Melatonin: A Safe Sleep Supplement?
A recent comment had several questions about Melatonin and I thought it may be best to describe it more in blog format. Here are the basics:
The next question might be: Well if it may work then should I just try it and see?
My answer is: "Well, it depends" and here is why:
Proceed with caution and and the assistance of a qualified sleep specialist before using Melatonin.
Related Topics: Melatonin Modestly Effective For Sleep, Stopping Jet Lag Before It Starts
Technorati Tags: melatonin, sleep
- Melatonin is made by the body's pineal gland.
- When the sun goes down, darkness activates the pineal, and melatonin production begins. Melatonin has been called the "Dracula Hormone"
- As melatonin levels in the blood rise, we also become less alert - and sleepy.
- Melatonin is available as a dietary supplement, synthetic melatonin is the only hormone sold in the United States without a prescription. Thus it is not harvested from animal pineal glands, but made synthetically.
- In many cases it is manufactured from organic substances, one of which is cow vomit.
- Light and darkness can be important factors in natural melatonin release. In addition to sunlight, artificial indoor lighting can be bright enough to prevent its release.
- Studies where Melatonin has been shown to be effective include: Travelers for Jet Lag, and Shiftworkers, however these were very controlled dosages at certain times.
- Research on insomnia however has not been very clear cut.
- Some studies show Melatonin helps shorten the time it takes to fall asleep and reduce the number of awakenings and other research shown little to no effect.
The next question might be: Well if it may work then should I just try it and see?
My answer is: "Well, it depends" and here is why:
- For melatonin to be effective, you will require the correct dosage, and to take it at the right time of day for your sleep problem. That means you should see a sleep professional about its use and dosage.
- There is also the question of safety and purity. In most countries, including Canada, use of Melatonin is closely regulated and requires a prescription written by a physician. In the U.S, it is not regulated as a medicine. Since it is not regulated by the FDA, the dosage listed on the bottle may not be accurate, may not be pure, and side effects at these dosages may not have been determined. The producer does not have to do any of that with unregulated drugs. Further, melatonin can increase blood pressure and affect fertility in animals, which may mean similar problems can occur in humans..
Proceed with caution and and the assistance of a qualified sleep specialist before using Melatonin.
Related Topics: Melatonin Modestly Effective For Sleep, Stopping Jet Lag Before It Starts
Technorati Tags: melatonin, sleep
82 Comments:
Could it be that some people are nocturnal? I have tried melatonin and it caused nightmares and horrendous sleep for me.
I can stay away all night long, and be in a completely dark room, but once the sunlight hits, all I want to do is sleep. I have been this way for years. I don't sleep during the day, but live a "normal" life and work during the day and do my best to sleep at night. Is there such a thing as a human being nocturnal?
I have a daughter like that. She has a heck of a time sleeping at night, she always has. Sleeping remedies don't work. She is now 18 and sleeps when she's tired and plans her day around it. It's hard for "normal" people to understand though.
Personally, if I'm not in bed by 10 pm, I can forget going to bed before 6 am because I wake up. I can't fall asleep. So, we're pretty weird here too.
I've tried everything over the counter, herbal, and prescriptions. Ambien and Lunesta work best for me. Without either of them I can go days without sleeping more than 2-3 hours per night and it's not a restfull sleep.
I take 6 mg of melatonin every night and fall asleep usually within 45 minutes and sleep well through the night. I've been doing this for two years and haven't noticed any side effects.
Due to fibromyalgia type symptoms I had 3 mg of Melatonin recommended to me several years ago by an M.D. certifiend in internal medicince who also studies alternative therapies. I sleep quite soundly, get up refreshed. It works for me, and haven't noticed adverse side effects.
Dave
I, too, have fibromyalgia and have very poor sleep. I read an article about melatonin and its benefits, so I thought I'd try it. The first night I took it (the only night) I fell asleep fine, but then tossed and turned violently all night, to the point where I literally pulled all the covers off my bed. I slept very poorly. I won't try it again. I can't afford to lose what little sleep I get!
I have also experienced nightmares when taking melatonin. My other half uses but does not suffer from any side effects. For me, what works best is lavendar linen spray on my pillow.
Melatonin gives me night sweats after about the third night.
