Guest guest Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 My 9 yo takes 1 mg and up to 1.5 mg at times. She weighs about 90 lbs and has not had trouble with it. I hope you find something that works for him. You might also try guided imagery relaxation if he can focus on it. We found a book with relaxations for kids that was helpful for my daughter this summer. Let me know if you want the name of it. My husband or I read it to her, but you could also record it. Massage or soothing music might also help. Hang in there; it really will get better. If you have a pet, you might try letting him sleep with the pet if he finds it soothing. My daughter often likes to have the cat in her room just before bedtime for some cuddling and patting. > > Subject: How much Melatonin for 8 year old? > To: > Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 8:55 PM > Hi everyone, Im not sure if you > remember me, I posted about my 8 year old son experiencing > his OCD symptoms mostly at night making it almost impossible > for him to sleep. We were doing benadryl which his Doctor > said was ok, it was working for a couple weeks but she > warned us it would stop working, which it has. We give it to > him 30 minutes before bed and he still wide awake an hour > later. She said she wanted us not to give him more than 2 > teaspoons, and if it stops working she said we can try > melatonin. I bought some liquid, orange flavored melatonin > (1mg) yesterday. Our Doctor said to start out slow, so I did > about .25 and when 30 minutes later he was still wide awake, > I did another.25, making it .5mg. She said he can take up to > 1mg, but Im wondering if that will even work? It seemed like > it may have made him even more awake, is that possible? He > also said he had a slight headache, is this normal? We are > desperate for sleep around here and my heart is breaking for > my child who says > his brain wont stop talking to him at night Thanks in > advance for any advice. > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Our list archives feature may be accessed at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// > by scrolling down to the archives calendar . Our links > may be accessed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//links > . Our files may be accessed at > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//files > . > Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D.(http://www.ocdawareness.com ), Tamar Chansky, Ph.D.( http://www.worrywisekids.org ), and Dan Geller, M.D. > (http://www2.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/geller.html > ). You may ask a question of any of these mental health > professionals by inserting the words " Ask Dr.(insert name) " > in the subject line of a post to the list. Our list > moderators are Castle, Judy Chabot, BJ Closner, and > Barb Nesrallah. Subscription issues or > suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list > administrator, at louisharkins@... > . Our group and related groups are listed > at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdsupportgroups/links > . OCF treatment providers list may be viewed at http://www.ocfoundation.info/treatment-providers-list.php > . > NLM-NIH Drug Information Portal may be viewed at > http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/drugportal.jsp?APPLICATION_NAME=drugporta\ l > . OCF recommended reading list may be viewed at http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocd-oc-spectrum-disorders-book-list.html > . > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 My 12 year old daughter, about 90 lbs, takes the 3mg tablet, as directed by her doctor. It puts her to sleep, but takes a little while, at least an hour. She took benadryl on and off for 6 years. It never seemed to stop working, but we thought the melatonin was a more natural remedy, and just easier for her to deal with and explain to people (not that it matters, but friends and parents were always questioning why she had to take the benadryl at sleepovers, etc). Maybe ask your dr. if it would be okay to go up to a higher dosage. We've also used relaxation cd's, as well as a sound machine at night, both of which have been helpful. Not sleeping is horrible. I deal with it myself, and the aftereffects are almost worse than an actual sickness. My daughter's ocd gets much worse when she is tired, so it's a vicious cycle. It might take a few days for the melatonin to help, so be patient. Good luck. > Hi everyone, Im not sure if you remember me, I posted about my 8 > year old son experiencing his OCD symptoms mostly at night making > it almost impossible for him to sleep. We were doing benadryl which > his Doctor said was ok, it was working for a couple weeks but she > warned us it would stop working, which it has. We give it to him 30 > minutes before bed and he still wide awake an hour later. She said > she wanted us not to give him more than 2 teaspoons, and if it > stops working she said we can try melatonin. I bought some liquid, > orange flavored melatonin (1mg) yesterday. Our Doctor said to start > out slow, so I did about .25 and when 30 minutes later he was still > wide awake, I did another.25, making it .5mg. She said he can take > up to 1mg, but Im wondering if that will even work? It seemed like > it may have made him even more awake, is that possible? He also > said he had a slight headache, is this normal? We are desperate for > sleep around here and my heart is breaking for my child who says > his brain wont stop talking to him at night Thanks in advance > for any advice. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2009 Report Share Posted November 11, 2009 My dd9 takes 3mg every night as instructed by our pdoc, and she weighs 68 lbs. Pdoc said we could even go up to 5mg. Within an hour, she's sleepy. We also let her read for 15-20 minutes before bed which helps slow her brain down. We were like you, desperate to get through the very harrowing hours at bedtime when her anxiety would spike. Now, she says she can " flick away " the OCD thoughts. The only symptom remaning is lots of itchiness just at bedtime...thuis was not helped much by the melatonin, so often we scratch her tummy and back while she's getting sleepy in bed. I put on a sound machine with " waves " , some instrumental music (Fairies in the Woods is really good), and " pet " her forehead for about ten minutes and she's out. And this from a girl who would take hours to fall asleep, as her anxiety only increased by the minute! in WI Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T How much Melatonin for 8 year old? Hi everyone, Im not sure if you remember me, I posted about my 8 year old son experiencing his OCD symptoms mostly at night making it almost impossible