Melatonin Question

For the most part I'm doing really well right now with the exception of getting my sleeping schedule regulated. My pdoc thinks that will happen when I finally get up to 200 mg of Lamectal and we have tried numerous sleep medicines. None of them work except the one my insurance won't pay for, of course.

I've seen some of you mention melatonin. Do you take it in addition to a sleep aid or by itself? Does it really work for you? I bought some and the bottle seemed to indicate it didn't matter what time of the day you took it but have you found that a certain time is most effective?

TIA I know that's a lot of questions.

My son takes melitonin every night. He takes 10 mg. It helps him. He takes it about an hour before bed.

I used to take 10mg of melatonin plus valerian root for sleep. It was a good combo. It helped me a lot. I went off of it at the beginning of the summer because I’ve read that if you take it longer than a few months your brain stops producing its own melatonin and then you become dependent on it. I didn’t have any problems going off of it though so I don’t know how true that is. I took it for at least a year if not more. Now I just take it if I have trouble sleeping. I’d say it takes about an hour to work.

I am now trying melatonin. I had tried a low dose and it relaxed me a bit, yet no sleep yet from it. I will try the higher dose tonight.
Will comment on this again after trying a higher dose.


WC

I take 10 mg with 50mg vistaril for sleep

I take 10mg a night and have for 5-6 (?) years , I do think it helps me a bit.

Seems like it either helps or it’s like taking a tic tab at night

I take 10 mg of Melatonin at bedtime, but I really should take it earlier, with dinner - at the hospital they told me to take it 2 hours before bedtime. They recommended it.

There is also an immediate release formula of melatonin which, theoretically, does not have to be taken so early.


WC

I can't remember the amount I took, and this is not at all recommended, but the only thing that worked for me was to take both melatonin and valerian pills together at bedtime. Valerian is very stinky (you can buy it online, at places like the Vitamin Shoppe, maybe even regular drugstores carry it now with herbal remedies, I'm not sure) but also promotes sleep. Only the 2 of them together worked for me. I did this around 6 months, the period I was getting off meds before trying to conceive. Surprisingly, for someone with chronic insomnia, it worked quite well.

Re: valerian -- Some people experience a paradoxical reaction to valerian. Just fyi.


WC

Thanks, Wild Coyote, next time I buy Melatonin I will for immediate release. All the things you learn.

I am sorry, just looked at the bottle and it's "rapid release." Country Life makes such a formulation; others likely make a similar formulation.


WC

Food for thought:

How to use melatonin correctly.

How to Use Melatonin Correctly - TalkAboutSleep.com


WC

Thanks that was helpful. It did help me go to sleep, but, as you can see I didn't stay asleep all night. So there were some helpful tips here.

The combo of melatonin and valerian root worked very well for me, much better than melatonin alone. So I give my vote for this combination. It looks like I will need to get time released melatonin. Good article.

Yes, this one particularly is important

Smallest size I can get through my GP is 2mg so I break it into bits (which is also not ideal as it messes with slow release but I have no choice, there are no lower sized versions available which is ludicrous)

Also taking it in the day is a bad idea

Melatonin has a very short (20 min) half life so taking it sub lingually immediately before needing sleep is an option and if you wake take a very tiny amount sub lingually again (better than having slow release in your system when you wake)

I am not finding melatonin helpful.
I have tried low dose and higher dose. 10 mg gave me severe intestinal cramping, which is a known potential side-effect.


WC