I took melatonin once and I was woken up about an hour after I fell asleep and I felt like what I think it feels like to be stoned. I didnt feel very good the next day either.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SLEEP.I NEVER KNOW WHAT TIME I WILL FALL ASLEEP,HOW MANY TIMES I WILL WAKE UP DURING THIS SLEEP OR HOW LONG I WILL SLEEP BEFORE WAKING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GO BACK TO SLEEP AT ALL.I ALWAYS FEEL TIRED.AMBIEN WORKS BEST FOR ME BUT MY DOCTOR DOES NOT LIKE FOR ME TO TAKE IT ALL THE TIME.I TRIED MELATONIN YEARS AGO. I DON'T REMEMBER IF THERE WERE SIDE AFFECTS.I JUST REMEMBER I STARTED HEARING SO MUCH BAD ABOUT IT, THAT I STOPPED TAKING IT.
I have used Melatonin for a couple of years or more and I've discovered that it is pretty powerful for me. That is, a very small dosage will usually make me drowsy in about 20 minutes or so. I buy the lowest dosage I can find and cut the tablets into half or quarters, to that I'm taking less than 1 mg. If I take more I have a headache when I get up and I'm groggy and slow to get going. My biggest problem is going to sleep, and staying asleep. Melatonin helps me get to sleep, but sometimes I will wake up once in the night, anyway. Sometimes, not.
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It is now 2:51 A.M. My boyfriend decided to try melatonin to help him sleep after wathcing T.V. right before bed or doing some sort of exciting task that stimulates his brain too much. I came down with a cold and didn't sleep well the night prior so I had some too. We both took 3 Mg. He is upstairs sound asleep and I haven't been able to fall asleep since. This has NEVER happened to me before--sick or not. I have to assume its the melatonin.
I have a serious sleeping.i will take ambien one nite and melotonin the next . This back and forth taking after certian periods of time make me crazed! I seriously can not take the constant bad dreams if i sleep and habit forming dependency. Can any suggest the right therapy because reg MD's dont not specialize in sleep disorders.
if i take more than 1/2 of a 3 mg melatonin tablet at bedtime my stomach cramps the next day.
I'm in need of something safe to help me get a good nights rest. A co-worker recommended Melatonin so I thought I'd research it further. After reading some of these comments I'm terrified I'll experience the nightmares. What should I do?
I'm in need of something safe to help me get a good nights rest. A co-worker recommended Melatonin so I thought I'd research it further. After reading some of these comments I'm terrified I'll experience the nightmares. What should I do?
Hmmm, I wonder what's worse...the possibility of nightmares or the possibility of high blood pressure, bad heart, headaches, etc., bad health in general because you don't get a health amount of sleep???
3 mg works for me. I sleep well, but it always takes awhile for me to fall asleep. With the melatonin, I drop right off. I have noticed that after a week or so it tends to have less effect. so I go off for a week, then go back on. result = zzz's in 15 minutes.
I started taking 3 mg of Melatonin per night in early January to help me sleep better. After 2 months I first noticed a suite of side effects, including one spell of wooziness, a very rapid heartbeat each day, and rapid breathing. Also, I felt extremely tired ALL the time. I stopped cold and 2 weeks later I feel great.
For three years I have had difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. I now have fibromyalgia and I am pretty miserable. I have had three sleep studies done and have been told I have sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.I already knew I have chronic rhinitis. I have tried medications, supplements, and changes in diet and in my bedroom. I have now created a "cocktail" I am experimenting with. Benedryl, Requip, extra strength tylenol and lunesta taken about 15 minutes apart before bed. Anyone have any experience or comments about this? I fall asleep and sleep about 3-4 hours. I am thinking of adding melatonin. Any ideas out there?
I just took an ambien and nothing then I took another half and still nothing. i had a sleepless night last night too. I have some melatonin. How would it react to the ambien I have already taken?
I NEED to sleep but I am afraid of waking up and having a hangover from all this stuff.
I've been taking melatoonin for at least 3 years, for periods of several months at a time. The key for me is to take it around the time I want to go to sleep. Whether I am tired or not after taking it, I will go to bed, and "shut down." It works great for me and I don't even know the time I fell asleep. It happens so naturally.
