Melatonin For Autism - Helping The Child Have A Restful Night

The human body produces Melatonin naturally. Usually the body of an autistic child does not produce enough Melatonin and so they usually have a problem falling asleep. Excessive lack of sleep can cause a lot of problems for an autistic child. The number of unwanted behaviors will increase. Usually, if the child has not slept, the parents do not sleep either. This will lead to both the parent and child being grouchy. Starting a day exhausted can spoil the entire day. Additionally, the child will be cranky and refuse to cooperate with anybody. This makes doctor appointments and therapy very difficult.

If your child is autistic and is having trouble sleeping at night, you could try giving him or her some Melatonin supplements. Most pharmacies and health food stores sell these. Melatonin is safer than using the prescription medicines. Using prescription medication makes the child depend on them for sleep. As the body anyway produces Melatonin, its supplement merely ensures the body has the correct amount of Melatonin required to make the child sleep.

Give the child the Melatonin supplement at least half an hour before his or her bedtime. Ensure you give the minimum dosage that is required for effect to take place. Usually 1-3 milligrams is sufficient for the autistic child to fall asleep with ease. Always give the lowest dosage initially. If you give too high a dose, waking the child can be hard. It could also lead to the child having nightmares. Too high a dose can make the child groggy and tired the next morning. This is not desirable. The child needs to be energized and rested, not sleepy and tired.

Usually, Melotonin does not become less effective with time. With continuous use, there is not much chance that the Melatonin will stop working. If, for some reason, it stops working, discontinue the course for a couple of days or weeks. After this the dosage can be restarted and it should work. It has been shown that autistic children who have taken Melatonin have shown additional positive results. Children who take Melatonin are found to be more alert after their sleep. It has also helped children suffering from depression or anxiety. In this way you can avoid certain medicines that have unfavorable side effects.

If the autistic child is not sleeping well, Melatonin is the best bet. A good night's rest is essential for any child, especially an autistic one. If your child is already on some other medication to get sleep, consult your doctor if Melatonin is a good substitute. This should be given to the child only once, and that too, before bedtime. Giving Melatonin late at night or in the middle of sleep can disrupt the internal clock of the child. This could increase the problems the child suffers from.

Consider Melatonin if your doctor recommends using sleeping medication for your autistic child. There are no side effects and the child does not be dependent on it to help him or her sleep. Because our bodies produce Melatonin, it is completely natural. When our bodies do not produce enough, it is all right to supplement it. The Melatonin supplement will add the amount that our body needs in order to fall asleep and get a good night's rest.

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