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have you tried Melatonin as a sleep aid?

iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
edited May 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
not sure how much I should take tonight. I heard it is hard to figure out the dosage. I recently bought 3 mg tablets.

I read on wikipedia that one person responded to 0.5 mg. Tonight I'm cutting mine in half.
9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
10/10 - Brad in B'more
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  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    I wouldn't worry too much about the dosage. just follow the instructions.

    it's good stuff though, I've always gotten good sleep with it.
  • PatrickBatemanPatrickBateman Posts: 2,243
    I took it a long time ago to help adjust my sleep patterns.(working 3rd shift). I got liquid (drops) from GNC. I do remember the first week or so getting an awesome days sleep.
    If a man speaks in a forest and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    PatrickBateman wrote:
    I took it a long time ago to help adjust my sleep patterns.(working 3rd shift). I got liquid (drops) from GNC. I do remember the first week or so getting an awesome days sleep.

    hey that's great. I've suffered from insomnia for over 10 years but now I've had some difficult (family) adjustments and I'm getting older. I got into a pattern of waking up every 2 hours. I may have to make my hmo spend some money and test me for sleep apnea. I used to take Ambien like 5 years ago and was up like normal after taking 2 pills. Some over the counter things keep me awake b/c it makes my throat so dry (that crap is really Benedryl.)
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • Urban HikerUrban Hiker Posts: 1,312
    I used to cut the 3mg tablets in half and would get a good solid 5hrs of sleep and wake up refreshed.

    I have 5mg tablets right now and even when I take 1/4 of a pill I have a VERY hard time waking up after as many as 9hrs of sleep.

    Melatonin = funky dreams
    Walking can be a real trip
    ***********************
    "We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
    ***********************
    Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    I've been taking Xanax off and on for 10 years. Not daily. Rarely daily, but several times a week. Last night I took a piece of one before bed and then a half at 4 a.m. If it is still in my body (the pharmacist told me it accumulates), will the melatonin be extra potent to me where it would not be to you? Even if I did not take any Xanax today.
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • Urban HikerUrban Hiker Posts: 1,312
    iluvcats wrote:
    I've been taking Xanax off and on for 10 years. Not daily. Rarely daily, but several times a week. Last night I took a piece of one before bed and then a half at 4 a.m. If it is still in my body (the pharmacist told me it accumulates), will the melatonin be extra potent to me where it would not be to you? Even if I did not take any Xanax today.


    I think the change in how I'm affected by melatonin is because I've recently been on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. They do warn that anything causing drowsiness could cause Serious drowsiness when mixed.
    Walking can be a real trip
    ***********************
    "We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
    ***********************
    Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,297
    I've never been much of a sleeper and I tend to go in cycles (good sleep for a few weeks, then bad sleep for a couple). I take melatonin every once and a while to help get my cycles back in order and it definitely helps!
    It's nice because you don't become dependent on it and there are really no side effects...and most importantly you feel great the next day.
  • decides2dreamdecides2dream Posts: 14,977
    iluvcats wrote:
    not sure how much I should take tonight. I heard it is hard to figure out the dosage. I recently bought 3 mg tablets.

    I read on wikipedia that one person responded to 0.5 mg. Tonight I'm cutting mine in half.



    yes, i have.
    works pretty well too.
    i think i used 3 mg as well, pretty common dosage avaialable at the pharmacy so i'd not worry and take the whole thing. i really need to get more. sleepless nights suck.


    urban - i find almost ANY sleep aide = funky dreams. :p
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


  • Urban HikerUrban Hiker Posts: 1,312
    decides2dream wrote:
    urban - i find almost ANY sleep aide = funky dreams. :p

    Confession: I've taken melatonin just for the funky dreams. :o:p

    Sometimes, it's like an acid trip in your sleep. And since my body prohibits me from moving while I sleep, if I have a bad trip I won't be doing anything to harm myself or others.

    I love good dreams about hiking, swimming, flying, being in exotic places, etc. :)
    Walking can be a real trip
    ***********************
    "We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
    ***********************
    Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
  • Get_RightGet_Right Posts: 13,296
    Ive taken it
    not sure what the dosage was, but it made me very sleepy the next day, much more so than a half a unisom, which is my typical sleep aid to fight jet lag.
  • stylo17stylo17 Posts: 1,001
    I currently take it. 3 mg pills. works great. I don't think you should cut it. one thing I REALLY don't recommend is taking a pill a knowing you need to wake up in like 4-6 hours. at least for me it's impossible to wake up so soon after taking one of those pills. good luck tonight.
    6/11/08 WPB


    ♬♪♫ and I will not, grow tired of crayon stars and fire

    ♬♪♫ cause a soldier's death is so much better than defeat just hanging around
  • PJaddictedPJaddicted Posts: 1,432
    Yup.....every night! You and I are the same age...and stage... :D

    oxc
    ~*LIVE~LOVE~LAUGH*~

    *May the Peace of the Wilderness be with YOU*

    He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
    — Unknown
  • chiquimonkeychiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    i've been curious if this stuff worked, this is all good reading. i've been using tylenol PM lately, and even then sometimes it takes an hour to kick in
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,297
    chiquimonkey wrote:
    i've been curious if this stuff worked, this is all good reading. i've been using tylenol PM lately, and even then sometimes it takes an hour to kick in

    Tylenol PM (diphenhydramine) has never worked well for me. It sometimes actually keeps me up! I know it shouldn't but it screws with my system.

