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Child Having Trouble Falling Asleep, Prescribed Tenex. Is There A Natural Way To Help?
I asked my dr about giving my 4 yr old hyper son melatonin to help him sleep. he has trouble falling asleep, sometimes takes an hour or better to actually fall asleep. the nurse called back and said the dr prescribed tenex, which is often used to treat ADHD and anxiety.... I would prefer use something more natural like melatonin to help him... any suggestion why they would go right for an ADHD med?
Mon, 22 Apr 2013
Hello
Welcome to HCM
Tanex is guanfacine. It is a drug which is used in a number of conditions and ADHD is one of them only. Other uses are in Anxiety disorders, insomnia, and even in hypertension. He is just 4 year old and usually no hypnotic drug can be given to him as these drugs can cause dependence. Guanfacine is comparatively safe drug and it will relieve him of anxiety also and help in inducing a good sleep. So please you can go with this medicine and it is not that he is being given ADHD drug.
Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
Welcome to HCM
Tanex is guanfacine. It is a drug which is used in a number of conditions and ADHD is one of them only. Other uses are in Anxiety disorders, insomnia, and even in hypertension. He is just 4 year old and usually no hypnotic drug can be given to him as these drugs can cause dependence. Guanfacine is comparatively safe drug and it will relieve him of anxiety also and help in inducing a good sleep. So please you can go with this medicine and it is not that he is being given ADHD drug.
Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
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Hi there, thanks for asking. As you mentioned tenex is a medication for hyperactivity. It is safe at the age of 4. It can promote sleep and it is also good for ADHD. Melatonin can be used in your kid if the doctor and you realize in the next ten years that he has phase delay sleep problem. It means if he has problem with sleeping at the regular time and he wakes up late but nothing else wrong. I wish him a good health.
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