Melatonin for sleep

[mammaP]

I now have my melatonin, 1mg. I am now wondering the best way to take them.

I take 100mg of tramadol in the evening, and it tends to wake me up

for the first 3 hours then I get very drowsy. Not sleepy but drowsy

( sounds contradictory I know ) then that wears off and I feel ok,

that's when I go to bed while the pain killing effect is still active.

I don't take them in the daytime because I can't function with them

but take them at night to get a few hours pain free. They are the only ones

I can tolerate but am hoping my pain will be less when I am off the

anti depressant, then I can wean off those too.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm hoping it will help me get off

to sleep and stay asleep a bit longer than a couple of hours.

 

I had to order and pay for them in US$ but they came from Uk so someone must

have a way of getting round the silly UK laws!

[Altostrata]

Read post #1 in this topic.

[mammaP]

I didn't sleep much last night, 2 hours!

The quality of sleep was good just not enough of it.

Will reduce to .5 and see how that goes.

[mammaP]

I took .5 last night and still no sleep. Maybe try a different dose

and go up, .5mg and 1mg haven't helped so will go to 1.5.

[Altostrata]

Give it a few days. Jumping around leads to inconsistent data.

[mammaP]

Didn't take any last night and didn't sleep too badly so think I'll

leave the melatonin alone awhile and see how things go.

[Barbarannamated]

Not certain where to ask this but it's a falling asleep issue, so this seems logical..

 

Just this week, have noticed that I am startling awake just as I fall asleep. I had a tooth pulled on Monday (anesthesia/sedation) and that night awoke to snapping my teeth closed and bloody taste in mouth. Not unexpected after a big extraction, but the snapping shut of mouth is new. I have long history of bruxism but not this myoclonic (?) type action.

 

Last night, woke with startled, scared feeling a few times while trying to fall asleep. No dreams that I recall.

 

Saw Karma's comment about melatonin on someone's thread, so will try a small dose tonight. If any other thoughts, please let me know.

 

This downturn at 2 year point is discouraging

[Altostrata]

The anesthesia might have triggered some alerting. This should settle.

 

Melatonin is good for initiating sleep, it might help. Be moderate, don't overdo it.

[Jemima]

I think I'm having problems with side effects from Melatonin, and I found an article from the Mayo clinic which points out these potential problems:

 

"The hormone melatonin helps control your natural sleep-wake cycle. Natural levels of melatonin in the blood are highest at night. Some research suggests that melatonin supplements might be helpful in treating jet lag or reducing the time it takes to fall asleep — although the effect is typically mild. Melatonin might be more effective for other types of sleep issues, such as delayed sleep disorder or sleep disorders affecting circadian rhythm.

The most common melatonin side effects include:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Dizziness
• Headaches

Other, less common melatonin side effects might include abdominal discomfort, mild anxiety, irritability, confusion and short-lasting feelings of depression." (Emphasis, mine.)

 

The full article is here:

 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/melatonin-side-effects/AN01717

 

It's possible that I'm just having a very bad wave, but I've been feeling more and more sluggish and depressed over the past month or so, and I've been routinely taking one to two milligrams of Melatonin at night for several months.  It's hard to get up in the morning and often I lie in bed until afternoon, procrastinating to the point of skipping activities I think would be good for me.

 

So tonight I'll see what happens without any sleep aids at all.

[alex]

Jemima, I think you are going through a wave...

But at least you can sleep! my sleep is destroyed...

Why don't you reduce instead of not taking it at all.

[Altostrata]

When I take too much melatonin, I'm weepy in the morning.

[Jemima]

When I take too much melatonin, I'm weepy in the morning.

 

That's pretty much how I've been feeling--weepy, self-pitying, depressed.  Yet if I don't take at least one milligram, it doesn't help with sleep.

 

I skipped it last night and couldn't get to sleep until 3:00 AM, after taking an antihistamine.  Woke again at 6:00 AM and had to take another to get back to sleep.  I felt a lot better today, but still stayed in bed a very long time.  I need to get back on a "normal" daytime schedule so I can get active in more daytime things.

[SouthernFreeze]

After waking up yet again around the 4am mark this morning i looked this up for some help,  turns out it needs a prescription here 

 

I was hoping that i would never have to see the quack again, especially seems i can't find a decent one in this town. Also i know they will just try to get me to take something else more stronger....i just don't know if i can handle the whole ordeal, but man i need a decent sleep!

[Altostrata]

Unclear if melatonin will help you at 4 a.m. -- you should take it earlier in the night to match your normal melatonin cycle. By 4 a.m., natural melatonin is fading out and cortisol, the daytime hormone, is starting up, which is why you're waking up.

 

Can you get glycine?  It works with melatonin and might be better to take at 4 a.m. I sometimes take it when I wake up around 4, with one fish oil, magnesium, and a low-dose aspirin.

