I have done extensive research on this subject, and I am having some success with 5 mg dose at bedtime and 2.5 mg at 3:30 in the afternoon. Sundowning has stopped after 4 days dosing and has not occurred for 13 consecutive days. Too soon to tell if this is actually having an effect. Charting mood, anxiety demonstrations and very little confusion to this point. Memory is not improved, however but that was not expected. Please let me know if anyone has had any experience with this therapy.
7 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Its worth a try.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hospice nurse will be here tomorrow and ill confirm its ok before starting.
It helped him go to sleep but it didn't keep him asleep and he would wake up after just a couple of hours but he would be calm.
- make sure lighting and lamps have high-wattage bulbs (daylight spectrum works great). Begin to turn on the lights in the areas LO usually is in starting before the sun starts to set and leave them on until closer to bedtime.
- before the time your LO begins to sundown, engage them in a distracting activity: either a walk, drive, game, puzzle, having them read aloud to you, or folding a large stack of kitchen towels or sorting something, like nuts and bolts (and having LO screw them together if they can), sorting and pairing colorful socks, etc.
If it works great.
Be prepared for the time it does not work. Be ready to adjust dose or try something else.
Do let his doctor know that you are giving him the melatonin and the dose.