On another note, there have been studies that show regular use of melatonin naturally decreases elevated BP. Unless you consider the effects life threatening, perhaps people should try it for a week because those "side effects" may either subside with time, or may just be a manifestation of anxiety over having a "foreign substance" in your body.
I'm so desperate to get a good night's sleep that I'm willing to explore and try several options including the use of melatonin. Like a pervious poster said what could be worse the possiblity of nightmares or a life long series of health problems due to lack of sleep. I've had sleep problem since childhood due to a chaotic childhood and know much of my sleeping problems are rooted in that. I've been reading comments about melatonin both good and bad and have come to the conclusion that there is more to gain than isn't and if I have a few side effects so be it. If I sleep well I'll try and get past the side effects. The drugs I've tried are addicting so the last thing I need is a drug addiction. Wish me luck with melatnoin.
I took only 2mgs last night for the first time, and I definitely felt weird...it sort of felt like my head was "quaking" for a bit, and my heart beat seemed kind of irregular, but mostly I felt groggy. And since i have been having such a difficult time sleeping (I think its due to stress)that despite these MILD effects, I still thought being able to fall asleep was a beautiful thing! It took me about 45 minutes to fall asleep, when lately I have been waiting atleast three hours even though I feel exhausted. Perhaps people are taking too high of a dosage? Perhaps that, in combination of anxiety from fear of side effects, may be causing people to have such a bad experience with melatonin. I dont know what I would have felt like had I taken 3mgs. The rep at the vitamin store told me to experiment with 1mg pills...And as for the nightmares, which is what I was most afraid of...Well, I dreamt a sales lady sold my dress to another women after I had asked her to put it on hold...ha ha ha...I'll let you know if they get any worse than that. Hopefully people dont start posting the contents of their dreams, I was just trying to make a point. It worked for me, but good luck everyone.
You are all loons. Melatonin works very well. I fall asleep in a hour, taking around 4 mg. I am 16.
The only "side effect" i have is sometimes remembering my dreams. The are all good dreams. Like to do with everyday stuff.
Loons?
It's great that it works for you but it doesn't for me (and makes me nauseous). What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for the next and vice versa.
I've been taking melatonin dual release for a few months, I think it works well, AND I went to the doctor a week ago and my BP was lower than it's been in a couple years. I noticed the comment about it possibly lowering BP, which was great. But sometimes I think the melatonin releases and makes me tired in the mid morning, either that, or it's really relaxing me and lowering my anxiety level, which naturally would make a person tired.
I have a problem waking up at 4 am and not being able to go back to sleep. I also have trouble getting to sleep at times. A 1 mg cut in half together with a .3 mg extended release work well for me. No problems or side effects other than being calmer during the day.
Is is bad or addicting that I HAVE to take a melatonin every night to fall asleep. I wake up in the morning, and drink coffee. I could fall right back to sleep after I drink my coffee. But don't b/c I have work or school. And later that night, when it is time to go to sleep, I can't. I guess I am worried about stuff or think too much. So I have to take a melatonin every night. Is this a bad habit? Is it the same as having to take a tylenol PM to go to sleep every night?
I am out of melatonin, so that explains why I am posting this comment at 3:00 AM on a Sunday night...
I can sleep deeply and restfully on 1 mg of Melatonin a night. However, every time I take it more than 2 nights in a row, I end up spotting for about a month, so it definitely effects my hormonal balance. I think it's best used occasionally, not every night. Anonymous
I tried Melotonin last week after my mom suggested it. I used 1/2 the recommended dosage and was drowsy, however, I did not sleep through the night and I had horrible nightmares. I waited a few days and tried it again and still had bizarre dreams and nightmares. I am throwing it out.
i pound tylenol pm like candy cause im temp on night shift...
ive read the comments...
i bought 3mg tabs
i usually eat at 11am and then take 2-4 ty pm to sleep...
im gonna replace ty pm with
one 3mg melatonin
ill let you know......
I have always had a hard time falling asleep..can't shut down the brain! I used to take Tylenol PM but I never felt really awake until noon the following day! For the past year I have been taking 3mg Melatonin, then a warm shower...by the time I get out of the shower and under the covers, I'm just feeling groggy and fall asleep within minutes. I'm up and wide awake by 5am and feeling terrific...time for a nice power-walk!
i have intense nightmares when i take melatonin. well, when i take most any sleep aid, but it's worst with melatonin. i wake up feeling pain from things that happened in the nightmares and then startle myself awake for the rest of the night because i keep hallucinating. but i don't know what else to do because i'm such an insomniac. i guess to each there own.