    Melatonin is nice because it's pretty subtle, takes about 25 mins to "kick in" and you don't feel drugged...at least I don't.
  • chiquimonkeychiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    mca47 wrote:
    Tylenol PM (diphenhydramine) has never worked well for me. It sometimes actually keeps me up! I know it shouldn't but it screws with my system.

    Melatonin is nice because it's pretty subtle, takes about 25 mins to "kick in" and you don't feel drugged...at least I don't.
    the first time i took it, nothing happened. i had friends warn me to take it right when i was about to go to sleep, to be in bed 10 minutes after taking it, blah blah blah....so i was all psyched the first time thinking yay, i'll pass out. nope lol last week i was having a hard time shutting my brain off and tried it again, took a while to kick in but eventually did. i felt really good come morning time. i'll have to scope this stuff out, maybe keep it on hand just in case
  • brainofPJbrainofPJ Posts: 2,361
    Urban Hiker wrote:
    Melatonin = funky dreams


    EVERYONE i know that has taken melatonin has said the same thing.

    anyway, my brother gave me some and i only tried it for 2 nights...he told me to give it at least 1 week, maybe 1.5...

    i'll have to try again.

    last night i laid in bed for at least 3 hours before i think i fell asleep.


    Esther's here and she's sick?

    hi Esther, now we are all going to be sick, thanks
  • stylo17stylo17 Posts: 1,001
    I think you can take it, then brush your teeth, get some water and do your other bedtime routines before it'll "kick in." I like to do that, then I'll lay in bed with the TV on, and in about 10-15 minutes I'm feeling tired. then it's night night and just wait till the dreams come.

    anyone ever tried two at one time?
    6/11/08 WPB


    ♬♪♫ and I will not, grow tired of crayon stars and fire

    ♬♪♫ cause a soldier's death is so much better than defeat just hanging around
  • the wolfthe wolf Posts: 7,027
    iluvcats wrote:
    not sure how much I should take tonight. I heard it is hard to figure out the dosage. I recently bought 3 mg tablets.

    I read on wikipedia that one person responded to 0.5 mg. Tonight I'm cutting mine in half.


    um, i take it from time to time. sometimes one tab works, and others i have taken 3 and even 4, and nothing.


    and just so you know, ( i worked in the field of pharmaceuticals ) but anyway, if its not scored, a line down the middle. it dont matter if you cut it in half. the only way you know if your getting the actual half dose is if a tab is scored. keep that in mind, with any drug.

    good luck.
    Peace, Love.

    "To question your government is not unpatriotic --
    to not question your government is unpatriotic."
    -- Sen. Chuck Hagel
  • in_hiding79in_hiding79 Posts: 4,315
    I have tried EVERYTHING to go to sleep and stay asleep for at least five hours....
    And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
    "What a stupid lamb."
    "What a sick, masochistic lion."
  • stylo17stylo17 Posts: 1,001
    in_hiding79 wrote:
    I have tried EVERYTHING to go to sleep and stay asleep for at least five hours....

    and not even Nyquil (liquid) works??
    6/11/08 WPB


    ♬♪♫ and I will not, grow tired of crayon stars and fire

    ♬♪♫ cause a soldier's death is so much better than defeat just hanging around
  • jezebeloriajezebeloria Posts: 600
    iluvcats wrote:
    hey that's great. I've suffered from insomnia for over 10 years but now I've had some difficult (family) adjustments and I'm getting older. I got into a pattern of waking up every 2 hours. I may have to make my hmo spend some money and test me for sleep apnea. I used to take Ambien like 5 years ago and was up like normal after taking 2 pills. Some over the counter things keep me awake b/c it makes my throat so dry (that crap is really Benedryl.)

    Is sleep apnea possibly why I wake up every few hours? This has been happening for years. Only time I don't wake up is if I am very very tired or very very drunk.
    I have been taking melatonin for quite a few years to fall asleep but it doesn't keep me asleep.
    So you guys are saying all the bizarre dreams I have a somehow related to the melatonin?
    PJ FANS ROCK!!!

    Finally got that "One for the Thumb"!!! Got the "Six Pack". Now we're on a "Stairway to Seven"

    Some words when spoken...can't be taken back.

