My son has autism and we've tried melatonin and cat aprs he still only sleeps about 4 to 6 hours please help?

Consult specialist: Ad kids have many quirky habits of daily living. Odd tastes in foods, self stimming behaviors, erratic bedtimes. Smelling stuff. The child's age is important here as well. Treat bedtime as you would any other behavior you wish to modify. A behavioral therapist can help. Medications may be useful. Consult a developmental pediatrician or child psychiatrist for help in that area.

Need more info: You don't indicate how old your son is or if this is a chronic or new problem. You need to work with a child and adolescent psychiatrist familiar with autism who can discuss a variety of approaches to improving sleep. Short sleep duration of the type you're describing often requires use of prescription medications. Melatonin may help promote sleep but not maintain it.

Starting Melatonin: At 5-6 mg 1/2 hr. Before bedtime for 3 mos., then lowering it by 1 mg./mo. Till it's gone seems to work better. Clonodine is short-acting; hence, the waking @ 4 hrs.; its 24-hr. Form causes daytime drowsiness. Intunive, 24-hr. Guanfacine, often works , but may cause daytime drowsiness for a few days after each dose increase. A sleep study with eeg would show apnea or nocturnal seizures.