Anyone use Melatonin?

[Kim&Chris]

I simply don't sleep anymore. I lay in bed for hours and hours, and when I finally DO fall asleep, the alarm goes off. Typically I get anywhere from 3-4 hours a night. If I'm lucky, I can get 6, but it's very rare.

It's been this way for quite some time now, and I feel like it's taking a toll on my health. I've put on some weight, and often feel very depressed.

Someone suggested Melatonin as a sleep aid, so I bought a bottle yesterday. I'm anxious to begin taking it, but I'm also a bit nervous.

I was wondering if anyone has any tips, suggestions, or issues they'd like to share. Unfortunately, I'm one of those crazy people who doesn't even like to take Advil, so this is a big deal for me.

Any comments or suggestions would be very much appreciated!

 

[ChrizJen]

I take Melatonin on occasion, and it works well for me.
Pay attention to the dose and how it affects you. I would recommend using the minimum amount that will help you sleep. 3-4 mg is what I take.
Someone once told me that they had strange dreams when taking Melatonin, but I've not had that issue.
The good thing about it is that it's an all natural supplement, not a man-made narcotic. So it works with your body's natural chemicals.

I'd say give it a try and see how it works for you. The worst you'll have is a bad night's sleep. Nothing new, right?

 

[PigletsPal2]

I've taken it, with diminishing returns. It's been so long ago I can't remember the dosage, but it was small I slept well the first night, less well the second, ad by the third night, there was no affec at all. I'm currently on Ambien CR (zolpidem 10mg). Neither medication gives me bad dreams.

Queen Colleen

 

[wdwmom2]

I have taken it in the past. Got me back into a good sleep pattern. I did stop taking it after I got back to sleeping properly and never did need to use it again.

I am one of those people that had VERY VIVID, VERY COLORFUL dreams!!!! Nothing nightmarish, just normal dreams, but crank up the color intensity!!!!

 

[DisneyCaliCouple]

I used it on occasion before becoming pregnant. It helped me get a good nights sleep and I didn't feel groggy or "hungover" in the morning. My husband uses it when he works nights and has to sleep during the day.

 

[MSLRAC]

DS takes 15 mg a night (under doctor's orders and supervision) and has for over 6 months with no side effects. It's common for kids with Autism to lack Melatonin and have a hard time sleeping. It was not uncommon before he started it for him to get 2-3 hours of poor sleep a night. It still takes him about an hour to go down after taking it but he sleeps soundly until I wake him the next morning for school (he wakes easily and is not groggy).

 

[sam_gordon]

I use it on an as needed basis...

1) When I have a planned early morning
2) When I need to sleep outside my normal schedule
3) When my brain is on over-drive and I just can't get to sleep

I'll take 1-2 pills and usually within about 30 minutes I'm out like a light. Even better news... when I wake up, even if it's after 3-4 hours (because of the alarm going off), I feel "refreshed". The bad part of that is when I wake up (even if earlier than I want), I'm "up." But I'm not groggry.

I don't know what would happen if you take it long term. I have taken it 3-4 days in a row and it's been helpful.

 

[minkydog]

DS takes 15 mg a night (under doctor's orders and supervision) and has for over 6 months with no side effects. It's common for kids with Autism to lack Melatonin and have a hard time sleeping. It was not uncommon before he started it for him to get 2-3 hours of poor sleep a night. It still takes him about an hour to go down after taking it but he sleeps soundly until I wake him the next morning for school (he wakes easily and is not groggy).

I agree. My 16yo son Christian is severely autistic. He went through a period of sleep disruption when he started going through puberty. He was having a regular party in his room every night until 5a.m., then couldn't get up for school. We were offered a strong psychiatric med, guaranteed to knock him out but we opted to try Melatonin. I am happy to report that he has taken Melatonin for the last 4 years with not side effects. He takes it and 30 min later, he's sound asleep and pretty much stays asleep all night. I took it myself a few times, but i didn't get nearly as good response as Christian did.

Another thought, while I'm at it...have you had a sleep study done? If this has gone on a long time you might want to pursue that. Difficulties with sleep can have a myriad of causes, the most serious of which is sleep apnea(stop breathing during sleep.) You may not even be aware you're doing it, but sleep apnea can wake you up over and over all night long. Most people who have untreated sleep apnea feel exhausted during the day, feel depressed and headachy. Sleep disorders often lead to weight gain and diabetes, too, so it's worth checking it out. If you indeed have a sleep disorder, there are good treatments for them.

**I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea for 5 years. I have been using CPAP ever since. Without the CPAP I can't sleep AT ALL and I will flip and flip and flip all night. Best thing I ever did was get that sleep study done.