I think that some people are indeed nocturnal. I feel very alert yet relaxed after sun down and can work or do anything else with high efficiency the rest of the night. During the bright daylight hours I'm nervous, tired, sleepy, and irritable. I've been this way all my life. But we live in a 9-5 world dominated by "morning people". The very best way I've found to adapt is 3 mg of Melatonin every night about 30 min before I try to sleep (and earplugs when necessary). I've noticed it makes my eyes actually heavy. When I first started using it several years ago it gave me very vivid dreams which was fun but it doesn't do that anymore. I still have to drink a lot of coffee to make it through the day but at least now I can have as much sleep as I want (providing I have the time) without laying in bed awake for hours and hours. The fact that melatonin doesn't work for everyone tells me that there are different reasons for insomnia. If in most people the light makes them active and the dark makes them sleepy is it so hard to conceive of this process somehow being reversed in some people?
I have been taking Melatonin for about 3 years. I use the 2.5mg sub-lingual formula which you place under your tongue at bedtime. This type is faster acting and enters your bloodstream faster. It is not metablized by the liver as the swallowed tablet type is. It comes in several flavors. I usually fall asleep within 10-15 minutes. I do find that, after about 3 weeks of taking it everynight, it looses some effectiveness, so I use Benedryl as a sleep aid a few nights a week and Melatonin the reast. So far....so good. I sleep good and awake rested.
I have had insomnia for years but the past few months have been really bad. I was taking an otc (over the counter) sleep aid but decided to try midnights, it is 1.5 mg melt-aways you can buy otc in the USA. I am amazed how well it works for me. Within 1/2 hour and usually less my eyes get very heavy and I just want to lay down and close them. I dont even have to lay down after I take it until I feel these effects. Once I do lay down, it puts me to sleep quickly. I also wake much more refreshed than when I took an OTC sleep aid. However, many nights, almost every night, I still wake at around 4ish and cant fall back to sleep. It says on the box that you can take it any time of the night but allow 3 hours to sleep. I need to wake at 6:30 am so I cant take another melatonin after 4, I dont want to be too groggy to drive my daughter to school. However the 4 hours or so sleep I get before I rewake are like heaven to me. It is a relaxing restful sleep, with normal dreams if I remember them at all. I still plan to go to the dr on Monday though to see if there is something better than melatonin that is non addicting with no next day grogginess, but I doubt anything will work quite as well, this is the best thing I have found so far. I will ask him how safe this is for daily use and what the maximum dosage I can safely take in case I start to need more. Also I want to ask him if its safe for my 10 year old as she is like her mother, an insomniac also. I actually think we are just 'night people' but like someone else said in this 9 to 5 world, you cant be.
Is it because I stopped smoking pot 3 weeks ago (cold turkey) after 11 years I am having sleeping issues & anxiety. I just lye in bed waiting & waiting to fall asleep. How long will this last?
Go back to the pot. alot safer than any drug.. i say this as i pop a lunesta
Does anybody know if melatonin is addictive? I've been trying to stop taking it and once I get into bed at night I get worried I won't be able to sleep and take one just to be "safe" and know I'm going to fall asleep. I don't know if I need it physically or mentally now?
Do I just fight myself to go to sleep and live with it?
I am out of lunesta, I am out of benedryl... I let myself run out because (I've been taking the first for six months and been taking benedryl, geee, for as long as I can remember) I allowed my husband give me the, "you just have to make yourself go to bed dear" talk. He does not understand what it's like to stay up for 2-3 days... You WANT to sleep, but you just can't. I'm going to buy some melatonin tomorrow- And call my doctor about the lunesta or trying something else. I have been this way all my life, but it wasn't a problem when I was single and could plan my life around my sleep. Just venting, sorry.
Take omega 3 fish oil about 30 or 45 minutes before bed. It helps me relax.
