I need help. My son is almost 6. Has never slept at all a d only getting worse. The paediatrician prescribed him catapres aka clonidine. Cab anyone please help. Have they had this for there kids or anything. I have tried everything and feel this is my last option . Thanks
4 Replies
Is that like Melatonin? My son started on this a month ago, sleeps all night when he used to wake up about 3am and not go back to sleep. He now sleeps until at least 6am it works a little differently on each child but you'll never know how it'll help you until you try it.
It's not like melatonin. Melatonin is very effective for kids who get some sleep, but non sleepers it isn't that effective.
In my work with kids occasionally I came across kids who were prescribed catapres for very severe ongoing sleep problems. I'm talking kids who don't sleep at ALL or vary rarely! Yes they do exist.
My own son has a rare sleep disorder that means he doesn't sleep at all for weeks, but then sleeps for 20+hours a day sometimes for months, and you can't wake him up. Catapres was discussed but decided it wasn't appropriate for his specific condition, instead he is on a combo that is sometimes used in bi-polar that evens out his sleep patterns a bit.
My advice, is try the medication. Paediatricians don't prescribe these medications lightly, they put a lot of thought into the pros and cons. If they've prescribed they think it's necessary. Sleep deprivation is torture, for the child and for you. You need to survive.
My son is on it it would take me 4 to 5 hours to get my son to go to sleep then he would be up between 7:30 and 8:30 the next morning some nights he would sleep right through others he would be up half way through the night then we found out that he has adhd 3 months ago and the paediatrician put him on catapres ( which is a drug manly used for high blood pressure i think from what I have read ) my son is on a 3 month trial we go back to the paediatrician later this month after taking the catapres my son who is also 6 is a sleep with in 1 hour to 1 and a half hours after taking it iam planing on asking the paediatrician if he can switch my son to melatonin instead