top of page

 

Sleep and Melatonin

Problems getting to or staying asleep?

Insomnia in children is a common sleep disorder characterised by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. It can significantly impact a child's behaviour, mood, and overall quality of life, as well as affect family dynamics. Insomnia affects many children but it is particularly prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

​

Melatonin, is the natural human hormone that is released from our brains when it is time to sleep so that it regulates sleep-wake cycles. A man-made copy of this is often used as a treatment for insomnia in children. It is considered effective and safe, especially in the short term, for improving getting to sleep (sleep onset latency) and total sleep time.

 

Melatonin is particularly beneficial for children who have not responded adequately to sleep hygiene and behavioural interventions.

​

 The use of melatonin should be monitored by healthcare providers to ensure efficacy and to check for any adverse effects.

​

Overall, melatonin can be a useful adjunct in managing paediatric insomnia, particularly in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, when used under appropriate medical guidance.​

Why UK GPs can't do the first prescription for Melatonin

Most children who take Melatonin are taking inexpensive tablets such as Circadin which starts at about £30 a month. That's £1 for a good night's sleep.

​

However, some forms of Melatonin are very expensive and in the past GPs have been caught out and ended up with very large bills. 

​

Now GPs will not prescribe any form of melatonin unless it has first been prescribed by a consultant and the patient has taken it for 3 months and shown some benefit. This is called a Shared Care Agreement which would work well but unfortunately there are long waiting lists for hospital clinics and many hospitals do not have sleep clinics except for children with ASD or neurodevelopmental problems.

How I can help.

I am happy to assess children and teenagers who are having sleep difficulties and see whether they might benefit from Melatonin. We can talk about the different forms of Melatonin and if appropriate, I will prescribe Melatonin on a Private prescription for 3 months. This means that initially you will have to pay the Pharmacy for the medication until we reach an effective dose and then I will write to your GP to carry this on as an NHS prescription as per the Shared Care Agreement.

​

You will pay me for the initial consultation and a follow up video call prior to referring back to the GP

Do you still have questions? Get in touch! Click here.

bottom of page