have you tried Melatonin as a sleep aid?

iluvcats
iluvcats 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
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease 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.
  • PatrickBateman
    PatrickBateman 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?
  • iluvcats
    iluvcats 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 Hiker
    Urban 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.
  • iluvcats
    iluvcats 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 Hiker
    Urban 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.
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,337
    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.
  • decides2dream
    decides2dream 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 Hiker
    Urban 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_Right
    Get_Right Posts: 14,168
    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.
  • stylo17
    stylo17 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
  • PJaddicted
    PJaddicted 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
  • chiquimonkey
    chiquimonkey 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
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,337
    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.
  • chiquimonkey
    chiquimonkey 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
  • brainofPJ
    brainofPJ 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
  • stylo17
    stylo17 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 wolf
    the 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_hiding79
    in_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."
  • stylo17
    stylo17 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

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