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How do I make this kid SLEEP?? ADHD

almostjenniferalmostjennifer member
in Special Needs
DD is 7 yrs old and has moderate ADHD, for which she takes Concerta 54mg.  As I sit here (at 10:15pm) she is bopping around the house, not tired at all -- she usually doesn't go to sleep until 10:30 - 11pm most nights and then is a BEAR to wake up for school.  The Concerta wears off at 7pm, so it isn't the stimulant.  We've tried Melatonin and Benadryl with no effects whatsoever.  Her psychiatrist prescribed Risperdal, but I was too scared of the side effects (lactation??).  Now he has prescribed Trazodone, but I just hate putting her on another drug.  My gut is telling me that the ADHD factors in this.  Since her meds have worn off, she literally can't be still long enough to go to sleep.

What have you tried?  What has worked?  
SAHM to DD1 (7), DS (5) and DD2 (1)
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Re: How do I make this kid SLEEP?? ADHD

  • joshsmandyjoshsmandy member
    My son takes risperidol and they helps, melatonin also worked with him I just had to play with the dose. In the beginning 3mg of melatonin worked but once he got used to it And it lost its effect i had to bring him down to 1.5 mg and continue playing with it every so often. With melatonin low doses actually work better then increasing the dose all the time. Good luck
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  • almostjenniferalmostjennifer member
    edited February 2014
    Thanks for your thoughts!!

    Auntie -- We had to go up to 54 mg Concerta this year.   After a year, the 36 mg just wasn't cutting it for us anymore.  She was struggling in school and at home again.  I hated increasing it, but it made a world of difference.  

    I know the Concerta is worn off by 7 pm because she gets it at 6:30 am and is bouncing off the walls, saying/doing inappropriate things, making poor choices and generally acting unmedicated by 7pm.  

    We have done therapy as well.  That did help somewhat. 

    She has never slept much, even as a baby.  It could be that she just doesn't need as much sleep as I think she does.

    The Trazodone dose he has prescribed is 25 mg at night.  We tried Clonodine, but it gave her nightmares.  What is Intuniv?
    SAHM to DD1 (7), DS (5) and DD2 (1)
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  • Princess_LilyPrincess_Lily member
    edited February 2014
    What is your bedtime routine at home? Does she have one, and if so what is the time that she is supposed to be in bed by?

    They say to cut down all electronics 2hrs before bed. Does this happen? What schedule is in place at home?

    Also how much sleep on average does your DD receive? At that age (7), she should get 10-11hrs.

    My DS (4.5) needs 10-12. While he doesn't nap during the day he does sleep 10hrs at night.
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  • bliss611bliss611 member
    fredalina said:
    Honestly some of the ADHD style symptoms could be caused by being overtired. She could be hyperactive again at 7 pm because her body is getting its second wind due to a chronic overtired cycle. I don't have experience with a child on meds, but I know when my daughter gets overtired her ADHD/SPD/hyperactive/impulsive symptoms to through the roof. Make it a longer term cycle of being overtired for days/weeks at a time and it can be a huge bear.
    THIS. DS has been fighting naps for a while now and it's way too hard to make him take one now. But the days he doesn't nap, I see that all issues we have with him go into over-drive.

    Usually DS is a late sleeper as well (DH has a bit of a commute from work and we want them to have time together.) but days he skips naps, we watch for the signs of a second wind and try to get his bedtime routine started before it actually hits.

    And epsom salt baths are a life saver in his bedtime routine.
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