[SouthernFreeze]

Yeah i actually have some cannabis seed protein powder that i drink in the morning,it has 1203mg per 100g of glycine  along with omega 3 6 and 9 and magnesium.

 

Maybe i could try that when i wake up with a small aspirin? or does it have to be with the previous dose of melatonin before bed.

 

I can get to sleep ok, it's just the waking up way too early and not getting back to sleep

[Altostrata]

I know what you mean. That's my major sleep problem, too.

 

Yes, you could try your cannabis seed protein powder at 4 a.m. Please let us know how it works, in the cannabis topic.

 

(I've never heard of cannabis seed protein powder before.)

[Addax]

I'm trying to find a study of fluoxetine and melatonin use in mice. I know animal models are not always generalizable, but I was curious because I think Melatonin maybe part of my fatigue problem, or contributing to it anyway.

 

Took it last night after having not taken in in several days and well... Feel much like the description Jemima posted from the mayo clinic. Maybe just an after shock of the last wave?

 

Has anyone seen this study? Or is aware of an interaction between melatonin and prozac (fluoxetine)? Or has had a bad experience with melatonin?

 

I checked The drug interaction checker and didn't find anything...

[Meimeiquest]

I think melatonin and serotonin convert back and forth. Read a FB article yesterday about tart cherry extract, one tsp. helping because it has natural melatonin. But I don't get how the source of the melatonin would matter.

[Wildflower0214]

I've taken Melatonin for years. I always took

5mg. I know take 10mg. I've seen on here that is way too much. During the first weeks in WD I only took 5, but sleep became more difficult and upped it to 10.

[compsports]

I've taken Melatonin for years. I always took

5mg. I know take 10mg. I've seen on here that is way too much. During the first weeks in WD I only took 5, but sleep became more difficult and upped it to 10.

A sleep doctor I saw in August recommended taking 5 to 9m before bedtime which I rejected because I have never done well with melatonin.    If 10mg works for you, I wouldn't worry about it although I would be hesitant to go too much higher.

[Wildflower0214]

Ok, again, no sleep at all. I had about a week where I was sleeping off and on, now nothing. I feel like the melatonin calms now at first and then I'm awake again. If I'm hypersensitive do I need to taper the melatonin to get off of it?

[Wildflower0214]

I have a question, and didnt know where to post it. I have been taking melatonin for years. I take 10 mg. I have recently developed complete insomnia, going into my second night. I believe the melatonin has backfired on me. Does anyone have any experience with this? And if, I want to stop taking it because it's causing problems. Do I need to taper it? I also take ativan .25 mg and have been on this dose for a couple months. Could this be doing it? If so, I obviously can't taper something else right now. So what to do?

[Altostrata]

JDM, please read this topic from the start.

 

Given you've been taking so much, I would taper it by maybe 25% for a few days at a time. It could be less would work better for you.

[Wildflower0214]

Alto,

Forgive me, my cognitive abilities are compromised from lack of sleep. :-/

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to do it very very slowly, as I believe I've just been knocked on my butt by a wave. Don't want I upset the process any further.

[Altostrata]

If you're having a paradoxical reaction to the melatonin, you'll want to back down fairly quickly -- but give your system a chance to adjust.

[Wildflower0214]

Ok. How do I do that? probably have to make a liquid. I know there are instructions on here somewhere to do that. Brain cells are not present currently. Exhausted.

[btdt]

"The plasma half-life is short, 20 to 50 minutes, 6 , 7 , 12 and plasma levels return to baseline within 24 hours after discontinuation of chronic dosing of less than 10 mg/day. 7 , 13 Doses of melatonin 5 mg produce estimated peak blood levels 25 times above physiological levels, but do not alter endogenous melatonin production. 7 , 13" 

http://www.drugs.com/npp/melatonin.html

this link has information about it

 

I have never taken melotonin I had enough problems without it and enough reactions I was scared to tempt fate further.  

I don't know anything about it from personal experience but I see above there is a 5mg dose.  You don't need to make a liquid to taper this down to go to say 7.5mg you could just take one and half 5mg tablets. 

 

I am not sure if that is the rate anyone would suggest... maybe more people will comment that know what rate would be good.  

peace

[Wildflower0214]

My symptoms vary sooo much.

3 days no sleep

5 days broken sleep

2 days no sleep

1 day sleep

1 day no sleep

7 days broken sleep etc...

So if it was the melatonin it would be constantly a problem right?

[btdt]

My symptoms vary sooo much.

3 days no sleep

5 days broken sleep

2 days no sleep

1 day sleep

1 day no sleep

7 days broken sleep etc...

