HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

How Can Insomnia And Palpitations While Suffering From ADHD Be Treated?

My 19 year old son recently found out that he had ADHD. We are trying to get him on he best medication before he goes back to college. He is currently on Adderall XR 30mg. He is restless, cannot fall asleep, eyes twitch, heart is beating fast, and irritable. He does not feel safe driving himself to summer school. He is a pre-med major but he is also a musician and he can create music all day and night. This has been a tough year for him because he has always been very scholarly. He has never really had to study, he always did very well academically. He graduated high school with a 3.5GPA and finished his freshman year with a 2.6. This is the second medication that he has tried and it s not working. He also had very poor sleep habits before his diagnosis.
Fri, 24 Aug 2018
Report Abuse
General Surgeon 's  Response
Hello,

1-Exercise daily and avoid trigger foods.
Exercise will help keep them physically fit, it will also help them sleep better at night. In addition, make healthy eating habits by avoiding caffeine and artificial ingredients that may promote hyperactivity. Consider nutritional testing to determine if your child has dietary or digestion issues like food sensitivities or vitamin, mineral, and amino acid deficiencies that can exacerbate anxiety and sleep problems.

2-Stick to a schedule.
Decide ahead of time with your child what the night time routine will be, and include when to bathe, brush teeth, read, etc. Remember, child with ADHD need routine and predictability even more than other kids. Make sure the hour before bedtime is calm and quiet and that lights are kept low so the body can produce enough melatonin, the body's natural sleep hormone.

3-Set a bedtime alarm.
Just as you set an alarm for waking, consider setting a bedtime alarm so child associate their bedtime with a clock or timer instead of feeling like sleep is a parental demand. Make sure the sound of the alarm is quiet and not intrusive. Eventually, your child will naturally associate the sound of the bedtime alarm with sleepiness.

4-Use white noise and blackout curtains.
In addition, use blackout curtains to eliminate light in the room. Too much light at bedtime can interfere with the body's melatonin production, so avoid screen time an hour before going to bed as well.

5-Try aroma therapy.
Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, or vanilla can be calming for many people who experience sleeplessness. Let your child choose a calming scent that appeals to him or her, and then dab a little oil on a cotton ball and place it in his or her pillowcase.

6-Reduce anxiety.
Anxious kids, like anxious adults, often have too much on their minds to fall asleep at night. Use these strategies to calm an anxious child so he or she has a better chance of falling asleep naturally.

7-Sleep with a weighted blanket.
Child with ADHD often crave deep pressure and have poor proprioception, which means they have trouble understanding where their bodies are in space. A heavy, weighted blanket can apply deep pressure to muscles and joints throughout the night, which helps regulate a disorganized sense of self and calm an overactive central nervous system. Organizing and calming the senses can support the body's natural ability to fall asleep.

8-Consider melatonin.
If you've tried all of the above sleep suggestions, and your child with a neuro-developmental disorder still isn't getting enough sleep, ask your health care provider about supplemental melatonin. It could be that your child isn't producing enough melatonin naturally to fall asleep and stay asleep. Melatonin dosing varies by age and size, so be sure to check with your healthcare provider about whether supplemental melatonin is right for your child.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
I find this answer helpful

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
How Can Insomnia And Palpitations While Suffering From ADHD Be Treated?

Hello, 1-Exercise daily and avoid trigger foods. Exercise will help keep them physically fit, it will also help them sleep better at night. In addition, make healthy eating habits by avoiding caffeine and artificial ingredients that may promote hyperactivity. Consider nutritional testing to determine if your child has dietary or digestion issues like food sensitivities or vitamin, mineral, and amino acid deficiencies that can exacerbate anxiety and sleep problems. 2-Stick to a schedule. Decide ahead of time with your child what the night time routine will be, and include when to bathe, brush teeth, read, etc. Remember, child with ADHD need routine and predictability even more than other kids. Make sure the hour before bedtime is calm and quiet and that lights are kept low so the body can produce enough melatonin, the body s natural sleep hormone. 3-Set a bedtime alarm. Just as you set an alarm for waking, consider setting a bedtime alarm so child associate their bedtime with a clock or timer instead of feeling like sleep is a parental demand. Make sure the sound of the alarm is quiet and not intrusive. Eventually, your child will naturally associate the sound of the bedtime alarm with sleepiness. 4-Use white noise and blackout curtains. In addition, use blackout curtains to eliminate light in the room. Too much light at bedtime can interfere with the body s melatonin production, so avoid screen time an hour before going to bed as well. 5-Try aroma therapy. Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, or vanilla can be calming for many people who experience sleeplessness. Let your child choose a calming scent that appeals to him or her, and then dab a little oil on a cotton ball and place it in his or her pillowcase. 6-Reduce anxiety. Anxious kids, like anxious adults, often have too much on their minds to fall asleep at night. Use these strategies to calm an anxious child so he or she has a better chance of falling asleep naturally. 7-Sleep with a weighted blanket. Child with ADHD often crave deep pressure and have poor proprioception, which means they have trouble understanding where their bodies are in space. A heavy, weighted blanket can apply deep pressure to muscles and joints throughout the night, which helps regulate a disorganized sense of self and calm an overactive central nervous system. Organizing and calming the senses can support the body s natural ability to fall asleep. 8-Consider melatonin. If you ve tried all of the above sleep suggestions, and your child with a neuro-developmental disorder still isn t getting enough sleep, ask your health care provider about supplemental melatonin. It could be that your child isn t producing enough melatonin naturally to fall asleep and stay asleep. Melatonin dosing varies by age and size, so be sure to check with your healthcare provider about whether supplemental melatonin is right for your child. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.