Anyone ever thought their insomnia was caused by some underlying issue...perhaps depression; stress; or bipolar???? Instead of just treating the insomnia try going to see a shrink once or twice and see if this isnt linked to another disorder. Then maybe we can all get a good nights sleep... I had one of those before and god did it feel great the next morning =)
I have a scrip. for Lunesta and havent used it because Iam afraid stupid aye. I am in Police work and dont want to be addicted to any sleep aid... I bought some melatonin and now my dumb but is afraid to take that reading all these comments anyone got any advise......
My Dr. recommended I take Melatonin since I have the worse time falling asleep; I didn't like it at all. I had vivid dreams and kept waking up all through the night. A while back I used Valerian; this seemed to work really well (you have to give it a couple days to get in your system); it's not addictive and I didn't wake up in the middle of the night nor did I have any nightmares. Another product I tried before was Sleep MD; this worked really well also. I think I'll be switching to either of these now and throw the Melatonin away.
I'd like to know why Dr.'s won't prescribe Valium. I have tried that (someone gave me some) and it is wonderful. It relaxes you and makes for a great sleep and you don't feel groggy at all the next day. I would wake up refreshed and feeling great. If a Dr. will prescribe Ambien, etc. and these drugs can be habit forming, why won't they prescribe Valium?
okay so i'm fifteen and i've been told i have a case of insomnia i have extreme problems falling asleep and have had problems with this scince i was six. i have been using ambien for about four months. my doctor just made me discontinue my usage of ambien because she said its not for long term use and can be bad for your brain, im trying melatonin tonight, but im skeptical because i tryed it about two years ago with little result, i took a melatonin suplement and drank a cup of chamamille tea. i dont know if this will work but i have 2 months until i get to see a 'sleep specialist' and im despret, and open for ideas, or suggestions as to anything i could use to make me sleep... any ideas???
I have fibromyalgia. I have tried a few remedies. The only thing I have found that works is Ambien. It gives me 5 hours sleep. I can fall asleep without med, but I can not stay asleep. I'm wondering if I can take Melatonin and Ambien.
I take melatonin when I need to adjust my sleep schedule for work. I'm a freelance editor, so I typically work 2-3 months on (9 to 5) and then have a month off. During that month off, I always find myself slipping into a nocturnal schedule, and correcting that without a sleep aid is a total pain in the butt
Melatonin is the only thing I've taken that knocks me out and doesn't make me groggy in the mornings. Any synthetic sleep medication makes me a zombie for the entirety of the next day. The only issue I have with melatonin is the nightmares I get after taking it. They're not very bad; they're just not pleasant.
My advice to people who don't want to take synthetic sleep aids is the try chamomile tea and some valerian root supplements an hour before bed. I used to brew the chamomile and the valerian root together and use honey to cover up the bad taste. If that isn't strong enough (it only worked for about a week in my case), switch to 1 mg of melatonin, and if you still can't sleep, up it to 3 mg the next night. Just make sure that you do all of these things at the same time every night, or your body clock will end up confused and your insomnia will get worse.
Hope this helps.
I'm 60 years old have been taking Melatonin for 12 years and it has always worked for me. I started with 5 mg., but, now I can take less than 3 mg (I cut them up into pieces), with the same results. Some nights, though, I still need the 3 mg. My concern now is that I read an article which states that if you take Melatonin for an extended period of time, your body stops creating Melatonin. Is this true? I tried to stop taking it, but, became anxious about not sleeping, and ended taking it anyway. So, will I need to take Melatonin for the rest of my life?
I too have sleep problems from both chronic pain and PTSD. I am going to try Melotonin so I decided to look it up. I see a lot of people complaining about the side effect 'nightmares' Something I am on and revere is "Prazosin". Works wonders on nightmares brought on by PTSD so it might work with 'Melotonin' as well.
Valerian root. Stuff smells (in your best british accent) "nosty"! but it will calm you noticeably. think it is also the natural form of pharma cos modeled valium after if i heard or read right...
Melatonin: It's odd to see that so many have experienced nightmares.? I partied my face off during my mid 20's and the effect of that left me with the inability to sleep consistently.I'm 33 now. I've taken melatonin for about the past 2 years. Works really quite well for me. I however have quite pleasant & vivid dreams though. here's the kicker... 8 of 10 times the dreams are sexual. I've been through some dark times before that would make me a candidate for some dimented dreams, but the dreams are usually pleasant and help me feel like i solved something...? I'm married, have a decent sex life, and if i don't take melatonin, i don't dream. that i know of...
