Sleep issues- Is it the medication?

[LF2023]

Hello! Every night at 7pm I give my daughter 2MG of melatonin and at 8PM she is having 0.05MG of clonidine (I am crushing it up- She can't swallow the pill even though it's cut in half) the doctor says it has nothing to do with how it is metabolizing since the medication is not extended release.

She goes to bed perfectly fine with no issues and is asleep by about 8:15-8:30

The last 2 weeks or so she has been waking up every single night at about 3AM and staying awake until about 4:45/5:00 falling back asleep and having to get up for school at 7

When she's waking up she's not talking or crying she's just awake and can't sleep- I just feel so bad for her that she's waking up every night

The doctor is talking about increasing the dosage of the clonidine, but that worries me she's only 4.5 and very small- do you think it's the melatonin should she have more or less? Or the timing? Has anyone experienced this? Thank you!

[kdali]

Mine did this at the same age, but I think it was a growth spurt. I lean into magnesium and earlier bedtimes when she has not slept well, as she is not on anything for sleep.

[LF2023 in reply to kdali]

I'm starting to think maybe it could be a growth spurt thing as well- She does take magnesium at night with a epsom salt bath melatonin, black out curtains, humidifier, weighted stuffed animal and no fluids- haha I try it all. We have come a long long way with her sleeping throughout the night, but just feel she's regressed over the last 2 weeks and the only thing that has changed is added the medication. Very well could be a growth spurt- sometimes the answer is easy! lol thank you so much

[Hidden]

Maybe ask what type of Melatonin she is getting- is it Modified release or the

Melatonin 1mg and 5mg prolonged release mini- tablets (Slenyto®)

SPC 1mg prolonged release tablet

SPC 5mg prolonged.

Maybe the prolonged release would be better for her? In the UK only modified release is licensed to use in kids with ADHD and the prolonged is for kids with ASD. But doctors can prescribe stuff off licence when they feel it’s appropriate.

I’d say don’t increase Clonidine yet. Ask first what can be done with Melatonin.

Do you have blackout in her room?

I noticed that my kids start waking earlier when it starts to get very bright in the early hours of morning. We only have curtains and now I am thinking of adding roller blinds to blackout better.

I noticed that once they wake and then it starts getting bright they are not able to get back to sleep.

[Peerandparent]

Melatonin is a hormone that signals the body to go to sleep; it doesn't really regulate sleep.

As another respondent said, there's a good chance it's to do with their development, either growth spurt or other changes disrupting their sleep. Unless there has been a recent medication change it's unlikely to be the meds.

One option if it's a stimulant they're on is to try witholding it or reducing the dosage on the weekend to see if it changes things.

Another suggestion is to look at her routine; make sure there's enough physical activity, look at any sleep hygiene improvements you can make, and see if there's anything going on at school she might not be telling you about. I know for me when I was little, I didn't really have a way of communicating some of the complex social dynamics that can take place.

Is it possible that her bladder is what is triggering her to wake up? Maybe cut down on fluids before bed.

Make sure to try one thing at a time though, both to allow her to adjust to changes and for you to know what helps.

[Elijah1]

Increasing clonidine will not likely affect a 3 AM waking since it helps falling asleep but not staying asleep. Using extended release melatonin raises questions since it changes the natural melatonin rise and fall cycle. I agree that determining why she awakens will be the key factor.

[LF2023 in reply to Elijah1]

I let her sleep in my room last night and I think she is having nightmares- so could be completely unrelated to anything. She has only been on the clonidine for 2.5 weeks so hopefully it's just a growth spurt thing! Thank you for your response!

[Bootsie1]

Have you tried the time released melatonin? The brand we use is from Douglas Laboratories which is a well respected manufacturer.