Melatonin

I have used melatonin for years, and take it every nght. I think that 3 mg is a good starting point. I take it about a half hour before bedtime, and by the time I go to bed I am drowsy, and usually go right to sleep. I started taking it when I was about 55, and took the 3 mg dose, which was plenty for me at that time.
Since our body slowly stops making enough melatonin as we age, i have gradually increased the dose over the years. If you take too much, you will feel a little slow and drowsy in the morning, so you can tell if you are taking too much. On the other hand, if you do not get drowsy with the 3 mg, then try taking 5 and see if that works better.
Melatonin is also an anti-aging drug, and it helps our body to regulate some of the other hormones that we make; so it is very beneficial in other ways besides helping you to have a restful sleep.
There is an excellent book out called "The Melatonin Miracle", and I highly recommend reading that.

Also, if you use a yellow "bug light" in your reading lamp at night, not only does it seem to keep away any marauding mosquitoes; but it also helps your body to slow down naturally, from what I have read.
 
Thanks Yvonne! My daughters dr recommended it to her for multiple reasons so I decided to try also.

she takes the 3 mg and it did make her a little drowsy the first couple of mornings but she is a lightweight.

Also good for thyroid issues,which I have. Her Dr said it is good for Migraines. He said they are finding that it helps with that.
 

Lynn, I can't take it, as it makes me edgy. I have difficulty with supplements. Niacin made me break put in hot red blotches. For some reason, many drugs seem to have reverse affects/effects on my body.
 
To sleep thru the night and fall asleep...been using Advil PM which really isn't good for you.

plus the other benefits...I don't get migraines but get the "aura" occasionally.
 
Shalimar said:
Lynn, I can't take it, as it makes me edgy. I have difficulty with supplements. Niacin made me break put in hot red blotches. For some reason, many drugs seem to have reverse affects/effects on my body.
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I have read that about niacin. Hope it doesn't make me edgy but usually things don't.
 
Shalimar said:
Lynn, I can't take it, as it makes me edgy. I have difficulty with supplements. Niacin made me break put in hot red blotches. For some reason, many drugs seem to have reverse affects/effects on my body.
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Shalimar, if the melatonin doesn't work right, try a different dose. maybe start out with one mg instead of the 3 mg, and don't get any which is mixed with other herbs.
Niacin opens up your blood vessels and capillaries and as it does that, it carries toxins out of your body. this is what causes the "niacin flush" as it is called. Again, it is important to start with a very small dose at first, and take it with food to minimize the effect of the flush. I would say start with half of a 100mg tab, and if that is fine, then the next time , try taking a whole 100mg.
Gradually work your way up to a higher dose as it cleans the toxins from the capillaries and opens them up again.
I take 500 mg at night, and after having dinner. sometimes, I feel the niacin flush and sometimes, I don't. I think that my blood vessels are getting pretty well opened up and cleaned of any toxins, so it does not react as much now.
Do not use the time-release niacin, it is bad for your liver. If you take any, be sure it says that it may cause flushing, since that is the part that is healing you. You just have to do it gradually.
 
Thanks will read it and take one tonight and let you know how it worked for sleep. The other benefits won't be notice for awhile I'm sure.

i just worry the first time I take anything, after that I'm okay.
 
Cookie said:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/5-htp-5-hydroxytryptophan

I use melatonin, sublingual and it works very well for me. Sometimes 5-HTP (see website above), an amino acid, when I'm tense or calcium supplement helps relax me before bed.

Good luck and sweet dreams!
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thanks....I've looked at 5 -HTP before for some reason and then changed my mind...I'm a big chicken with anything first time, after that I'm okay. I think it was side effects but I'm not sure right now.
 
Well I took it last night. I only got up once during the night and slept an hour later this morning, which is great because I get up too early. Not drowsy or groggy either, not after I had my coffee anyway. So far so good.
 
Took it 3 nights in a row so far and I'm going to continue for all of it's health benefits. As long as I'm not groggy in the morning and I'm not...it's good. Will stay at the 3 mgs for awhile.
 
For some reason, when I tried melatonin I had really vivid really scary nightmares -- the kind where you wake up in a cold sweat and have to get up and turn all the lights on. I thought maybe it was coincidental, but it happened every time I took it, and didn't happen when I didn't.

Ambien had the same effect on me.
 
Butterfly said:
For some reason, when I tried melatonin I had really vivid really scary nightmares -- the kind where you wake up in a cold sweat and have to get up and turn all the lights on. I thought maybe it was coincidental, but it happened every time I took it, and didn't happen when I didn't.

Ambien had the same effect on me.
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Butterfly, this is the down side of melatonin. I've been taking it for years and, though I've never had a nightmare like you describe, I have occasionally had a vivid dream where something stressful or unpleasant happened. Fortunately, not very often. Overall, I like melatonin and both my primary doctor and my acupuncturist have encouraged me to take it. I took Ambien once and once was enough. The following day I was dizzy all day. Of course, some people think I've been dizzy all my life but that's another story . . . :)
 
Butterfly said:
For some reason, when I tried melatonin I had really vivid really scary nightmares -- the kind where you wake up in a cold sweat and have to get up and turn all the lights on. I thought maybe it was coincidental, but it happened every time I took it, and didn't happen when I didn't.

Ambien had the same effect on me.
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With melatonin, different people need different amounts. You might try starting out with just the 1 mg size and see if you still have the dreams. I also sometimes have very vivid dreams, and an occasional nightmare; but not any different than when i do not take melatonin.
Also, if you have not been sleeping well before you started taking the melatonin, your brain might not have been able to do the "de-fragging" that it is supposed to do at night; and if you keep taking the melatonin, then it should get all of those bad dreams over with, and you will sleep much better.
I also take a cal/mag/zinc at night when I take the melatonin. Both the calcium and the magnesium will help your body relax and sleep better; and try not to watch any scary shows on television before going to bed.
I like to relax with a good book, or just knit or crochet for a while before bedtime, and that seems to help my brain get settled down for the night.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
With melatonin, different people need different amounts. You might try starting out with just the 1 mg size and see if you still have the dreams. I also sometimes have very vivid dreams, and an occasional nightmare; but not any different than when i do not take melatonin.
Also, if you have not been sleeping well before you started taking the melatonin, your brain might not have been able to do the "de-fragging" that it is supposed to do at night; and if you keep taking the melatonin, then it should get all of those bad dreams over with, and you will sleep much better.
I also take a cal/mag/zinc at night when I take the melatonin. Both the calcium and the magnesium will help your body relax and sleep better; and try not to watch any scary shows on television before going to bed.
I like to relax with a good book, or just knit or crochet for a while before bedtime, and that seems to help my brain get settled down for the night.
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Good advice, HFL. I can honestly say I never have nightmares and I so rarely have a "bad dream", when it does happen I know it has to be the melatonin. But it's well worth taking in spite of that. I only take 3 mg per night. Works like a charm most of the time. Occasionally I need to take another 1.5 mg (1/2 pill) in the middle of the night but rarely.
 

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