 

[TxAnn]

I take between 3-4 mg every night and have for a few years now. I've read that you're not supposed to take it long term, but my dr. has given me the okay to keep taking it for as long as needed. I have found that some brands of melatonin work better than others for me. Also, for me, it works best if I take it and then go to bed immediately. Typically, I'll take the melatonin, read in bed for around 30 minutes then fall asleep. There are still some nights that I still don't get a "great" night's rest; however, those nights are much fewer than they used to be.

 

[wintersnowwhite]

I tried to take it once and instead of helping me sleep it kept me awake! I've read before that if you take too high of a dose that it can have to opposite affect on you. I didn't take a high dose, but I am sensitive when it comes to medications.

 

[iwrbnd]

I have two children with ADHD and they've taken melatonin (under doctor's care) for over 15 years with no problems. It has been a lifesaver for us and them since their developing brains need sleep and they have trouble sleeping without it. They only take 1/4 of a 5 mg tablet and it works like a charm!

One thing to remember is there's about a 15-30 minute window for it to work. If you don't go to bed soon after taking it you may not see the effects.

 

[sam_gordon]

Oh, I have found if I've had alcohol with dinner, the melatonin doesn't help.

 

[Feralpeg]

I take it occasionally. It makes me feel very relaxed. I don't feel any type of hangover the next day and it doesn't make me dream any differently. Do be aware that it can be hard on the stomach. Try to eat a little something before you take it.

I've had sleep problems for the past 15 years. I tried Ambien and had a very bad physical reaction to it. I do use Tylenol or Advil PM sometimes. They help, but I don't like to use them all the time.

I've found the best way to get to sleep is to avoid doing anything mentally stimulating at least an hour before going to bed. That means no computer. When I go to bed, I try not to think about specific things or things going on in my life. Try to clear you mind and let it relax. I have trouble getting my mind to shut down at night. For instance, a couple of my books came to me in the night. That may seem good, but it's hard on your body.

Good luck!

 

[DeltaDiamond001]

I've used melatonin for years, and there's a definite difference in the time it takes to fall asleep, how long I stay asleep, and the quality of my sleep.

I've started cutting my caffeine intake, and am now at a small cup of coffee in the morning and a can of Diet Coke in the afternoon. I used to drink 5-6 Diet Cokes each day, along with 2-3 coffees. Lowering my caffeine intake has helped tremendously with my stress, weight control, and especially sleep habits. I'm not constantly tired anymore (from crashing when I wasn't having caffeine every second of the day) but more relaxed and calm. The melatonin now makes it easier to stay asleep; I have no problem falling asleep.

Hope it works out!

 

[KimR]

Oh, I have found if I've had alcohol with dinner, the melatonin doesn't help.

That's what unimsom is for.

 

[we3peas]

I take between 5-10mg each night. I still do not sleep well either. It does help me get to sleep initially. Unfortunately for me I have an extremely small bladder (holds only 4 oz of liquid) so when I get up to use the bathroom I don't go back to sleep, and I get up sometimes up to 5-7 times a night.


After 5-6 nights of not sleeping soundly I will take my Ambien, I still get up to use the bathroom but usually only once a night on nights that I take Ambien.
I do not dream with it and I have fallen out of bed before while on it. My family loves to make fun of me because I can't remember what happens when I take it. I do get really good rest from it though.

 

[debster812]

DS took Melatonin for about 3 weeks this fall. He was concussed in a soccer game, and once he was mostly symptom free and had passed his ImPact test he was still having a VERY hard time staying asleep. His doctor felt it was a combination of the last recurring symptom of the concussion and a teen's wacky sleep patterns at work, and felt that a short term course of Melatonin could not hurt anything.

He did advise us to start it on Friday night, so we could use the weekend to guage how DS was tolerating it.

After about 3 weeks, DS was back in a good pattern, so he stopped taking it, and has been fine ever since.

 

[Fly4free]

Last year the pediatrician suggested Melatonin for DS (13). He was having lots of trouble falling asleep. Before I gave it to him, I wanted to try it on myself. I used a 3 mg dose, and it really did help. I have used it off and on to help regulate my sleep, especially when traveling.

My DD (11) has tried it a few times also to help her when she can't sleep. It does seem to trigger something enabling us to sleep. I don't mind using it from time to time, when it's needed, since it's natural.

 

[pls5286]

One of the rarer side effects of melatonin is it can mess with a female's menstrual cycle. I was on a higher dose, recommended by my doctor and my cycle went completely crazy, not very good for someone not wanting to get pregnant and can't take birth control due to a medical condition. My cycle now starts a full two weeks later than it did before I went on melatonin.

 

[ENSOCK]

I take it every night. 2 mg. It does help me to sleep.

DS12 does not sleep at night with his ADD meds. His doctor wanted to put him on sleeping pills, but I refused as I do not want him on more meds. So on his advice I tried Melatonin. That with a benadryl every night helps him. The benadryl is in place of his other allergy meds.