Circadin 2mg tablets (melatonin)

[Beagler]

Originally Posted by stephwa

I assume its because they are sustained release tablets, so if you crush them they are more likely to be absorbed quicker than what they should be, so you'd get a higher dose faster.

Are they too big to swallow whole? Or does he prefer them to be hidden in food?

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Sorry to 'hop on board' here - afraid I'm not able to help with original question... but I was wondering, if circadin is for sustained release, does that mean it continues to work throughout the night? Or does it mean the child has to take them for a certain amount of time before he benefits? My DS has been on common-all-garden fast release melatonin for almost two years and at first it worked beautifully... it still does, he's fast asleep within 20 minutes, but he's been getting up several times during the night lately and struggling to get back to sleep because the melatonin has worn off. Just wondering if sustained release would help?

[folkie]

A little trick for those of you whose children find it hard to swallow tablets - this worked with my DD.

I bought some of those mini M&Ms and got DD to practice with those. She knew they were only sugar coated chocolate so didn't panic so much over trying to swallow them as she knew they would dissolve quickly if she had problems. It also meant that when they did start to dissolve they didn't taste nasty as a lot of pills do when the sugar coating wears off.

She got used to it very quickly and after that had no more problems with pills. A good job, as a couple of years ago she spent 18 months taking up to 10 painkillers a day for Adolescent Disc Disease, so I was glad we'd sorted it out!

[BarryandCaron]

Originally Posted by Beagler

Sorry to 'hop on board' here - afraid I'm not able to help with original question... but I was wondering, if circadin is for sustained release, does that mean it continues to work throughout the night? Or does it mean the child has to take them for a certain amount of time before he benefits? My DS has been on common-all-garden fast release melatonin for almost two years and at first it worked beautifully... it still does, he's fast asleep within 20 minutes, but he's been getting up several times during the night lately and struggling to get back to sleep because the melatonin has worn off. Just wondering if sustained release would help?

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This was what was happening with DS2. We stopped his melatonin and he's still waking in the early hours. We also found since stopping the melatonin DS2 doesn't have as many early hours seizures and not sleeping during the day.

Caron

[stephwa]

Originally Posted by Beagler

Sorry to 'hop on board' here - afraid I'm not able to help with original question... but I was wondering, if circadin is for sustained release, does that mean it continues to work throughout the night? Or does it mean the child has to take them for a certain amount of time before he benefits? My DS has been on common-all-garden fast release melatonin for almost two years and at first it worked beautifully... it still does, he's fast asleep within 20 minutes, but he's been getting up several times during the night lately and struggling to get back to sleep because the melatonin has worn off. Just wondering if sustained release would help?

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Maybe, I'm not sure. I've not really had any experience with melatonin drugs.

But from principles, then yes that should be the case. Sustained release are supposed to be absorbed more slowly into the system so you get a constant drug level for a certain amount of time. Maybe ask your GP if there are 2 types available?

[buffalo]

There are 2 types but think my DS had to change from the slow release as they wanted it out of his system quickly so it wouldnt affect him the next day.

[Guest]

Now see I was told that they do not provide cover during the night and they are soley to help him get off to sleep, that they will not keep him asleep during the night as they are not a sleeping tablet.
Our paediatrician has been off ill so not been able to get an answer yet but when she prescribed them to us she said that they will slowly make him feel sleepy after about 30 mins of taking them and then he will drift off on his own as he will actually feel tired. He does get tired very quickly after taking it and is often asleep within 30mins of taking it.

[Guest]

DS should be taking 6mg of melatonin 6hr timed release capsule taken half an hour before I would like him to go to sleep. Which is supposed to make him fall asleep and stay asleep, when he did take it worked. He wasn't at all groggy the next day. Unfortunately he refuses to take it now.

[Guest]

Hi

Sorry to stick my oar in here but advice about prescribed drugs should be given by the prescriber (specialist not GP) or the dispenser (pharmacist). This stops misinformation being given out on any prescribed drugs.

I do not wish to seem heavy handed but am concerned as to some of the advice on here.

Melatonin has been available over the counter in the U.S for years and has recently been launched in the UK as a branded version Circadin by Lundbeck. Previous to this it had to be imported and/or prescribed or you just bought a load at Walgreens on your Orlando trips!

In healthy humans it is a naturally occuring hormone that tells your body it is night time and prepares you to sleep. In ADHD/Aspergers the brain is over stimulated so naturally occuring melatonin doesn't work very well. Therefore Melatonin is given in capsule/tablet form to to assist the child with getting to sleep only! It is NOT a sleeping tablet.

I work within medicine and my daughter is Aspergic/ADHD and has been prescribed Melatonin for the last 10 years, at a dose of 10mg per night! . It has only ever helped her to get to sleep, she still wakes in the night! To manage this more effectively may I suggest that at you give your child a break from it now and again as they can develop a tolerance to it.

