Have any questions about how to use the community? Check out the Help Discussion.

Melatonin to help sleep

I was wondering if anyone has any experience in giving their LO Melatonin so they can get a more restful sleep. My 95 year old Grandma's who has dementia and has caregivers helping her,  does experience sun-downing and some restlessness at night and this was something her physician suggested that might help her.  I am open to this but am worried about some of the side effects and whether it would be worth it. He suggested a small dose - 3 mg in the late aft/evening   -  that could help alleviate some of the sun downing symptoms and help her get a better night of sleep. Note she is already on Donepezil and Memantine.

Comments

  • jfkoc
    jfkoc Member Posts: 3,841
    Legacy Membership 2500 Comments 500 Likes 100 Insightfuls Reactions
    Member
    I was told by my Dr to use Valerian Root instead. You might check it out.
  • Kathy Joh
    Kathy Joh Member Posts: 4
    Third Anniversary First Comment
    Member
    Thanks I will ask her doc about that.
  • zauberflote
    zauberflote Member Posts: 272
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Likes
    Member

    Mom took a little melatonin (<3mg I think) for nighttime wakings during the last 4-5 months of her life. The staff at her MC said it sometimes helped. Since she was already on hospice, the meds she took regularly were seroquel and tylenol. 

    I suggested it for her because I used to give it to my two sons in middle and high school, to counteract the insomnia brought by the forms of ritalin they both took during school days. 

    I tried it myself one summer. I may not have been using enough; it didn't stop the secondary insomnia, while the prescription med I took otherwise kept me sleeping through that 1:00am waking. The only side effect I noticed was that I heard voices as I was getting sleepy! The developmental pediatrician who'd recommended it for the kids told me I was dreaming when I heard those voices. (Really dreaming-- she was not accusing me of making stuff up.)

  • feudman
    feudman Member Posts: 59
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Comments
    Member

    It's a natural product, but I've read that dementia patients' bodies don't produce the normal amount of melatonin, so by adding 2-3mg is only "getting them back to normal." More won't necessarily help.

    We used it, along with other OTC sleep meds; not sure how effective it was, but it didnt hurt. Some posters report it helped in falling asleep, but not staying asleep.

  • GothicGremlin
    GothicGremlin Member Posts: 853
    Fifth Anniversary 250 Care Reactions 500 Comments 100 Likes
    Member
    We give my sister 3mg of melatonin and it seems to help somewhat. I haven't seen any side effects from it.
  • jjuliajul11
    jjuliajul11 Member Posts: 7
    Second Anniversary First Comment
    Member
    Ask a doctor
  • bbbonbon
    bbbonbon Member Posts: 11
    10 Comments Second Anniversary
    Member
    Hello, my neighbor had a similar situation and she was thinking of starting to use melatonin. As I know, this drug has many side effects and I would not dare to take it if I had it. On https://www.canadadrugsdirect.com/ I read about various natural medicines such as valerian root and decided to buy it for her. In a few weeks she told me that it really helps her and it's great. I also advised her to spend more time outside and it affected her sleep even better!!!
  • tdnp
    tdnp Member Posts: 14
    10 Comments First Anniversary
    Member

    I guess I have missed the side effects.  Below is an article from the Mayo clinic.  There may be some interactions with other drugs so asking your doctor is always a good idea.  

    I do believe that it offers some help.

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/melatonin-side-effects/faq-20057874

    The most common melatonin side effects include:

    • Headache
    • Dizziness
    • Nausea
    • Drowsiness

    Other, less common melatonin side effects might include short-lasting feelings of depression, mild tremor, mild anxiety, abdominal cramps, irritability, reduced alertness, confusion or disorientation, and abnormally low blood pressure (hypotension). Because melatonin can cause daytime drowsiness, don't drive or use machinery within five hours of taking the supplement.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more