I was prescribed melatonin when I was 11. In the UK it is only available via prescription (source on that: https://www.simpleonlinepharmacy.co.uk/health-advice/sleep/melatonin/why-is-melatonin-banned-in-the-uk/#article )
My sleep schedule was haywire (hormones + emerging gender dysphoria did not help) but melatonin really helped me. I also think it helped my anxiety a bit? I’m not sure if that was just bc I was sleeping better but I have terrible social anxiety and it seemed to take the edge off it. anyone else? :)
Some things that haven’t really been mentioned yet: Melatonin helps me to fall asleep very well, but in turn I sleep less overall. Without melatonin I sleep a good 8 hours if I actually fall asleep, with it I wake up after 6 and rarely fall back asleep. And secondly, melatonin makes my dreams a lot more intense and vivid. Maybe it has to do with the shortened sleep and how the sleep phases fall, but it’s an effect that I have consistently witnessed for me.
My son takes it and says it helps him sleep much better at nights.
Did it help with anxiety at all (if he has it)?
Makes sleeping much harder for me most of the time
That’s weird, paradoxical effect? our brains are different so that makes sense.
Melatonin is a clock-setting hormone, not a sleep aid, and most of the supplements on the (US) market have waaaaay too high a dose. I get excellent results from 150ug (0.15mg) taken 4 hours before bedtime at the same time every night, and I suffered from delayed sleep phase syndrome for decades before figuring this out.
Dumping an entire bathtub full of melatonin (relatively speaking) into one’s brain leads to more problems than it solves, and it’s not even a very good sleep aid on top of that. Because its actual function is as a clock-setting molecule.
It is possible that you are taking too much
Melatonin doesn’t help me, but valerian root has worked well for me. I don’t think it has much to do with autism, though. I know plenty of neurotypical people that don’t have either of these work.
Valerian root made the bottom of my brain fall out. I couldn’t sleep, but I also couldn’t move 😐
It is a documented phenomenon that ASD people don’t produce enough melatonin but research of sketchy about long-term effects of its use and there is essentially no research on its long-term use in ASD people.
I took 2mg every day for a year and I’m stepping it up to 5mg. It does help.
I’ve have issues functioning the next day anytime I take sleeping aids. Melatonin, zolpidem, etc. It helps to start falling asleep, but the next day my head is completely foggy and I cannot function. :(
I wish I could take sleeping.aids without issues the next day. I never wake up refreshed, just more tired.
Environmental changes such as blackout curtains, a humidifier (at least in dry climates), complete silence/soothing music (depending on your personal preference), weighted or warming blankets have helped my son who is on the autism spectrum.
Yes, I take melatonin and find it helps with more consistent sleep.
Poor sleep usually leads to impaired emotional regulation and less bandwidth, so improving one’s sleep can often help with anxiety, stress, etc.
This is a great reply! Good sleep habits can be hard for everyone, neurotypical or autistic. My son was having trouble sleeping due to a medication he was prescribed by his doctor. We reviewed this at a recent med check and the doctor changed the schedule so the meds would wear off a few hours before bedtime and he’s sleeping much better now. He has fewer headaches, fewer nightmares, better emotional regulation, and better focus. It’s hard to parse which of these are due to the medication change and which are due to better sleep, but better sleep is always a good thing.
I’m taking melatonin nightly and I guess it helps a little bit. Hasn’t really solved my sleep issues but it does help. It doesn’t help me sleep really well, but without it I sleep even worse, if that makes sense. Like I don’t really notice it doing anything when I take it, but if I don’t take it I really notice it. So I guess that’s something?
I tried it, but it didn’t seem to have any effect on me. That might just be that I’m really bad at noticing things though. I have forgotten to eat more than once.
It’s nice to hear that it works for you at least.
Not autistic.
Melatonin should help you fall asleep. It works great for me at 3mg. It will not really keep you asleep and I’ve never heard of it reducing anxiety.
Antihistamines however(hydroxyzine, promethazine… and more), they’re good at all of this. Falling asleep even, but not to the same effect as melatonin. Downside is the length of effect, you usually wake up being tired for a few more hours.