On the side, I too have experienced rapid heartbeat before i fall asleep, kinda like a rush of warmth, the tinitus in my ears becomes a bit more acute for a sec and my eyes get drowsy. But then, I'm fixing to fall asleep.
If your wheelz are turnin at night you haven't used all your energy that day. You got things to figure out, exercise or take care of... Bet.
Make sure that your sleeplessness is not caused by bipolar mania, endocrine disorders (hyper-thyroid or hyper-adrenal) or other physical causes. I think Melatonin is great, especially when getting day/night sleep/wake cycles straight, but long term, for a person who CAN sleep, I'm not sure it's the best idea.
Establishing a bedtime routine - warm bath, aromatherapy, chamomile tea, soft music can be very conducive to sleep - especially if the true problem is over-stimulation or stress.
I was reading about Delayed Sleep Pattern Disorder....I suggest some of you look into it. This gets confused with Insomnia alot. Great read and finally had some answers to my sleep problems.
And like all problems..when you can identify it...you can aim to fix it a little clearer. hope that that helps any of you who are like me....which i know you are here...lol.
I have slept poorly for about the last 6 years. I am 40. Last summer I had a sleep study done and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. I had an oral device made (it holds my jaw at a certain angle to make breathing while asleep better). For the most part, that has solved a lot of my sleep problems, and my family is VERY happy that I no longer snore. If I need some occassional help falling/staying asleep I will take 3mg of Melatonin. If I take it for more than a week or so straight, I stay pretty dopey during the day, but OH what a treat to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep!
I have slept poorly for about the last 6 years. I am 40. Last summer I had a sleep study done and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. I had an oral device made (it holds my jaw at a certain angle to make breathing while asleep better). For the most part, that has solved a lot of my sleep problems, and my family is VERY happy that I no longer snore. If I need some occassional help falling/staying asleep I will take 3mg of Melatonin. If I take it for more than a week or so straight, I stay pretty dopey during the day, but OH what a treat to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep!
The Doctor's comment in this article about Canada is NOT correct. Melatonin does not require a prescription in Canada - it can be purchased at any health food store.
For Anonymous who asked why s/he couldn't be prescribed Valium for his/her sleep difficulties: Rozerem, Lunesta and Ambien are all designed to aid sleep and thought to have a very low risk of addiction. Valium, on the other hand, is a benzodiazepine, all of which are extremely addictive even in tiny doses. They are also meant to be used for anxiety and as a tranquilizer. Your doctor or psychiatrist is usually quite unwilling to prescribe any benzo purely because of the high risk of dependence.
Now, my question: more than a decade ago I heard of Melatonin as a sleep aid, but never tried it, in part because I wasn't having so much trouble then, but also because I heard that there is some danger in taking it if one is also taking an SSRI. I'm on an SNRI now, but the question still holds; did I get bad information, or is there some risk with either an SSRI or an SNRI? I have gone ahead and tried it and results there are also mixed: I've found 1mg is not enough but 2 will get it, SOMETIMES. I think I've been taking it regularly, so it shouldn't be that, but I think some people said there was a certain window of time in which one had to go to bed. I'm guilty of liking to stay up and watch the late shows to the exclusion of any prescribed bed time. One more question: I DO deal with bipolar and many times my depression has been worse than usual; could the Melatonin be the cause? I had to stop taking Lunesta (Rozerem didn't help at all) because of that exact problem.
By the way, all those who said they're using Tylenol PM: that product is nothing but acetaminophen (generic Tylenol) and diphenhydramine (generic Benadryl). No sense in paying beaucoups for combination drugs when you can buy the generics separately and more cheaply and use them separately or together as you need.....
Hi boys and girls.
I am a 46-year-old male, and a longtime sufferer of insomnia (all of my adult life).
My sister-in-law gave me 5mg melatonin to try a couple of days ago, and I have now used it for the last 2 nights. It is working for me so far. I did have pretty vivid dreams last night, but not nightmares. From my limited experience, it seems to really help.
I have problems sleeping as well. Sometimes melatonin works great, sometimes not. It's about getting the right dose. Too much can cause vivid dreams or nightmares. My cortisol level is high at night too. This is when its suppose to be low..so it's like drinking coffee at night. You can check this by getting a saliva test from a naturopathic doctor. It is also related to thyroid and the endocrine system in many cases.
