Melatonin

[Guest guest]

Bollocks- I thought it might be rx only over here. I've got 10 days worht left but Cally order usually takes upto 3 weeks and I've only just today placed the order. If you could lend me a few to tide me over I'll send replacements back when they arrive - Jack takes 3mg caps though and I thought Sam was on lower dose?

With best wishes

Re: Melatonin

In a message dated 23/08/2005 08:21:03 GMT Daylight Time, catherine.devereux@... writes:

Does anyone knw if you can source this in the UK as I am running low and am likely to run out before my next orde from Cally comes through - great planning!!!!

>>>No but I can send you some - how many you want?

Mandi

PS Its Consultant RX only in UK

[Guest guest]

A veritable pharmacy - just send me whichever you're least in need of - am very grateful for the offer.

Thanks

P.S Bowels are back up the swany here - back to the drawing board!!!

Re: Melatonin

In a message dated 23/08/2005 08:34:19 GMT Daylight Time, catherine.devereux@... writes:

Bollocks- I thought it might be rx only over here. I've got 10 days worht left but Cally order usually takes upto 3 weeks and I've only just today placed the order. If you could lend me a few to tide me over I'll send replacements back when they arrive - Jack takes 3mg caps though and I thought Sam was on lower dose?

>>>I have Kirkman Melatonin Plus 1mg caps (with some Magensium), LEF 1mg caps, Source Naturals 2mg tabs (which can be crushed) and Kirkman chewables 1mg - take your pick!

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

melatonin definately is a hypo topic, since we often need other hormones

made by the H-P-A axis! I sleep like the dead, and thankfully don't ever

get up to pee. Are you getting enough zinc for your prostate?

Gracia

> We recently had some discussions here on melatonin and I started taking

> 3 mg per day for insomnia. I thought I would report my results so far

> [although it is not a hypothyroidism topic].

>

> My sleep has vastly improved. I still sometimes take quite a while to

> fall asleep; and other times I may awaken and mull over problems of the

> day for quite a while before falling back asleep. However, those

> incidences are much less frequent now. There is just no comparison to

> how I sleep now and how I did a month ago. There are no negative side

> effects as far as I can tell.

>

> One side effect is very welcome. My frequency of urination at night has

> dropped at least 75% or more. Prior to the melatonin I always had to

> get up 3 or 4 times; and sometimes 6 or 8 times. Last night I got up

> one time; and once or possibly twice seems to be my norm now. I just

> hope the results last.

>

> My thanks to whoever recommended it...

>

>

>

>

> --

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.

> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.5/110 - Release Date: 9/22/2005

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks - I think it was me - I also sleep so well with it - it is

like a miracle compared to my years of sleeplessness. I only need 1.5 mg

now. I also think it is possibly a HypoT issue - I am low in Melatonin

and my daughter who also has Hashis has very low levels as well. I also

had low progesterone which I have corrected and very low testosterone

which I have finally (!!!) got a script for from my doc.

Kerry

MELATONIN

We recently had some discussions here on melatonin and I started taking

3 mg per day for insomnia. I thought I would report my results so far

[although it is not a hypothyroidism topic].

My sleep has vastly improved. I still sometimes take quite a while to

fall asleep; and other times I may awaken and mull over problems of the

day for quite a while before falling back asleep. However, those

incidences are much less frequent now. There is just no comparison to

how I sleep now and how I did a month ago. There are no negative side

effects as far as I can tell.

One side effect is very welcome. My frequency of urination at night has

dropped at least 75% or more. Prior to the melatonin I always had to

get up 3 or 4 times; and sometimes 6 or 8 times. Last night I got up

one time; and once or possibly twice seems to be my norm now. I just

hope the results last.

My thanks to whoever recommended it...

--

No virus found in this outgoing message.

Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.

Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.5/110 - Release Date:

9/22/2005

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 23/10/2005 18:51:43 GMT Daylight Time, simondavis@... writes:

Where’s the best place to buy melatonin?

>>>Not in the Uk. Its Consultant only prescription here, usually Rx'd in very high doses and supplied and a thick sugary syrup. You buy it over the counter anywhere else in the world I think...............

I use Kirkman Melatonin Plus for Sam, it comes in small caps which I opne and add to a drink. It has Magnesium in too.

