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Is Melatonin Safe To Give For Good Sleep?
My wife is wanting to give my 9 year old son Melatonin (3mg) to help him sleep. All I have read about melatonin is that it should not be given to children under 18. It says it can cause nightmares, seizures, and other side effects. I feel a different method needs to be approached and not use melatonin because of these side effects. Is it safe for my son to take this?
Thu, 25 Jun 2015
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
If you give proper dosage for short period then side effects will not appear. Every remedy has negative effects.
If I were your treating Doctor for this case of sleeplessness, I would come up with usual possibilities.
- Hot milk with honey before sleep
- Don't sit before computer
- Don't watch TV 1 to 2 hour before sleep
- Walking outside for 2 hours in the evening
- Fresh cool room
- Aurvedic remedy - Ashwagandha 1 capsule in the evening for 1 month
Start on these changes and get back to me in 2 to 3 months.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Svetlana Shrivastva
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
If you give proper dosage for short period then side effects will not appear. Every remedy has negative effects.
If I were your treating Doctor for this case of sleeplessness, I would come up with usual possibilities.
- Hot milk with honey before sleep
- Don't sit before computer
- Don't watch TV 1 to 2 hour before sleep
- Walking outside for 2 hours in the evening
- Fresh cool room
- Aurvedic remedy - Ashwagandha 1 capsule in the evening for 1 month
Start on these changes and get back to me in 2 to 3 months.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Svetlana Shrivastva
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