I travel extensively, often times to completely opposite time zones. I take 1 Tylenor PM with 2 Melatonins (3mg) when I need to sleep wherever I am. This works for me very well with jet lag problems as well as other days when I need to get an extra help to fall a sleep and stay sleep. I have been doing this for over 3 years. Lately, I am noticing that I am waking up soaked in sweat. I am assuming this must be related to my age (49 yr old female). I just wanted to know if there are any major side effects with mixing Tylenor PM with Melatonin.
My wife and I take Melatonin every nite about 15 minutes before going to bed....no nightmares, just sleep.
Have to admit that it's ok with us.
Mitch & Patt
Went to the doctor MARCH 3, 2008 to consult about a violent sleep disorder that manifests itself in older males. After researching this disorder, we (wife and I) heard about melatonin helping to stop the physical reactions to natural dream states. After successfully experiencing deeper ( and non violent) sleep, we went to the doctor to see if this condition might be linked to other serious conditions (dimentia and/or Parkinson's). He prescribed CLONAZEPAM and recommended stopping melatonin (saying it had many side effects), and also said that Clonazepam had no bad side effects.
Before we went to fill the prescription, we decided to search the internet for information. Incredibly BAD side effects were reported concerning the use of Clonazepam. Incredibly GOOD side - BENEFITS were reported with the use of melatonin. We also realized that the doseage on bottles (3mg does NOT equal .3mcg) should make everyone a wary consumer.
SO, we are in the process of searching the Internet for quality Melatonin in the doseage that works for us!
Good luck and do your homeowork!
Jim & Judy in New Jersey
Thats why melatonin kicks ass! I have been taking it for 3 years and I love the fact that you get to remember your dreams!!! I guess if you had a terrible upbringing or you were a depressed person maybe you wouldnt want to remember your dreams?? I have had a great life and to get to look back on it while sleeping is a bonus! : )
I took Melatonin one night, and didn't see much of a difference. I then took it two nights in a row the next week and barely noticed that I was getting to sleep slightly faster. However, the next day I seemed to become depressed. I stopped taking the Melatonin, and I still feel the effects of depression. I have insomnia and nothing I've tried has seemed to work for me other than a dose of liquid benedryl at night (the only problem with that is I stay tired for longer than I want).
I see that many of you who have tried melatonin are taking 3 MG to start with. I have been taking pills that are ONLY 3 MCG to start. That is 1/10th the dose of a 3MG pill! Maybe you are taking WAY too much. Start small, then increase.
I've been taking melatonin on and off for several years (along with Tylenol p.m. and sometimes, prescription meds). Never realized it could contribute to high blood pressure (which I already have). But I thought the nightmares were due to a crappy marriage (not kidding) but now, after reading these posts, I see that it's the melatonin. I will no longer take it!
It seems I can take up to 4-5 x 3mg doses of Melatonin and nothing happens. It is as if I am immune to the sleep-aid effects. It does give me a great dreaming experience though...
I sometimes take 1/3 to 1/2 of a milligram (mg), that is 300 to 500 micrograms (mcg) of melatonin, about 1 to 2 hours before I want to go to sleep. It works wonderful for my occasional insomnia. Too much melatonin can cause overly vivid dreams, those 3 mg tablets are just way too much for me. All these endless "medical" cautions about common everyday nutrients seem like just so much hype and FUD. If they really don't know about something, because they haven't done their research, they should not say anything about what they don't know about. "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food " - Hippocrates. Nutraceuticals are the best way to go, most of the time, IMHO. I also turn the lights way down late at night and have a daylight lamp that comes on with a timer about 1 hour before I need to wake up, to help my body better manage it's own production of melatonin. SFrahm
I used to think I was nocturnal as well until I got a third shift job. Now I have the same problem trying to stay awake at night. Turns out work is just really boring and puts me to sleep no matter what time it is.