They have a plain Melatonin too which is a chewable which my NT lads willl take if required.

www.kirkmanlabs.com both come in trial sizes

For me, its Source Naturals brand which I get from iherb.com

Melatonin is CHEAP - phew, makes a change eh?

Less is more

Mandi in Dorset

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandi,

So, are you saying you can get Melatonin Plus without script from Kirkman's, or still need script?

Sorry to be dense,

Kris

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 23/10/2005 21:20:20 GMT Daylight Time, krisandstusmith@... writes:

So, are you saying you can get Melatonin Plus without script from Kirkman's, or still need script?

>>No rx required - you can buy it in the net and import it - you just can't buy it in the UK. You can get a sample size from Kirkman but one big pot of the Melatoinin plus comes in under the VAT and duty level last time I ordered it by itself. I get it through Cally now so don;t know if the levels have changed. All the money I am saving means I canget some supps just for ME!

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandi,

Thanks - I've emailed your info on Melatonin to friend. Hopefully, gf/cf will sort out sleep probs, but not for your son?

Kris

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 23/10/2005 22:31:08 GMT Daylight Time, krisandstusmith@... writes:

Thanks - I've emailed your info on Melatonin to friend. Hopefully, gf/cf will sort out sleep probs, but not for your son?

>>>Nope - in fact made it worse - too much carbs and sugar - gettign through the yeast and keeping it there with enzymes sorted out night waking. He needs to Melatonin to reseatblish a sleep pattermn but can then go without it for a few wekes and then he nees it again as bedtime gets later and later. Since chelating TD DMPS we tend to give it most nights when he is at school, weekends we chill, play a lot more with him and enjoy him staying up later

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay

We went upto 6mg ..still didnt work !

Got him to sleep in 30 min...still woke..

and was more stressed when he did.

I abandonded it...

I would look at his diet first.

Gluten / dairy def no...but most seem to be having good things from

removing corn (maize) and soya.

If you dont do these ...try giving more protein in the evening.

Kill the yeastie beasties as well !

What happened in January ?

Joanne

>

> Hi All

>

> We are having sleep problems again after a wonderful spell from

> September to December of going to sleep easily and not waking at

night.

>

> Last week I introduced Melatonin for the first time. It's Kirkmans

> Melatonin Plus, and I have been giving 1mg per night at 7.30pm.

> Unfortunately Louis who is 6 and 56lbs isn't going to sleep until

> about 9.00pm. This is a slight improvement on no Melatonin, when

Louis

> wouldn't go to sleep until about 9.30pm.

>

> Has anyone any experience of giving higher doses of Melatonin and

if

> so how high can you go? I know Melatonin will probably not solve

the

> waking at night but I would like him to get to sleep at a better

time

> than at present.(By the way we are still treating with Nystatin

and

> CP1, Biokult and Saccharomyces Boulardii for Yeast.)

>

> Any good ideas?

>

> Thanks Kay.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Joanne

Thanks for the info. Yes we are strictly GF/CF and although we have removed

both corn and soya in the past and then reintroduced it, unfortunately it

doesn't seem to have any bearing on how he sleeps.

Have doubled his dose to 2mg tonight to see how that goes.

Thanks for your ideas.

Kay.

Re: Melatonin

> Hi Kay

>

> We went upto 6mg ..still didnt work !

> Got him to sleep in 30 min...still woke..

> and was more stressed when he did.

>

> I abandonded it...

> I would look at his diet first.

>

> Gluten / dairy def no...but most seem to be having good things from

> removing corn (maize) and soya.

> If you dont do these ...try giving more protein in the evening.

>

> Kill the yeastie beasties as well !

>

> What happened in January ?

>

> Joanne

>

>

>

>

>

>

>>

>> Hi All

>>

>> We are having sleep problems again after a wonderful spell from

>> September to December of going to sleep easily and not waking at

> night.

>>

>> Last week I introduced Melatonin for the first time. It's Kirkmans

>> Melatonin Plus, and I have been giving 1mg per night at 7.30pm.

>> Unfortunately Louis who is 6 and 56lbs isn't going to sleep until

>> about 9.00pm. This is a slight improvement on no Melatonin, when

> Louis

>> wouldn't go to sleep until about 9.30pm.

>>

>> Has anyone any experience of giving higher doses of Melatonin and

> if

>> so how high can you go? I know Melatonin will probably not solve

> the

>> waking at night but I would like him to get to sleep at a better

> time

>> than at present.(By the way we are still treating with Nystatin

> and

>> CP1, Biokult and Saccharomyces Boulardii for Yeast.)

