Sleeping aids for kids
When the occasional night spent walking the floor with a crying baby or rocking a toddler becomes a common occurrence, pediatricians often advise a little pharmaceutical help. A survey of 671 mostly suburban pediatricians showed that 75% had recommended sleeping medication for a child within the last six months.
But few studies have examined the effectiveness of sleeping medicines in children, and no medication has been approved for them by the Food and Drug Administration. Doctors said they most often turn to drugs for special situations, such as when a child is traveling or is in pain, but about half of those surveyed said they also prescribed sleeping aids when the child’s insomnia was causing a great deal of stress for the family. (Children with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, were four times more likely to be given medication for nighttime sleep problems than other children.)
Despite the fact that antihistamines, such as Benadryl, are not always effective in causing sleepiness and may even stimulate the child’s nervous system, they were the drug type of choice among the doctors surveyed. Prescription alpha-agonists, such as clonidine, an anti-hypertensive drug that has a sedating side effect and is used for ADHD, were the second most commonly used drugs.
About 1 in 4 physicians had suggested melatonin, particularly in older children and adolescents, and about 1 in 5 had recommended that parents try herbal remedies such as valerian root and hops.
“We need more good information about the safety and efficacy of these medications, because none of them are perfect,” says lead author Dr. Judith A. Owens, director of the pediatric sleep disorders clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, R.I. Owens also cautions parents not to give over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines and melatonin to children without discussing the sleep problems with a pediatrician. “There are other interventions that might be more effective than giving Benadryl,” Owens says. For one thing, parents can establish a regular bedtime and waking time.
The study was published in the May issue of Pediatrics.
