Has helped autistic adult greatly with Insomnia
Sleep disregulation is found in 80% of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. I am an adult with ADHD and autism, and I struggle with severe Insomnia and restless leg syndrome. My brain doesn't shut off and I can't stop tossing and turning. To make things worse, autism can come with severe medication sensitivities, unexplained by pharmacogenetic tests; we're just more sensitive to a lot of things, including medicines considered mild/safe like this. I have been unable to take many medications in the past including melatonin, but anything stronger or prescription is also not an option, given the safety and efficacy of melatonin -- if melatonin is "too harsh" than anything else would be too. Years ago I had tried 1.5 mg, but it was too much and gave me adverse side effects (unable to drive the next day, or stand without wobbling) so I thought melatonin wasn't going to ever be an option for me. But lately my Insomnia has been terrible; 3-4 hours per night if I'm lucky, some nights going without sleep at all. I must work to survive, and then after work, I can't manage to nap either. I had to try again, with a minimal dose. So... children's melatonin. 0.5 mg. This Natrol brand looked the most reputable because it contains organic ingredients without artificial sweeteners/flavors/preservatives. The artificial sweeteners part is especially important for me because sucralose (Splenda) and agave nectar make me ill as well, and sucralose is the go-to artificial sweetener for most products nowadays. Colorants like Red 40 may worsen ADHD symptoms, so Natrol using fruit/vegetable juice to add color is appreciated. The Sleep Calm variety tastes like children's fruit gummies, strawberry, not like medicine at all. I initially tried 0.5 mg of the Natrol Kids Sleep Calm gummies at 3 pm, knowing I had to work the next morning and giving myself ample time to clear it out of my system. I could feel it work in about 15 minutes, getting rid of my racing thoughts and restless leg, making me comfortably drowsy. I was able to fall asleep in about 40 minutes which cuts a couple hours off of the usual amount of time it takes. The next morning, I was still a bit more tired than usual, but okay. From then on I began taking half of one of the gummies, just 0.25 mg. 0.25 mg actually seems to be the perfect amount I needed to prevent adverse side effects, while reducing the problems I'm having falling asleep. My mind stops wandering and I can physically relax. I have been able to take 0.25 mg before bed, nightly, and reliably fall asleep within the hour. Honestly, thank you. You don't know how much of a relief this is. Edit, months later: Because I was been taking .25 mg, my body has adjusted to the melatonin and I'm now able to take 0.5 mg at night without side effects. It continues to work well. Edit #2: I bought a different variety, the Natrol Kids Sleep. It is berry flavored, rather than strawberry, and it does not taste as great
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