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Melatonin

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There are two types of melatonin; slow release and fast release. Normally a child will only be prescribed one or the other to help with sleep, however some families have had both prescribed. The liquid or powder form is designed to help them fall asleep, and the tablet is designed to help them stay asleep throughout the night. Slow release is only available as a tablet or capsule so if you have to open the capsule, or crush the tablet, to hide the contents in food or drink then it will no longer be slow release. Melatonin is not the same as a sleeping tablet and won’t knock someone out, but it is a necessary hormone to help you to sleep. 


NHS Lanarkshire’s guidelines on the use of melatonin can be found at the link below. A 2 week sleep diary is recommended before melatonin is prescribed so it may be useful to record while waiting on a medical appointment (there is a template diary at the back of this document): https://www.rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/media/1885/guideline-on-the-use-of-melatonin-for-the-management-of-sleep-disorders-20211117-v2.pdf 


A GP can prescribe melatonin but needs to take ‘advice of a paediatrician or psychiatrist with expertise in the management of sleep medicine in children and/or ASD’ so will refer you to a paediatrician to prescribe initially. Some parents have had pushback from paediatrics saying that a referral can’t be for sleep alone, but this is incorrect and should be challenged as the GP requires evidence on file that a paediatrician agrees with the prescription. There should be an annual paediatrician review to look at the dosage; due to backlogs in some areas these do not seem to happen each year.  Paediatrics contact details are phone: 01698 687553 or email communitypaediatrics@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk 


Sleep Action also have some helpful information on their website which the GP or paediatrician are likely to recommend; they also have a help service and support line: https://sleepaction.org/ 


Tips for taking 

  • Sprinkle the powder into yoghurt or custard, or crush the tablet into powder and use in the same way. Some have also used a pill crusher and then added to juice, or if it is a capsule then open this up and add to a food item. 
  • Some brands are easier to crush than others so if your child is struggling to take the tablet it is worth asking to try a different brand. The liquid (fast acting only) is more expensive to provide so is not always offered in the first instance but can be requested from the prescribing doctor (and may need to be ordered in by the pharmacy). 
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