Has anyone had luck with Melatonin as a sleep aid? Dad is up and down all night and we've been told Melatonin is the only advisable option.

Does your dad’s doctor acknowledge that you and everyone else living in the house also matter and also need to sleep?

Maybe you need a doctor who can see the whole picture here.

11 years ago, I had a horrible fall in which my left hand and arm were shattered. I had to have surgery in which a plate with screws was put in the hand and arm to keep everything together, and my doctor put me on a mild dosage of melatonin to help me sleep well. It works great for me; I'm on a 3 MG dosage; I sleep well but at times I do have to get up during the night to use the bathroom. I'll go back to sleep in no time. Melatonin is not habit forming, it is a natural hormone that your body makes. I even took it when I had a hysterectomy in 2006

I've been using Melatonin since 2011 when I fell and had a debilitating injury. It does wonders on helping me sleep

Absolutely helps my 98 year old mother. Some nights she is wide awake, wants her purse, keys and shoes late at night. I give her Melatonin 5mg via her neurologist, brand is Natrol 100% drug free, strawberry natural flavor. I buy it at Costco's. She falls asleep within 30-45 minutes for the rest of the night. Used to be on Ativan when needed, but this works better and is safer in my opinion.

I use it myself, and my LO has been prescribed it in her AL.

It can be purchased in time release form, and that’s actually the type I take, because I can fall asleep at a reasonable time but be up, wide awake, 3-4 hours later. Might work better for him too.

Be sure to ask his doctor which type would serve him better.

Tough on Dad and tough n you and your family too.

There are many sleep aids on the market. Melatonin never worked for me. I never tried any of the natural products. Don't try any of the OTC sleep aides, their active ingrediant is dyphenhydramine which studies have shown has a negative effect on people with dementia. Trazadone is a prescription drug that many PCPs prescribe for insomnia.

Mom(84) takes 10mg melatonin and magnesium for sleep help. It seems to work well for her.

My VA psychiatrist put me on Melatonin a couple months ago (2 tablets, 3 mg each) due to months/years of insomnia/disturbed sleep. So far I haven't noticed any difference. The other day, he okayed upping it to 9 mg total. I am also on 4 different BP meds, but BP is still high. I know that and the insomnia are both due to the fact that I've had a PTSD relapse/flare-up for 3-4 years now since the whole caregiving toxic parents thing and had to go off my 3 PTSD meds 2 years ago due to NAFLD. I can't even take a Tylenol. I'm lucky if I get 3-4 hours of sleep per night. I know that is a factor of why my BP won't come down and the rest is all the stress, anger and resentment that I can't seem to overcome.
At least my liver enzyme numbers are much better than they were a year ago. Since my cardiologist is making me go back on a statin drug, I might as well ask my Psychiatrist if I can go back on Zoloft. I really miss it sometimes.
It seems I have to make a choice: I can either die of a stroke/heart attack or of liver failure because the meds for one are not good for the other and vice versa.
In the meantime, I am trying the Melatonin since that is the safer option. Oh well. It is what it is.

It has never worked for me. My mother's Memory Care kept the residents up and busy during the day so they would sleep at night. Does your dad do a lot of napping? Elderly folk often get their biorhythms messed up.

It is worth a try. Also try to get your loved one into the sunshine during the day for at least 30 minutes. Try to keep him from napping during the daytime as well.