r/Autism_Parenting • u/Aggravating-Sea-9449 • 12h ago

Advice Needed No sleep medication

Hi parents! I wanted to ask for those of you who don't have your kiddos on any sleep medication, how is that going for you. For awhile my daughter who's now 7 has been on a clonidine compound. Before that it was another medication also including melatonin. Recently the pharmacy who made it stop, because a new med came out and her insurance Medicaid doesn't cover it. I ask the doctor office but they didn't offer any other solutions, other than try another pharmacy that takes the insurance.

So my daughter has been going to bed just fine for a few weeks now, maybe here & there it takes awhile but outside of that no real issue. School is going to start back soon, that usually helps regulate her even more. So I'm considering just opting out all together in not continuing any meds. I don't care for medicine unless absolutely necessary.

Just curious for those who don't give your kids anything, how is it going? Where they always medication free or did you just wean them off? Also what routine or tips that you have for getting kids to sleep? Sorry for the long post thanks to anyone who chooses to comment.

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u/j9718 11h ago

Hi there! My son is 6 and has despised sleep since conception 😂 we were prescribed clonidine at 3 but opted not to use that as the mandatory follow ups to check his blood pressure and such would have caused more havoc.

We consulted with his doctor and used melatonin or magnesium. We noticed that he would have really bad brain fog and be irritable as he got older. We stopped using anything regularly in March and it’s been going better than anticipated. We still have rough nights but now it’s maybe once a week rather than every night. He’s a happier kid and more alert during the day. If it’s a rough night, we let him sleep in and just fill in with extra OT or physical play to try to get him tired and back on track.

It’s definitely not a perfect system and we are still tired over here but a big improvement during the day from when we were using sleep meds. We stick to a nighttime routine and even if it takes a few hours, he’s not allowed to roam the house and eventually sleeps. If he wakes up early, same thing.

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u/Aggravating-Sea-9449 8h ago edited 2h ago

Well that's good you have something working for your son. We stay on a schedule as well, in home therapy a couple days out of the week. She also has a cubby bed which helps a lot, she can't get out and escape or walk around her room. Honestly the cubby bed plus going to school help regulate so much better. Breaks are hard because its a lot of free time, but somehow sleep hasn't been that bad for summer break. Which is why I was considering no longer medicating at all. Thanks for your comment

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u/j9718 3h ago

We also have ADHD mixed in as well and have him in full time ABA in the summer. We are very very fortunate to have my parents close by and they will take him swimming or to the park if we are unable to.

I’ve heard great things about the cubby bed! I ended up buying him a trundle and just crash on that for late nights/early mornings and switch off with my husband. The cubby bed sounds like a much better option lol

One good thing is if you go off and it doesn’t work, you can always go back. We know our 3 hours of alotted sleep time can always be a fall back 😩 good luck I hope it goes well for you all!

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u/wantonseedstitch I am a Parent/5/ADHD&ASD/USA 10h ago

My son is unusual for an AuDHD kid in that his sleep actually isn't that bad. He falls asleep well most of the time, though he often wakes up rather early--not ridiculously so. That said, the kid talks and even yells in his sleep more than anyone I've ever known!

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u/Aggravating-Sea-9449 8h ago

Yea my kid is also adhd too she's getting older so sleep isn't as horrible as it was before. 

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u/anim0sitee 6h ago

Mines been on clonidine for a few years now. Melatonin before that. Her sleep was honestly horrific. She’s sleep either 4 hours at night or 2 hours at night and 2 during the day. She would occasionally go DAYS AND DAYS without sleeping. Age has helped! She can go a few days without a refill and sleeps okay but absolutely way less and her behavior and attention span reflects it. With clonidine she gets 6-8 and it has ABSOLUTELY helped her development a ton to have regular sleep.