I have been using melatonin without consistancy for years. Only recently have I been taking one nightly. I sleep very well and naturally with melatonin, but have recently heard the connection between it and nightmares. I have very vivid dreams and occasionally nightmares, but never considered a connection. The dreams are more intense when life is more stressfull, so I don't blame melatonin alone. I will experiment some and perhaps lower my dose. I agree the helath benefits may override unpleasant dreams. Also, melatonin for me does not make me drowsy the next day where other things do. For me, I take a melatonin and allow myself ant least an hour to read a book, take a hot shower, or relax some other way to ease into sleep.
I used Melatonin for 3 yrs. never had a problem. Try doing some research on it, to actually find out more. Should be sleeping now & after reading all this I think I should get some more. I wonder if some of you took a plcebo would still feel high, speedy, & have nightmares? If your that worried & afraid don't take it. Take the medication made by the drug companies that do their so-called research so they have a reason to overcharge, & put the fear in the public about anything that is natural or that really helps so you'll buy their product,which usually have a long list of side effects! It was on the news that a person on one of these sleep aids mentioned here, actually drove 20 miles, killed someone, & went home & went to bed, they didn't remember a thing cause they where ASLEEP!! That was some good stuff, they didn't have a problem w/nightmares or sleeping on that medication! Also there is a cure for the common cold & flu! I've been using it succesfully, when needed, for the last 20+ years! It's been around since the 1800's. Now why doesn't the public know anything about this??
I take Melatonin about 20 min. before I want to fall asleep - I started out taking 3 mg., and then realized it was too much, and cut it into halves and quarters, and now I only take 1 mg., and it extremely effective. Sometimes I'll wake up around 4:00 a.m. for about 2-3 min., then fall right back asleep. I never feel groggy and I am so grateful we do not have to get a prescription in this country for this synthetic product - someone was asking me about it and said they didn't want to "mess" with taking hormones? Melatonin is a hormone that is produced naturally in our bodies when it becomes dark, AND it is found in small amounts in some meats and fruits; however, the production of this hormone is reduced as we get older. I am turing 40 this year, and still look great because I am able to get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted (mostly) sleep every night, and I wake up at 5:45-6:00 naturally a few min. before my alarm goes off, as the sunshine streams through the sides of my dark brown roman blinds! I love it, and I will continue to take take it.
Hi all. I had to post, because I tried one of those sleep md products with melatonin, and it was the wost nights sleepI have ever had... I had the scariest and most intense nightmares....awful. so now I am taking lunesta, the happy butterfly. 2 mg works great, 3 in bouts of severe insomnia. Good luck~!
I just wanted to say thank you to oharabrat, even though they may never read this. I always called my "condition" insomnia because I didn't have a better word and I had never heard of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. It never sat right with me though (calling it insomnia, that is) since I could sleep, just not like "normal" people. Reading about DSPS was like a reading a verbatim description of my sleep struggles. And you are right that knowing can help you deal. So thank you for pointing out DSPS.
I take been on Ambien 10MG for one year. How do I get it out of my body?
I use melatonin to get to sleep -but it can leave me "floatey" the next day; just a little slowed-up. recently I learned that cherries have melatonin in them, and they work for me, but even cherries can cause the "floatey" effect. I've been cutting down from 8 cherries before bed - to 4 to 2. 2 seems about right. Still works.
Those of you who say melatonin won't work may want to try lower dosages before you give it up completely. Most bottles seem to come in 3 mg, however we have a 300 microgram which is equal to .3 milligrams. I've read (online) that this is closer to our bodies natural melatonin levels, or at least what it is supposed to be at night. For those having nightmares and laying awake the next night try a lesser amount. Even 1 mg may be too much. It's like doing your own research. The sad fact is that everyone really is different and needs differnt things that work. Were all human and you would think that what works for one person should work for another, but if you think about it we are all in different environments exposed to different things and all eating a variety of foods (which I believe causes the problems to begin with). I've also read that eating cherries...in particular tart red cherry juice raises melatonin levels. My daughter takes melatonin every night (300 mcg). She is ADHD and is 10 now, but ever since she was born she has had trouble sleeping...which meant no sleep for parents at least until 1 or 2 am (dad had to quit school, I was always a grouch) Then, in 1st grade started taking Trazadone (sleep aid) we didn't know the opiate effects in the morning that developed were from the trazadone. We took her off and melatonin is sooo much better. Hope this helps.
Thanks to the last anonymous commenter. Your tips on melatonin may help me because I didn't have a good first experience with it and your explanation makes sense.
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