I have been watching this thread. Interesting what everyone has to say about melatonin. My friend's son, 3 yrs old, has to give it to him every night. He has mild autism. So the doctor recommended giving him a 1/4 of 1 mg and he does great with it. Apparently children with autism do not produce enough melatonin naturally. It has been a god send for them. He use to stay up til midnight, now he goes to sleep at 8 and sleeps all night long.
I told my friend that my son had trouble falling asleep/unwinding at bed time and she recommended it for him. (and we have had a regular bed routine since he was born) Of course I spoke to my Pedi first before giving it to him. She was ok with giving it to him, but not for long periods at a time. I did give my son a 1/4 of 1 mg for a couple of nights and he went right to sleep and was so rested the next day. I couldnt believe how alert he was and calm. I gave it to him for two nights, then the thrid night I didnt. Well, he was awake most of the night with vivid dreams. Kept me up all night with him calling me. The doctor did say when I spoke to her that taking melatonin will surpress dreams and keep you from going into rem (I believe that is how she put it) I guess the third night without melatonin, his dreams wanted to make up for the last two nights LOL
However, she recommended giving him Benadryl every night for about a month to get him back in to rythm. I took one mg of the melatonin one night and I had a severe headache the next day. I havent tried it since lol.
I also have severe sleep apnea (had 59 apneas in an hour!!!)and am on a APAP machine and been on it for two years now. . Now, I can't sleep with out it.