels well. Some parents use 1 cup Epson salt with

1/2 Cup Baking Soda to reduce itch. The baking soda softens the water.

This info is for any further last resort when all the other alternative has quit

working. Good luck and remember what did not work for my son might for yours.

A mom who is finally getting some sleep and of course Master . We still

have some of those sleepless nights but this is only when sugar is involved or

overstimulated but nice to know some of the culprit.

Irma,15,DS/ASD

[Guest guest]

i agree with this, nathan around 100 pounds takes 1mg when needed but it just

hleps him go to sleep quicker and easier, but he often still wakes up and

gets up during the noc. shawna