So if it was the melatonin it would be constantly a problem right?

watch this

http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/why-melatonin-may-be-dangerous-your-sleep

[btdt]

I could not watch the end to see what they thought would help sleep but there are some other writing articles here and along the right side are further links

http://www.doctoroz.com/article/what-eat-deep-sleep?page=3

[Altostrata]

btdt, please stay on topic in the Symptoms forum.

 

JDM, generally you can cut up tablets to taper melatonin.

[DePrssd5]

btdt, please stay on topic in the Symptoms forum.

 

JDM, generally you can cut up tablets to taper melatonin.

Hi guys,

 

Im from Australia and one of the problems I'm experiencing is insomnia. I know everyone is talking about melatonin and I don't really know which one to buy because when I asked one of the pharmacist she said that I can buy a bottle of melatonin over the counter or get one with a prescription. I'm confused coz I don't know which one to actually buy. When I asked her about the non-prescripted melatonin she said that it only contains a small amount of melatonin compared to the prescripted one. so which one do I actually buy? Or do I go to my doctor to asked for prescription and they'll be asking too many questions. Some advice here please because I haven't slept for how many days now. 

 

Thank you,

DePrssed5

[Altostrata]

Please read the first posts in this thread, there's a thorough discussion of how much melatonin you might need.

[DePrssd5]

Please read the first posts in this thread, there's a thorough discussion of how much melatonin you might need.

Hi Alto,

 

I got my circadin 2 mg prolonged release tablets and you've mentioned that I have to start with a low dose so do I need to cut up the tablets into quarters. But it says in the directions that you are not allowed to cut up the tablets. Now I'm confused if I've got the same melatonin as what you've got because I needed a prescription from the doctor to get it. Alto you've mentioned that you have been taking melatonin for 3 years now but when I was reading the directions there is only limited time that you can take melatonin and that's what the doctor said to me as well. I was reading on the net about melatonin in Dr Oz's website that it is not good to take melatonin compared to valerian. I've got valerian too and while I was reading about it in your website, it made me think again if I should take it or not. Now I'm tossing between this 2. Alto do you take the melatonin/circadin every night until now? I'm just wondering because I know it is a prescripted drug so it will give any effects if you are using it for a long time like using ads as well.

One more question is everytime I fall asleep I jerk or twitch then I don't go back to sleep anymore, why is that? how long will this involuntary movement lasts coz I think its the reason why I cant sleep. Sometimes I just feel like tying up my whole body so I wouldn't move so I can sleep but other muscle still moves. is there a way that I can lessened these involuntary movements? Is there a name for this? And it happens all the time everytime I go to sleep even just for a quick nap. Is exercise part of your symptom and help care too because it was never mentioned in it?Study shows it too that it helps in depression, anxiety, panic attacks and all types of mental illness. I used to go to the gym 3 times a week but now I hardly go and sometimes just go for a walk or run when I feel better. But nowadays, I just feel like I don't have the energy to do it but I'm still pushing myself. Is this the reason why I get those jerking or these involuntary movements(sorry I don't really know the name). Funny thing is, I don't have these jerking or twitching two weeks ago. Please give me some advice.

 

Thank You,

DePrrsed5

[Petunia]

Post written by Ladybug about her experience with melatonin (copied from the relationships forum, original here:  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7498-resentful-of-family/?p=110639)

 

I've been taking melatonin nightly now for a few years, ever since the insomnia became a problem. I take it even when I'm not in an insomnia wave because I'm scared to drop it completely in case it causes withdrawal. I stopped taking it for 5 days last year and then soon after is when I entered a long rough patch. Most of me thinks that was just a coincidence since there were other factors that may have contributed (a vaso vagal attack after a blood draw) and sometimes these things happen for no reason at all. Anyway, that scared me off ditching it for a while. So I just tapered down to the smallest dose possible (.25mg) and have been on that dose for a while now. I do believe even that small dose helps, or maybe it's just psychological. I know I've read that most people take way too much (3mg and even more) and that the recommended dose is .50mg and I've read even this small amount is wayyy more than the body would produce naturally.

 

 

[alwayslookup]

I have some questions.

 

Should I take the melatonin sooner now in winter time? Like around 6pm when it gets dark?

 

I take my 1.5mg of melatonin at around 9pm (I go to be at around 11pm). It used to help me to get sleepy and fall asleep faster. But now it seems that it is not enough (this might have other causes not sure)

I started taking another quarter-half of a capsule right before getting in bed but even this does not seem to help that much. So I am thinking to get one of those 3mg capsule types. (I can only get here 1,5 or 3mg types)

 

Should I get the controlled release type? I am tempted to try it because it might help with staying asleep (though I can not cut it if its too much)

 

I start to worry about hearing people get dependent on it. Does it need a tapering procedure just like ADs or just a faster more simple taper does the job? Should I have to worry about this?

 

I am kind of confused about all this now.