I was prescribed melatonin when I was 11. In the UK it is only available via prescription (source on that: https://www.simpleonlinepharmacy.co.uk/health-advice/sleep/melatonin/why-is-melatonin-banned-in-the-uk/#article )
My sleep schedule was haywire (hormones + emerging gender dysphoria did not help) but melatonin really helped me. I also think it helped my anxiety a bit? I’m not sure if that was just bc I was sleeping better but I have terrible social anxiety and it seemed to take the edge off it. anyone else? :)
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It is a documented phenomenon that ASD people don’t produce enough melatonin but research of sketchy about long-term effects of its use and there is essentially no research on its long-term use in ASD people.
I took 2mg every day for a year and I’m stepping it up to 5mg. It does help.
I’m taking melatonin nightly and I guess it helps a little bit. Hasn’t really solved my sleep issues but it does help. It doesn’t help me sleep really well, but without it I sleep even worse, if that makes sense. Like I don’t really notice it doing anything when I take it, but if I don’t take it I really notice it. So I guess that’s something?
Melatonin doesn’t help me, but valerian root has worked well for me. I don’t think it has much to do with autism, though. I know plenty of neurotypical people that don’t have either of these work.
Valerian root made the bottom of my brain fall out. I couldn’t sleep, but I also couldn’t move 😐
Makes sleeping much harder for me most of the time
It is possible that you are taking too much
That’s weird, paradoxical effect? our brains are different so that makes sense.
Melatonin is a clock-setting hormone, not a sleep aid, and most of the supplements on the (US) market have waaaaay too high a dose. I get excellent results from 150ug (0.15mg) taken 4 hours before bedtime at the same time every night, and I suffered from delayed sleep phase syndrome for decades before figuring this out.
Dumping an entire bathtub full of melatonin (relatively speaking) into one’s brain leads to more problems than it solves, and it’s not even a very good sleep aid on top of that. Because its actual function is as a clock-setting molecule.
This is very a very important distinction, thank you for this reply. Melatonin in high doses administered for a long time has also been loosely correlated with delayed puberty. There are no clinical studies I am aware of that prove this but something I have been concerned about for my children. It’s scary giving any type of medication or supplement to my kids, even those that have decades of research. I’m not advocating for anyone to start or stop taking melatonin but it’s good to be informed about the possible effects. Here’s the journal article I read: Could long-term administration of melatonin to prepubertal children affect timing of puberty? A clinician’s perspective
I’ve have issues functioning the next day anytime I take sleeping aids. Melatonin, zolpidem, etc. It helps to start falling asleep, but the next day my head is completely foggy and I cannot function. :(
I wish I could take sleeping.aids without issues the next day. I never wake up refreshed, just more tired.
Environmental changes such as blackout curtains, a humidifier (at least in dry climates), complete silence/soothing music (depending on your personal preference), weighted or warming blankets have helped my son who is on the autism spectrum.
Glad that works for your son!
I’m already blackout lights, silent room, etc. I just can’t fight my thoughts. They never shut up.
I’m fortunate that I have some visual artifacts in my vision and a ringing in my ears that I can concentrate on to quiet my thoughts.
The visual thing is a black circle with white outline that constantly “rotates”, stretches and squashes to give my eyes something. And the ringing sounds like Christmas chimes for me. Not too unpleasant, and they don’t disturb me during the day.
Some things that haven’t really been mentioned yet: Melatonin helps me to fall asleep very well, but in turn I sleep less overall. Without melatonin I sleep a good 8 hours if I actually fall asleep, with it I wake up after 6 and rarely fall back asleep. And secondly, melatonin makes my dreams a lot more intense and vivid. Maybe it has to do with the shortened sleep and how the sleep phases fall, but it’s an effect that I have consistently witnessed for me.
My son takes it and says it helps him sleep much better at nights.
Did it help with anxiety at all (if he has it)?
No, I would not say it helped with his anxiety. He does not have clinically diagnosed anxiety. Although he does have anxiety episodes now and then. He’s also taking a stimulant for ADHD and that seems to help regulate a lot of his ADHD/impulse control/anxious behaviors. He has an inverse reaction to stimulants like many on the autism spectrum.
Aside from melatonin or other supplements/medications, have you tried any type of therapeutic activities? Brushing, deep pressure, exercise like lifting weights, or joint compression have helped my son when he has an anxiety episode or is feeling very hyperactive.
Not autistic.
Melatonin should help you fall asleep. It works great for me at 3mg. It will not really keep you asleep and I’ve never heard of it reducing anxiety.
Antihistamines however(hydroxyzine, promethazine… and more), they’re good at all of this. Falling asleep even, but not to the same effect as melatonin. Downside is the length of effect, you usually wake up being tired for a few more hours.
There are brands that sell melatonine that will start working after some time. My son gets a blend of fast and slow release melatonin, as he had the problem you describe: fall asleep somewhat normally and be wide awake in the middle of the night.
Yes, I take melatonin and find it helps with more consistent sleep.
Poor sleep usually leads to impaired emotional regulation and less bandwidth, so improving one’s sleep can often help with anxiety, stress, etc.
This is a great reply! Good sleep habits can be hard for everyone, neurotypical or autistic. My son was having trouble sleeping due to a medication he was prescribed by his doctor. We reviewed this at a recent med check and the doctor changed the schedule so the meds would wear off a few hours before bedtime and he’s sleeping much better now. He has fewer headaches, fewer nightmares, better emotional regulation, and better focus. It’s hard to parse which of these are due to the medication change and which are due to better sleep, but better sleep is always a good thing.
I’m glad your son’s doctor was able to sort it out! That sounds like a significant improvement.
There are plenty of medications and even vitamin supplements that can interfere with sleep (e.g. don’t take Vitamin D in the evening), so it’s good to look into whatever medication one is taking as well.
