I have a 7 year old with ADHD, and sleep has always been a challenge. On a normal night (with no sleep meds) he lays down around 9p and doesn't fall asleep until 10 or even 10:30p. I always have to wake him up for school, etc.

Anyway, we are trying a very small amount of Clonidine to start (1/2 of .1mg). The doctor said to give it to him around 7:30p and then institute a strict bedtime of 8p. He thinks that this will help my son fall asleep around 8:30, and get the 11 hours that it really seems that he needs.

My question is to people that have used it... did you take it only 1/2 hour before bedtime? Or, did some people need to take it right when they laid down because it worked that quickly. And, he seems so groggy in the morning now... does that get better with time?

Last question, it looks like some people took this type of medicine in place of a stimulant during the day. Didn't it make you really sleepy in the day? I ask because Concerta seems to be really changing his personality while on it (very serious, anxious, not his happy self) and it causes eye blinking (which he doesn't have off medicine). He has mostly hyperactivity type ADD, so maybe this would be something we should try in lieu of stimulants? Any ideas would be so appreciated!

If a medication is altering his personality than he may need to try something else or a lower dose. Medication should not alter one's personality that much. If I am correct, Clonidine is supposed to help with the eye blinking (also referred to as ticks.) Clonidine is used for several reasons other then tics.

Currently I am taking Tenex at night. I am taking 1 mg. It does make me tired and I am 22 years old.

Of course I am not a doctor, I am only making a suggestion.

My daughter has ADHD and takes Adderall during the day and has trouble sleeping at night. Bedtime is 9:30 but she's never asleep until 11 at the earliest.

The Dr. had prescribed clonidine for sleep and it was giving her really bad nightmares. She would wake up in the morning and be very upset and not want to take the meds at night. It did work, as far as getting her to sleep, but not worth the upset it was causing her dream wise. We homeschool now so it's not a huge issue that she stays up later because we don't have to get up early.

I did try the melatonin and that seems work well and she even likes it. She will sometimes ask for it if she's having hard time going to sleep. I asked the Dr. about melatonin and she said no as it's not regulated by the FDA, but you know how that goes. She recommended Benadryl if we didn't want to do the clonidine.

My 6 year old uses Clonadine. I give it to her an hour before bedtime. Also it works quicker if we had an earlier dinner. It works allot quicker on an emptier stomach. We usually eat around 6:30. I give it to her around 7:00 then she has bath time. By the time she is done with all of that and a story she is sleepy and ready for bed. This works wonders on her sleeping. Good luck! I would definately give it an hour before bedtime and not 30 minutes before.

My daughter has ADHD and takes Adderall during the day and has trouble sleeping at night. Bedtime is 9:30 but she's never asleep until 11 at the earliest.

The Dr. had prescribed clonidine for sleep and it was giving her really bad nightmares. She would wake up in the morning and be very upset and not want to take the meds at night. It did work, as far as getting her to sleep, but not worth the upset it was causing her dream wise. We homeschool now so it's not a huge issue that she stays up later because we don't have to get up early.

I did try the melatonin and that seems work well and she even likes it. She will sometimes ask for it if she's having hard time going to sleep. I asked the Dr. about melatonin and she said no as it's not regulated by the FDA, but you know how that goes. She recommended Benadryl if we didn't want to do the clonidine.

Clonidine will be my last resort. But melatonin worked for my son. It's my daughter that we are trying to sort out.