Melatonin for Me?

[whitemerlot]

Does anyone take melatonin regularly for sleep issues?

I have a hard time falling and staying asleep and if I take a 5 mg tablet, I sleep so well. I haven’t talked to my doctor about it and don’t take any other medications, but also hate that I have a hard time sleeping without it. I do have GAD and feel like it’s hard to turn my brain off and get sleepy without anything.

[rupertpenny]

I think melatonin is supposed to be for more short term sleep issues, like jet lag. I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with taking it more often, but I don't think it is how it is supposed to be used.

I would talk to whoever manages your anxiety about your sleep issues and see what they say. There are most likely better options than melatonin. I also have anxiety related sleep problems and I take trazodone every night (rx by my psychiatrist). I used to take Ambien nightly for years, but finally was able to switch to something much less intense and less habit forming. I don't love the idea of taking something all the time, but it is better than not sleeping.

[noodleoo]

I take melatonin occasionally for the same reason. Every once in a while I just can’t seem to turn my brain off to fall asleep. I take half a tablet and that is usually enough to work. But I don’t take it every night, it is more like once or twice a month at most. I’ve also heard it is not good to use it daily.

Have you talked to your doctor about it? If you are using melatonin every night, they might be able to recommend a better medicine that is meant to be used more regularly.

[whattheheck]

I always say the same thing in sleep issue threads: sleep meditations.

[whitemerlot]

I haven’t talked to my doctor and I don’t have anyone managing my anxiety at this point. I probably should something about that, but it will be a bit before that happens.

[dove]

,My neuro highly recommends melatonin for sleep issues. It has worked well for me at 10mg.

[sakoro]

I was told that your body gets used to the melatonin tablets and over time will not be able to produce natural melatonin on your own. I got acupuncture and started taking Chinese herbs which have helped a lot.

[whitemerlot]

Dec 3, 2017 23:50:56 GMT -5 ste said:

I swear by Natural Calm (powdered magnesium). It’s seriously changed my life. Melatonin always made me groggy/swimmy feeling.

Do you take this daily before bed?

[TrickyBob]

I used to and got out of the habit.

You want to take between 3 and 5mg if using it every night. That dosage helps get the body to wind down and give it that extra something to help sleep. Taking 10 or more mg is more for every once in awhile and helps you get to sleep but doesn't help boost the bodies melatonin supply.

I hope that sounded reasonable lol. I had gone through multiple sleep studies for insomnia and that is how melatonin was described to me. I have had good luck on consistent low dosage vs higher. And obviously everyone is different and all of the above could be not true for someone else.

But all that to say...low dose worked wonders for me. Would highly recommend.

[morecoffeeplease]

I take it when I need it. Sometimes it’s for a few weeks in a row, sometimes it’s not for a while. I just leave a bottle next to my bed.

[tacom]

I’ve taken it every night for years. Super low dose 500mcg chewables, which is 0.5mg

As far as I know, it’s one of the safest sleep aids out there. Our docs often use it as a first line of treatment when environmental modifications don’t work

[FishChicks]

I've been going through infertility treatments over the last two years. My Dr has a list of supplements to take and 3mg of melatonin each night is on there. She's not been concerned with long term effects at that dosage.

I also recommend sleep meditation. There are a few good free ones associated with the Calm app.

[brandy0331]

I second the recommendation for magnesium. Check with your doc to see if they think it would be helpful. Most people are low and don’t realize it. And just FYI, blood tests for mag levels are not necessarily representative of your actual values since only like 1% is in your blood. I have autoimmune thyroid issues which make it hard for me too sleep too.

[shauni27]

Dec 3, 2017 22:59:59 GMT -5 mofongo said:

I take it a lot, 10mg, mostly on work nights. It's not harmful at all.

same

[jlt19]

I take it a few times a week. Sometimes I take a slow release to help me stay asleep through the night or sometimes I take the gummy that makes me fall asleep fast.

I haven't asked my dr. about it for me, but I did talk to my pedi about it for DD (7) and after explaining our nightly routine to her, she said 5mg is fine for her to take on the weeknights.

[macmars45]

I've been taking melatonin on a regular basis since April. I need sleep to function and if this is how I can get it, so be it. In an ideal world I'd be able to sleep without aid, but that's not my reality.
I talked to my Dr about it and she okayed it. She did suggest weaning to smaller amounts. I started at 5mg, currently take 3mg and will step down to 1mg eventually.

[wambam]

I take 5mg most nights at the recommendation of my therapist. It seems to work really well for me when I take it consistently. It doesn't work as well when I take it intermittently.

[pantsparty]

I take melatonin every night and have for probably 10 years now.

[isabel]

Dec 4, 2017 0:28:59 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I use a sleep app. I use the binaural beats. Idk if it’s actual science based, but damn. I have my body trained at this point and as soon as I hear it, I’m OUT. I’ve been sleeping incredibly well since using it.

I also have a relaxation mode I like when I’m stressed or pissed and just need to chill. I put my headphones on and breathe and it works so well for me.

Do you use the Delta - Deep Sleep one? Did I download the right app?

[thebreakfastclub]

I don't take it nightly, but maybe a couple of nights a week. Sometimes I get stuck on a 4am wakeup a couple of nights in a row, and I will use melatonin to get me reset.

I use the 3.5mg - Costco sells a bottle of 365 pills for maybe $7?

[whitemerlot]

I’m going to try some of these other things like the natural calm, and the sleep apps, but it sounds like a lot of you are taking it regularly. If these other suggestions don’t work, I have the 5 mg tablets so I will try breaking them in 1/2.

I downloaded the calm app and got some natural calm at the natural grocery store.

[pantsparty]

Dec 4, 2017 12:49:34 GMT -5 whitemerlot said:

I’m going to try some of these other things like the natural calm, and the sleep apps, but it sounds like a lot of you are taking it regularly. If these other suggestions don’t work, I have the 5 mg tablets so I will try breaking them in 1/2.

I downloaded the calm app and got some natural calm at the natural grocery store.

Natural calm is great too! I love that stuff.

[isabel]

Dec 4, 2017 13:03:10 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Dec 4, 2017 12:39:30 GMT -5 isabel said:

Do you use the Delta - Deep Sleep one? Did I download the right app?

I use brainwaves, but I know there are several!

Ah, ok. I'll look for that!

[yaga]

I used to take melatonin because I was having trouble sleeping - falling asleep, waking up and not being able to go back to bed, racing thoughts keeping me up (or waking me up, WTF), etc.

Once I started treating my GAD and depression with lexapro, though, my sleep issues dramatically decreased. It's probably worth talking to your doctor which way you want to go with treating your sleep and/or GAD.

[flex]

I took melatonin when I was in my 30's because I would wake up after 30 minutes of sleep on a regular basis. Eventually I went off of it...I think it was after I divorced my ex-dh.  lol

I no longer have sleep issues. I do take magnesium now that I'm older and perhaps that is helpful for my sleep.

[cosmowife]

I used to take it. I experienced a weird side effect however. During the day, I would get very lightheaded whenever I stood up. I eventually connected it with the melatonin. I stopped the melatonin and the problem stopped immediately.