I know you said you don't need to take your Ativan with the Melatonin and I have found it works the same way for me....except one night i was sitting up in my living room chair and I didn't feel like the Melatonin was relaxing me "as usual" so I took an Ativan with it....BIG MISTAKE...I was stumbling to my room and felt nausea...

I looked up the interaction the next day and there is one...so don't take the Ativan with the Melatonin..you won't feel good.

And...as far as 3mg and anything over being the placebo...if I only take 3...I don't get relaxed or sleepy so everyone is different.

What i have found with Melatonin is that if I take it too many days in a row...I have complications in the bathroom (having to go more than 5 times upon waking). So if your ever having mysterious bathroom issues....think about this. I alternate Melatonin with Ativan (one night taking Melatonin for sleep one night Ativan)....this works for me to eliminate the bathroom issues.