>>

>> Any good ideas?

>>

>> Thanks Kay.

>>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> DISCLAIMER

> No information contained in this post is to be construed as medical

> advice. If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably

> qualified practitioner.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay,

Jack is 62lb and we have always used 3mg dose which does help him get off to sleep by 9.30-10.00ish most nights and he now generally sleeps throgugh from there.

On 05/02/06, Kay Lowney <kay.steve@...> wrote:

Hi AllWe are having sleep problems again after a wonderful spell fromSeptember to December of going to sleep easily and not waking at night.

Last week I introduced Melatonin for the first time. It's KirkmansMelatonin Plus, and I have been giving 1mg per night at 7.30pm.Unfortunately Louis who is 6 and 56lbs isn't going to sleep untilabout 9.00pm

.. This is a slight improvement on no Melatonin, when Louiswouldn't go to sleep until about 9.30pm.Has anyone any experience of giving higher doses of Melatonin and ifso how high can you go? I know Melatonin will probably not solve the

waking at night but I would like him to get to sleep at a better timethan at present.(By the way we are still treating with Nystatin andCP1, Biokult and Saccharomyces Boulardii for Yeast.)Any good ideas?

Thanks Kay.DISCLAIMERNo information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified practitioner.

[Guest guest]

Possibly bonkers but turkey and lettuce both promote sleep. We try

and give Tom turkey quite close to bed time. I can't claim it works

on him (as I write he's been down twice and is still softly

drumming) but it's meant to release a chemical that promotes sleep.

Lettuce similarly but you'd probably have to juice it to get it down

him. (apparently this is what happened to Rabbit in the

Beatrix Potter stories, ate too much lettuce, Result! unconscious

when Farmer thingy arrived.)

>

> Hi All

>

> We are having sleep problems again after a wonderful spell from

> September to December of going to sleep easily and not waking at

night.

>

> Last week I introduced Melatonin for the first time. It's Kirkmans

> Melatonin Plus, and I have been giving 1mg per night at 7.30pm.

> Unfortunately Louis who is 6 and 56lbs isn't going to sleep until

> about 9.00pm. This is a slight improvement on no Melatonin, when

Louis

> wouldn't go to sleep until about 9.30pm.

>

> Has anyone any experience of giving higher doses of Melatonin and

if

> so how high can you go? I know Melatonin will probably not solve

the

> waking at night but I would like him to get to sleep at a better

time

> than at present.(By the way we are still treating with Nystatin

and

> CP1, Biokult and Saccharomyces Boulardii for Yeast.)

>

> Any good ideas?

>

> Thanks Kay.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Steph

I am ROFL ..I must tell my Paed about lettuce and Rabbit.

Joanne

> >

> > Hi All

> >

> > We are having sleep problems again after a wonderful spell from

> > September to December of going to sleep easily and not waking at

> night.

> >

> > Last week I introduced Melatonin for the first time. It's

Kirkmans

> > Melatonin Plus, and I have been giving 1mg per night at 7.30pm.

> > Unfortunately Louis who is 6 and 56lbs isn't going to sleep

until

> > about 9.00pm. This is a slight improvement on no Melatonin, when

> Louis

> > wouldn't go to sleep until about 9.30pm.

> >

> > Has anyone any experience of giving higher doses of Melatonin

and

> if

> > so how high can you go? I know Melatonin will probably not solve

> the

> > waking at night but I would like him to get to sleep at a better

> time

> > than at present.(By the way we are still treating with Nystatin

> and

> > CP1, Biokult and Saccharomyces Boulardii for Yeast.)

> >

> > Any good ideas?

> >

> > Thanks Kay.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 06/02/2006 10:09:18 GMT Standard Time, kay.steve@... writes:

Has anyone got any Kirkmans Melatonin with magnesium I can buy off them? I only got a trial size from the USA and need some to use until my Cally order comes. I dont think it can be bought anywhere in the UK. Or is there another make anyone can recommend?

>>>I have some smaples pots tucked away for this very thing- will send you one through, can you sedn me your addy off list. Going to post office later with more membership packs so it will go off today

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandi

Last night I gave 2mg at 7.30pm and he was asleep by 8.40pm.He woke

once at 1.00am because he and his bed were soaking (he still wears a

nappy at night but the nappies don't deal with the quantity) , but

went back to sleep easily and didn't wake until 7.00am. So tonight I

will try 3mg and see how that goes.

