Resolved Question

Should a 5 yr. old take Melatonin 3 mg. pills?

my lil cousin is stayin wit me for the summer and her sent her medicine with her and she says she takes Melatonin 3 mg. i was reading the back of the bottle and it says children under 16 shouldn't take this medication so i'm wondering why her mother is giving her this medicine? PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE HER MOTHER TRIES TO HARM HER!!!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Melatonin is the chemical that your brain makes to help you sleep. So everyone produces it just some more than others and if she is having a hard time sleeping then there may be another problem but as her cousin the best thing you can do is give her the melatonin. It won't hurt her. Maybe her mother has already checked with her doctor. If you are that uneasy bout giving it to her then try other methods to help her go to sleep. Good luck!

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Other Answers (6)

• Pinky is exactly right... unless the child's doctor specifically prescribed it, she should NOT be giving it to her. Melatonin is more than just a brain chemical that affects sleep, it's a hormone that controls both the sleeping and waking cycles. That's the very reason it should not be given to a child under 16 unless they are tested to be deficient... whenever you add hormones to a body that already has their hormones in flux, you're just asking for trouble.
  
  http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/… specifically say "Children and pregnant or nursing women *should not take melatonin*... without a health professional's approval."
  http://www.drugs.com/cdi/melatonin.html agrees that you should keep it away from children.
  
  Even with all that (including the warning on the bottle), it still baffles me that people give Melatonin to small children without their doctor's permission. I would definitely point out the WebMD article above to her and just say you found this and were concerned. Good luck and I hope I helped!

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• Holy cow.
  NO a child should not be given this...
  
  Its a neuroendocrine disrupter - its a hormone for goodness sakes, and children already produce gobs of it...
  Babies produce the most, seniors produce the least.
  
  If she has that much of a hard time getting the child to sleep, I suggest she tries childrens benedryl...
  
  Its an antihistamine (yes, like for allergies) but histamine also happens to be an excitatory neurotransmitter - its something that makes activity in the brain happen - so if you take an anti-histamine, another chemical in the brain (we think adenosine, but no one is really sure) make you feel sleepy - which is why drowsiness is a side effect of taking allergy medication....
  
  but its much safer than melatonin for a child, any day of the week.
• I weight about 123 lbs and I take 1/4 of a 3mg pill. That's much closer to the amount your body naturally needs. It actually works better than the full 3mg. I don't think a little kid should take that, it can cause nightmares in some people.
• Show HER MOTHER this and let HER decide.
  
  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/4484…
  
  In my opinion only, it's relatively harmless. I take it and I give it to my 12 years old son, occasionally, when he can't sleep.
• melatonin shold not be taken under age 16..you are correct. i certainly would not administer to any child unless instructed by childs gp
• There are way better ways to supplement.
  
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  Nutrition Coach
  e-mail: amazonmd02@yahoo.com
  
  Diet Suggestions:
  
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  Check out the organic sustainably wild harvested acai (flash frozen, non pasteurized, www.amazonmania..com or www.amazonroots.com), organic sustainably wild harvested dried goji berries, incan-mulberries.
  
  5. BEVERAGES: Drink organic shade grown coffee if you drink coffee but if that is difficult to find make it at least organic. Drink organic tea's. Check out our tea's (www.mdjo.amazonherb.net) or Guayaki. Avoid all soda pop. Make your own soda pop with seltzer, natural organic flavorings and stevia, raw organic agave syrup, organic maple syrup or honey. Nutritionally speaking the organic wild harvested stevia is best but many don't like the taste. Some companies make decent organic soda pop but always read the labels and should only be used as an occassional treat.. Make your own!
  - Every one should be drinking at least a half to a whole bottle of Synergy/ GT Daves Kombucha Tea (fermented green tea drink) per day . This drink is good for so many things that I do not have the time or space to list them all here, Read the Label.
  
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  8. Nuts and seeds should be raw and organic and best if sprouted (check the internet for sprouting instructions). Check www.sunfoodnutrition.com for sustainably wild harvested nuts from the Amazon Rainforest.
  
  Praying for your good health.
  Mauricio Duarte, PTA
  Nutrition Coach
  e-mail: amazonmd02@yahoo.com
  
  - You should check with your doctor before starting this or any supplement program. I take all supplements with meals. The following is what I do during certain physical challenges. All the below mentioned supplements are available over the counter. - I have compiled this list after 17 years of trial and error and have found the below mentioned supplements to be the most effective with no side effects.
  
  - The FDA has not evaluated these statements and this information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or mitigate any diseases or medical conditions.
  
  1. Amazon Herb Co. - Sustainably wild harvested Amazonian herbs undergo unique extraction, recombination and concentration process that remains raw and has the nutrients that are missing from our diets.
  
  * For moderate to severe pain I take: - Recovazon- 90 Liquizons: (2) Bottles
  
  1. 1st package to be taken in 2 days for men and 3 days for women.
  
  2. 2nd package to be taken over 30 days. If no significant relief is felt repeat
  
  steps 1 and 2.
  
  - Aquazon- 90 Vegizons (1) Bottle: 3/day.
  
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  * For minimal pain I take:
  
  - Recovazon- 90 Liquizons: (1) Bottle: 3/day.
  
  - Aquazon- 90 Vegizons (1) Bottle: 3/day.
  
  - Fiberzon Plus- 90 Vegizons: 3/day
  
  * Once the pain has subsided I take:
  
  -

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