    "Seeing a brick wall straight ahead and stepping on the gas." Eddie...Pittsburgh 6/23/06
  • MyHandsBoundMyHandsBound Posts: 698
    you guys...I wanna try it....I'd like to go to bed earlier.....I turn my lights out at around midnight but I really want to fall asleep at 10 p.m. but I like to watch leno.... he comes on at 11:35 p.m. here....I just like the monologue and some of the skits......
    I used to watch back to back reruns of malcome inthe middle which kept me up till 1 a.m..... but I gave that up....
    I did have a heater going in my room at night (I like it really hot) I recently turned that off since the weather changed so now I am suseptible to all sorts of noise and I wake up a 5 a.m. and stay up for a few hours .... sometimes I'll get an extra hour of sleep before I have to get up for work...
    but I'd like to sleep through the night...maybe when the weather gets really hot and I have my air conditioner on I'll sleep through the 5 a.m noise, but I still want to go to bed earlier would it help for that...I mean my body is not used to going to bed before midnight.....
  • in_hiding79in_hiding79 Posts: 4,315
    stylo17 wrote:
    and not even Nyquil (liquid) works??


    I threw it up once after I swallowed it, so I try to avoid Nyquil...it tasted so bad...I have a very sensitive gag reflex...

    I was on Ambien for almost three months and during those three months I did some interesting things....I mean INTERESTING things...I would have some bizarre dreams too...I would see faces in the ceilings, I heard voices, I

    would wake up in the middle of the night and turn up the volume on the TV really loud, I would cook food at all hours, I one time turned the dishwasher on and it was empty! It was wild times.....BTW, I didn't sleep much with it either...:eek:
    And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
    "What a stupid lamb."
    "What a sick, masochistic lion."
  • brainofPJbrainofPJ Posts: 2,361
    stylo17 wrote:
    and not even Nyquil (liquid) works??


    that stuff doesn't work for me...

    makes me restless.


    Esther's here and she's sick?

    hi Esther, now we are all going to be sick, thanks
  • stylo17stylo17 Posts: 1,001
    brainofPJ wrote:
    that stuff doesn't work for me...

    makes me restless.

    woah

    that stuff knocks me out like there's no tomorrow
    6/11/08 WPB


    ♬♪♫ and I will not, grow tired of crayon stars and fire

    ♬♪♫ cause a soldier's death is so much better than defeat just hanging around
  • myhookmyhook Posts: 284
    in_hiding79 wrote:
    I have tried EVERYTHING to go to sleep and stay asleep for at least five hours....
    I am the exact same way. I have so much trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I have tried the Nyquil thing too and it puts me to sleep but doesn't keep me asleep.

    I just tried Melatonin for the first time last night. I took one pill (I think 3 grams, does that sound about right) at about 10, laid in bed at around 10:15 and probably fell asleep 20 min later. But I still woke up 4 or 5 times during the night and didn't really get a "good" night sleep. And no signs of any funky dreams. HA
    Hey, you wouldn't hire a clown to fix a leak in the jon so why do you let these hooligans tear down the biz? YEEAAHHH. I don't care if he is Mr. Notorious BIG, can he croon?
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    I did not take it last night, I felt it was too soon after taking Xanax. It was sunny out and I took a nice long walk to help boost my melatonin naturally. I still was wide awake twice.

    For those of you not sleeping after Nyquil, it has alcohol in it. Alcohol is a stimulant. If you don't believe me, look it up. When I was in my twenties and would have a few 7 & 7's, I could sleep maybe 3 hours, that's it...I did not have insomnia back then, only if I drank alcohol. My husband is sleep deprived, there are not enough hours in the day for him and he stays up too late. He has no trouble sleeping (and snoring!) and can sleep just fine after Nyquil. I'm guessing b/c he's sleep deprived.

    Tylenol PM is Benedryl mixed with tylenol. Large doses of tylenol will ruin your liver. My advice is to find another sleep aid minus the tylenol unless you hurt.

    thanks for telling me about "scoring" or cutting pills in half. I may have heard that before. Look at this, it says you could be getting a really high dose!
    http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20040519/cutting-pills-in-half-could-pose-problems
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    and you all should check out

    http://www.melatonin.com for proper dosages

    it varies with different people with different health situations or illnesses
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • stylo17stylo17 Posts: 1,001
    Alcohol is NOT a stimulant. It's a DEPRESSANT , the OPPOSITE of a stimulant.
    6/11/08 WPB


    ♬♪♫ and I will not, grow tired of crayon stars and fire

    ♬♪♫ cause a soldier's death is so much better than defeat just hanging around
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,297
    stylo17 wrote:
    Alcohol is NOT a stimulant. It's a DEPRESSANT , the OPPOSITE of a stimulant.

    It is a depressant but it also keeps you from entering REM sleep which is what is needed for you to feel rested and your body to be able to repair itself.
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