Louis has always been a bad sleeper, in the respect of waking up at

night but we have had good times were for a few months everything

goes well and he doesn't wake up in the night at all.(We just cant

find the reasons why.) This going to sleep late is a new thing,

normally he is asleep by 8.00pm. (the last time it occurred he was 2

1/2 and now he is 6.)

Has anyone got any Kirkmans Melatonin with magnesium I can buy off

them? I only got a trial size from the USA and need some to use

until my Cally order comes. I dont think it can be bought anywhere

in the UK. Or is there another make anyone can recommend?

Thanks

Kay.

-- In Autism Treatment , Mum231ASD@... wrote:

>

>

> In a message dated 05/02/2006 17:35:18 GMT Standard Time,

> kay.steve@... writes:

>

> Has anyone any experience of giving higher doses of Melatonin and

if

> so how high can you go? I know Melatonin will probably not solve

the

> waking at night but I would like him to get to sleep at a better

time

> than at present.(By the way we are still treating with Nystatin

and

> CP1, Biokult and Saccharomyces Boulardii for Yeast.)

>

>

>

> >>>You can go hgher - most Consultant Peds Rx 3-6mg. Find what

works for him

> and then move backwards to find to minumum effective dose IMHO

>

> Bug busting can often upset sleep patterns - has he always had a

prob with

> sleep or is it just the time he goes off?

>

> Mandi x

>

[Guest guest]

Steph, was it ‘Mr Mcgregor’s

garden”?

Sally

From: Autism Treatment [mailto:Autism Treatment ] On Behalf Of Sirr

Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006

9:08 PM

Autism Treatment

Subject:

Re: Melatonin

Possibly bonkers but turkey

and lettuce both promote sleep. We try

and give Tom turkey quite close to bed time. I

can't claim it works

on him (as I write he's been down twice and is

still softly

drumming) but it's meant to release a chemical

that promotes sleep.

Lettuce similarly but you'd probably have to juice

it to get it down

him. (apparently this is what happened to

Rabbit in the

Beatrix Potter stories, ate too much lettuce,

Result! unconscious

when Farmer thingy arrived.)

>

> Hi All

>

> We are having sleep problems again after a

wonderful spell from

> September to December of going to sleep easily

and not waking at

night.

>

> Last week I introduced Melatonin for the

first time. It's Kirkmans

> Melatonin Plus, and I have been giving 1mg

per night at 7.30pm.

> Unfortunately Louis who is 6 and 56lbs isn't

going to sleep until

> about 9.00pm. This is a slight improvement on

no Melatonin, when

Louis

> wouldn't go to sleep until about 9.30pm.

>

> Has anyone any experience of giving higher

doses of Melatonin and

if

> so how high can you go? I know Melatonin will

probably not solve

the

> waking at night but I would like him to get

to sleep at a better

time

> than at present.(By the way we are still

treating with Nystatin

and

> CP1, Biokult and Saccharomyces Boulardii for

Yeast.)

>

> Any good ideas?

>

> Thanks Kay.

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 06/02/2006 09:19:51 GMT Standard Time, catherine.devereux@... writes:

thnk we might be having the same problem here!! Have got Jack off school today having been up most of last night and Friday night, then zombie like during the day. Have upped yeast killers and giving 2 caps candigest nightly - am assuming this might be a contributory factor?!

>>>Yes oftemtimes the die off disturbs the sleep, they are often seeking carbs when they wake too. You'll get through it but its a rough ride sometimes. Does get easier with time if you are vigilant about the sugar and get those probiotics in

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

Yes, you're right. But at heart, he was a farmer.

> >

> > Hi All

> >

> > We are having sleep problems again after a wonderful spell from

> > September to December of going to sleep easily and not waking at

> night.

> >

> > Last week I introduced Melatonin for the first time. It's

Kirkmans

> > Melatonin Plus, and I have been giving 1mg per night at 7.30pm.

> > Unfortunately Louis who is 6 and 56lbs isn't going to sleep

until

> > about 9.00pm. This is a slight improvement on no Melatonin, when

> Louis

> > wouldn't go to sleep until about 9.30pm.