The final point is that prolonged release is the same as sustained release, it just means that the drug is absorbed through the stomach slower than normal release. The advantage to this in Melatonin is that it MAY keep people asleep longer by more closely mimicking our bodies natural melatonin release, or it just may be a way for the company to sell the product for more money!

I have attached the weblink to the Electronics Medicines Compedium for some more info on Circadin.

emc.medicines.uk/document...cumentId=20878

I do hope this is helpful, I understand totally what you are going through and can say it has been a great help to me over the years with my daughter... Oh its helpful for jetlag too!

[stephwa]

Originally Posted by icearcadia

Hi

Sorry to stick my oar in here but advice about prescribed drugs should be given by the prescriber (specialist not GP) or the dispenser (pharmacist). This stops misinformation being given out on any prescribed drugs.

I do not wish to seem heavy handed but am concerned as to some of the advice on here.

Melatonin has been available over the counter in the U.S for years and has recently been launched in the UK as a branded version Circadin by Lundbeck. Previous to this it had to be imported and/or prescribed or you just bought a load at Walgreens on your Orlando trips!

In healthy humans it is a naturally occuring hormone that tells your body it is night time and prepares you to sleep. In ADHD/Aspergers the brain is over stimulated so naturally occuring melatonin doesn't work very well. Therefore Melatonin is given in capsule/tablet form to to assist the child with getting to sleep only! It is NOT a sleeping tablet.

I work within medicine and my daughter is Aspergic/ADHD and has been prescribed Melatonin for the last 10 years, at a dose of 10mg per night! . It has only ever helped her to get to sleep, she still wakes in the night! To manage this more effectively may I suggest that at you give your child a break from it now and again as they can develop a tolerance to it.

The final point is that prolonged release is the same as sustained release, it just means that the drug is absorbed through the stomach slower than normal release. The advantage to this in Melatonin is that it MAY keep people asleep longer by more closely mimicking our bodies natural melatonin release, or it just may be a way for the company to sell the product for more money!

I have attached the weblink to the Electronics Medicines Compedium for some more info on Circadin.

emc.medicines.uk/document...cumentId=20878

I do hope this is helpful, I understand totally what you are going through and can say it has been a great help to me over the years with my daughter... Oh its helpful for jetlag too!

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When I gave my answers, I said I wasn't a specialist in this field. But I'm a medical student, and know where to get the right information - i.e. the BNF. I also suggested to the OP to contact her GP/paediatrician, which she is going to do. She just wanted a "quick" response.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by icearcadia

Hi

Sorry to stick my oar in here but advice about prescribed drugs should be given by the prescriber (specialist not GP) or the dispenser (pharmacist). This stops misinformation being given out on any prescribed drugs.

I do not wish to seem heavy handed but am concerned as to some of the advice on here.

Melatonin has been available over the counter in the U.S for years and has recently been launched in the UK as a branded version Circadin by Lundbeck. Previous to this it had to be imported and/or prescribed or you just bought a load at Walgreens on your Orlando trips!

In healthy humans it is a naturally occuring hormone that tells your body it is night time and prepares you to sleep. In ADHD/Aspergers the brain is over stimulated so naturally occuring melatonin doesn't work very well. Therefore Melatonin is given in capsule/tablet form to to assist the child with getting to sleep only! It is NOT a sleeping tablet.

I work within medicine and my daughter is Aspergic/ADHD and has been prescribed Melatonin for the last 10 years, at a dose of 10mg per night! . It has only ever helped her to get to sleep, she still wakes in the night! To manage this more effectively may I suggest that at you give your child a break from it now and again as they can develop a tolerance to it.

The final point is that prolonged release is the same as sustained release, it just means that the drug is absorbed through the stomach slower than normal release. The advantage to this in Melatonin is that it MAY keep people asleep longer by more closely mimicking our bodies natural melatonin release, or it just may be a way for the company to sell the product for more money!

I have attached the weblink to the Electronics Medicines Compedium for some more info on Circadin.

emc.medicines.uk/document...cumentId=20878

I do hope this is helpful, I understand totally what you are going through and can say it has been a great help to me over the years with my daughter... Oh its helpful for jetlag too!

See more...

Thank you for your reply, however I wish you had read all my posts on this subject as you would have realised I actually knew all this information already and I wasnt requesting any information that you have posted.

I was just enquiring if anyone knew if it was ok that my son chew his tablets. I did ask the chemist after I posted (to which I did post her reply on this thread) she didnt seem to think it a problem.

I also pointed out that the Circadan is having the desired effect in my son.

Thank you for providing the link hopefully it will help others.