Melatonin to help sleep

Kathy Joh

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.

jfkoc

I was told by my Dr to use Valerian Root instead. You might check it out.

Kathy Joh

Thanks I will ask her doc about that.

zauberflote

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

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

We give my sister 3mg of melatonin and it seems to help somewhat. I haven't seen any side effects from it.

jjuliajul11

Ask a doctor

bbbonbon

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

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.