> >

> > Has anyone any experience of giving higher doses of Melatonin

and

> if

> > so how high can you go? I know Melatonin will probably not solve

> the

> > waking at night but I would like him to get to sleep at a better

> time

> > than at present.(By the way we are still treating with Nystatin

> and

> > CP1, Biokult and Saccharomyces Boulardii for Yeast.)

> >

> > Any good ideas?

> >

> > Thanks Kay.

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> DISCLAIMER

> No information contained in this post is to be construed as

medical advice.

> If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably

qualified

> practitioner.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just got through another sh*te night with J!!!! Ended up sleeping on his floor as he was high as a kite and ready to play having been a zombie all day!!! Is it the 2 candigests at night that are initiating this do you think as he's bee nv. quiet in the say and v.lively at night - BMs are vastly improved though - so good I feel like photographing them for the record - shame about the behaviour though! Thought I might cut back to 1 candigest nightly and see if that helps. Is it usual for gut bugs to come out for a boogie at night!!!!

Love

On 07/02/06, Mum231ASD@... <Mum231ASD@...> wrote:

In a message dated 06/02/2006 09:19:51 GMT Standard Time, catherine.devereux@...

writes:

thnk we might be having the same problem here!! Have got Jack off school today having been up most of last night and Friday night, then zombie like during the day. Have upped yeast killers and giving 2 caps candigest nightly - am assuming this might be a contributory factor?!

>>>Yes oftemtimes the die off disturbs the sleep, they are often seeking carbs when they wake too. You'll get through it but its a rough ride sometimes. Does get easier with time if you are vigilant about the sugar and get those probiotics in

Mandi xDISCLAIMERNo information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified practitioner.

[Guest guest]

Hi

So sorry that you are having such a rough time. I know Dr Heard thinks parasites are to blame for a lot of waking problems in the night. I'm sure you dont want to hear that!

I gave Louis 3mg of Melatonin last night and he was asleep by 8.15pm, hurray! He still woke at 3.00am but went back to sleep easily within minutes.

I was thinking of stopping the Nystatin (we've been on it for 8 months) and try Candigest, which I have sitting in the cupboard.

Is he happy at school at the moment? I know school issues affect Louis's sleeping?

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Kay.

Re: Melatonin

Just got through another sh*te night with J!!!! Ended up sleeping on his floor as he was high as a kite and ready to play having been a zombie all day!!! Is it the 2 candigests at night that are initiating this do you think as he's bee nv. quiet in the say and v.lively at night - BMs are vastly improved though - so good I feel like photographing them for the record - shame about the behaviour though! Thought I might cut back to 1 candigest nightly and see if that helps. Is it usual for gut bugs to come out for a boogie at night!!!!

Love

On 07/02/06, Mum231ASD@... <Mum231ASD@...> wrote:

In a message dated 06/02/2006 09:19:51 GMT Standard Time, catherine.devereux@... writes:

thnk we might be having the same problem here!! Have got Jack off school today having been up most of last night and Friday night, then zombie like during the day. Have upped yeast killers and giving 2 caps candigest nightly - am assuming this might be a contributory factor?!

>>>Yes oftemtimes the die off disturbs the sleep, they are often seeking carbs when they wake too. You'll get through it but its a rough ride sometimes. Does get easier with time if you are vigilant about the sugar and get those probiotics in

Mandi xDISCLAIMERNo information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified practitioner.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay,

Thanks! I think school is fine and that its more likely to be the gut bugs - he goes through phases of this- but luckily not too often!!! Glad to hear the melatonins working for Louis - 3mg usually does the trick for Jack, but clearly not at the moment!!!

Love

On 07/02/06, Kay & Steve <kay.steve@...> wrote:

Hi

So sorry that you are having such a rough time. I know Dr Heard thinks parasites are to blame for a lot of waking problems in the night. I'm sure you dont want to hear that!

I gave Louis 3mg of Melatonin last night and he was asleep by 8.15pm, hurray! He still woke at 3.00am but went back to sleep easily within minutes.

I was thinking of stopping the Nystatin (we've been on it for 8 months) and try Candigest, which I have sitting in the cupboard.

Is he happy at school at the moment? I know school issues affect Louis's sleeping?

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Kay.