for him to sleep. We were doing benadryl which his Doctor said was ok, it was working for a couple weeks but she warned us it would stop working, which it has. We give it to him 30 minutes before bed and he still wide awake an hour later. She said she wanted us not to give him more than 2 teaspoons, and if it stops working she said we can try melatonin. I bought some liquid, orange flavored melatonin (1mg) yesterday. Our Doctor said to start out slow, so I did about .25 and when 30 minutes later he was still wide awake, I did another.25, making it .5mg. She said he can take up to 1mg, but Im wondering if that will even work? It seemed like it may have made him even more awake, is that possible? He also said he had a slight headache, is this normal? We are desperate for sleep around here and my heart is breaking for my child who says his brain wont stop talking to him at night Thanks in advance for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2009 Report Share Posted November 11, 2009 HI, My dd(13)Â Â Â has taken melatonin on and off for years. I started her at 1mg, and have gone up to 3mg. sometimes the 1mg works and other times she needs 3.. My dd has mentioned she has a hard time getting up after taking melatonin the night before.( I don't know why) Let us know how she does! Hugs Judy ________________________________ To: Sent: Tue, November 10, 2009 8:55:26 PM Subject: How much Melatonin for 8 year old? Â Hi everyone, Im not sure if you remember me, I posted about my 8 year old son experiencing his OCD symptoms mostly at night making it almost impossible for him to sleep. We were doing benadryl which his Doctor said was ok, it was working for a couple weeks but she warned us it would stop working, which it has. We give it to him 30 minutes before bed and he still wide awake an hour later. She said she wanted us not to give him more than 2 teaspoons, and if it stops working she said we can try melatonin. I bought some liquid, orange flavored melatonin (1mg) yesterday. Our Doctor said to start out slow, so I did about .25 and when 30 minutes later he was still wide awake, I did another.25, making it .5mg. She said he can take up to 1mg, but Im wondering if that will even work? It seemed like it may have made him even more awake, is that possible? He also said he had a slight headache, is this normal? We are desperate for sleep around here and my heart is breaking for my child who says his brain wont stop talking to him at night Thanks in advance for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2009 Report Share Posted November 11, 2009 My son has been taking Melatonin (3mg) for a couple of years at night. If you're worried, you can give a half tablet and can always give the other haof if there are no results in an hour. My son is usually ready to sleep after 1/2 hour. Bonnie > > My dd9 takes 3mg every night as instructed by our pdoc, and she weighs 68 lbs. Pdoc said we could even go up to 5mg. Within an hour, she's sleepy. We also let her read for 15-20 minutes before bed which helps slow her brain down. We were like you, desperate to get through the very harrowing hours at bedtime when her anxiety would spike. Now, she says she can " flick away " the OCD thoughts. The only symptom remaning is lots of itchiness just at bedtime...thuis was not helped much by the melatonin, so often we scratch her tummy and back while she's getting sleepy in bed. I put on a sound machine with " waves " , some instrumental music (Fairies in the Woods is really good), and " pet " her forehead for about ten minutes and she's out. And this from a girl who would take hours to fall asleep, as her anxiety only increased by the minute! > > in WI > Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T > > How much Melatonin for 8 year old? > > Hi everyone, Im not sure if you remember me, I posted about my 8 year old son experiencing his OCD symptoms mostly at night making it almost impossible for him to sleep. We were doing benadryl which his Doctor said was ok, it was working for a couple weeks but she warned us it would stop working, which it has. We give it to him 30 minutes before bed and he still wide awake an hour later. She said she wanted us not to give him more than 2 teaspoons, and if it stops working she said we can try melatonin. I bought some liquid, orange flavored melatonin (1mg) yesterday. Our Doctor said to start out slow, so I did about .25 and when 30 minutes later he was still wide awake, I did another.25, making it .5mg. She said he can take up to 1mg, but Im wondering if that will even work? It seemed like it may have made him even more awake, is that possible? He also said he had a slight headache, is this normal? We are desperate for sleep around here and my heart is breaking for my child who says his brain wont stop talking to him at night Thanks in advance for any advice. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Thanks everyone, I gave him 2mg last night and it worked great, I started with 1mg and he was still saying he wasn't sleepy so I tried one more mg and he went to sleep right away. I was reading about possible side effects of melatonin and it has me concerned. It says it can delay sexual development in children and there are reports of men saying it lowered sperm count. I didn't give him the melatonin tonight, but I did give him a Valerian mixture for kids and he is still up in his room doing his rituals which he didn't do yesterday. I was happy the melatonin worked but after reading possible side effects Im wondering if I should continue use. Any thoughts? > > Hi everyone, Im not sure if you remember me, I posted about my 8 year old son experiencing his OCD symptoms mostly at night making it almost impossible for him to sleep. We were doing benadryl which his Doctor said was ok, it was working for a couple weeks but she warned us it would stop working, which it has. We give it to him 30 minutes before bed and he still wide awake an hour later. She said she wanted us not to give him more than 2 teaspoons, and if it stops working she said we can try melatonin. I bought some liquid, orange flavored melatonin (1mg) yesterday. Our Doctor said to start out slow, so I did about .25 and when 30 minutes later he was still wide awake, I did another.25, making it .5mg. She said he can take up to 1mg, but Im wondering if that will even work? It seemed like it may have made him even more awake, is that possible? He also said he had a slight headache, is this normal? We are desperate for sleep around here and my heart is breaking for my child who says his brain wont stop talking to him at night Thanks in advance for any advice. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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