Re: Melatonin

Just got through another sh*te night with J!!!! Ended up sleeping on his floor as he was high as a kite and ready to play having been a zombie all day!!! Is it the 2 candigests at night that are initiating this do you think as he's bee nv. quiet in the say and v.lively at night - BMs are vastly improved though - so good I feel like photographing them for the record - shame about the behaviour though! Thought I might cut back to 1 candigest nightly and see if that helps. Is it usual for gut bugs to come out for a boogie at night!!!!

Love

On 07/02/06, Mum231ASD@... <

Mum231ASD@...> wrote:

In a message dated 06/02/2006 09:19:51 GMT Standard Time, catherine.devereux@...

writes:

thnk we might be having the same problem here!! Have got Jack off school today having been up most of last night and Friday night, then zombie like during the day. Have upped yeast killers and giving 2 caps candigest nightly - am assuming this might be a contributory factor?!

>>>Yes oftemtimes the die off disturbs the sleep, they are often seeking carbs when they wake too. You'll get through it but its a rough ride sometimes. Does get easier with time if you are vigilant about the sugar and get those probiotics in

Mandi xDISCLAIMERNo information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified practitioner.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 07/02/2006 11:10:25 GMT Standard Time, catherine.devereux@... writes:

BMs are vastly improved though - so good I feel like photographing them for the record - shame about the behaviour though! Thought I might cut back to 1 candigest nightly and see if that helps. Is it usual for gut bugs to come out for a boogie at night!!!!

>>>Take a photograph why not - may need to use it in your presentation one day - I did my way LOL

Somebody once explained it to me that the bugs do boogie, wake you up and hope you'll get some food for them. If the poop is better you must be heading in the right direction.

I know your arms are tired like mine, hanging in there for 6 years already but 2006 is going to be the year I think for some of us old timers - yt has to be!!

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

Oh good! You are coming to the Northwest in the USA to meet .... and her

granny too... Right? I will be at the airport to meet you..... with bells on!

And fully clothed to boot!

Cheers,

Karolyn

Melatonin

Second question:-)))))

Has anyone used Melatonin to combat jet lag on long distance flights?

If so, did it work, and how and when did you take it?

I'm talking 24 hours of flying here.

Thanks in advance

Fred

[Guest guest]

For the past few months we've given Charlie, will be 7 in July,

melatonin on sort of an on demand basis. For years Charlie slept very

well, maybe all too well as an infant. After he had his T & A in April

2005, he's slept much more quietly and, I hope, more restfully. But even

before the T & A, he had started having some difficulties falling asleep

and more rarely staying asleep.

When I first asked his pediatrician about giving melatonin, in a quick

phone consult he said he wouldn't recommend this in any kid with history

of OSA. Later, face to face, discussing this further, and offered the

choice of telling us it was okay to try melatonin or we'd expect him to

come over and sit with Charlie the next time he awoke at 3 a.m. all

ready to play, he said okay.

When it appears Charlie is having difficulty settling and getting off to

sleep, by 10 or 10:30 or so, I cut a 3mg tablet of regular melatonin in

half, crush it, and stir it into about a tablespoon of applesauce. Wish

the tablets were scored. So far, quite effective, usually sleeping

soundly within 20 minutes. But, in 4 or 5 months, we've done this maybe

6 or 7 times.

Just our experience. Your mileage may vary. If your child's problem is

staying asleep, you might do better to try the time-released version.

Here's an unauthorized snip, maybe he won't mind too much, of something

Dr. Leshin posted about melatonin to the Down-syn list in Jan. 2005:

A few comments about melatonin since my name is on this thread....

First, melatonin is not a regulated medication. It's been shown that the

total mg of the tablet may not actually be what's on the

label. Consumerlabs.com did a study on commonly sold melatonin and found

that the following manufacturers were trustworthy: KAL, Twin Labs, Biochem,

Duane Reade, Jarrow Formulas, MRM, Natrol, Nature's Bounty, Puritan's

Pride, Schiff and Walgreens brand.

Melatonin is available in quick-release form ­ regular tablets and capsules

­ and special time-release forms extending its release over several hours

(also referred to as extended-release, controlled-release, or time-release

forms). Quick-release aids the ability to fall asleep, while time-release

may be more helpful in staying asleep. Time-release versions cannot be

crushed or chewed, but can be found as very small tablets.

There does seem to be some tendency to " get used to " the melatonin with

less effectiveness over time. This varies from person to person, however.

Finally, melatonin's safety in young children has not been established.

Len Leshin, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Down Syndrome: Health Issues

http://www.ds-health.com