Question For People Taking Melatonin for Insomnia

[Evey]

Hi everyone,

What brand do you use and how many mg. do you use?

Thank you!!

[crtclms]

I never pay attention to the brand, to be honest. My friend who is a naturopath and master herbalist always prefers the brands Rainbow Light and Source Naturals, you might want to check iHerb.com, or Vitacost.com. She is not anti-meds at all, she is BP and has epilepsy, and on meds for both, so I tend to trust her more than someone who bitches about "Western" medicine. I admit I don't know for sure that those lines carry melatonin, but I am pretty sure that Rainbow Light does.

But one thing that I have found: Someone on CBs said that their pdoc said the amounts in melatonin pills were too much, and overwhelmed your own ability to make melatonin (this is not a scientific explanation, just roughly what I remember). The amount the pdoc suggested was less than 100mg, like 50 or 75.

Well I decided to try it, and cut up a 300mg pill into 4 pieces. I actually think it does work better. I know I am not a very large sampling, and I don't use it every night. But I seem to start to nod off about 45min to an hour after I take the quarter pill, whereas taking 300, or even 600mg made me just mildly sedated.

[Evey]

I've heard of people taking very low doses like 5 mg.

[melissaw72]

I went through HELL on melatonin. I was on a low dose (1.5 or so), and it made me so out of it, I needed a bed near by all day. I couldn't do anything because I was so out of it. I'm sure it works great for some people, but for me I wont touch it.

[Evey]

I went through HELL on melatonin. I was on a low dose (1.5 or so), and it made me so out of it, I needed a bed near by all day. I couldn't do anything because I was so out of it. I'm sure it works great for some people, but for me I wont touch it.

What time would you take it at?

[crtclms]

Duh, the pills I use are 3mg, not 300, so I use .75mg

[bluelikejazz]

My Pdoc insisted I get the compounded melatonin, not the circadin. I'm not taking it now, but I found 4mg of the compounded melatonin did work best.

[crtclms]

What's compounded melatonin?

[melissaw72]

I went through HELL on melatonin. I was on a low dose (1.5 or so), and it made me so out of it, I needed a bed near by all day. I couldn't do anything because I was so out of it. I'm sure it works great for some people, but for me I wont touch it.

What time would you take it at?

Because my sleep schedule is so messed up anyway, I tried it right before I layed down for another 1-2 hours of sleep. It actually kept me awake more than asleep, and I couldn't focus. Lay down/wake up startled/lay down wake up etc. And when I was up I dont have any recollection of things. Right now all I remember about that day is always needing a bed, walking around like a zombie, stuff like that. Ambien does the same thing to me. (My sleep schedule is like 1-2 hours at a time during a 24-hour period; total of about 6-7 hours/day. This isn't because I want to, it is just my body's sleep cycles). Schizoaffective also makes you go into REM sleep faster, and can affect sleep. Idk if that is why though I sleep as I do.

[Cheshire Kitty Cat]

I feel like my melatonin isn't working as well, it takes longer to fall asleep and I feel groggy in the mornings. When I first started taking it, it worked like a charm. Any one else had problems with this?

[Kodos]

I read a study where they concluded that to advance the sleep cycle, it was best to take 0.5 mg of melatonin 5 hours before the desired bedtime. This was more effective than taking, say, 3 mg at bedtime.

[obsessed]

hmm. good timing. was just going to post about this.

ive had sleep disturbance issues regularly for 10+ years and tried lots of things, including ambien, sonata, Benadryl/Tylenol pm/Unisom, 'medicinal things' and then melatonin. nothing works too well, but ive continued taking melatonin at various doses regularly for some time, with PRN ativan if i wake up racing. most recently i switched from 5 mg, to 1mg, per advisement of PCP and pharmacist, whom both said it was more effective at lower doses.... tried for first time last night, and did okay (woke same amount of times as usual, and more importantly, didnt stay awake). so, we'll see if actually ends up being more effective for me.

[Skamwise]

The brand I use is Nature Made.

When I initially started with it, 1mg was sufficent to help me fall asleep, and then I went up to 2mg. When that bottles ran dry, I bought a new bottle, and they are 3mg pills, so I take 3mg now, never more. I take it when I go to bed, and I'm out in 30 mins typically. I do see its effectiveness wearing off though, slowly, but I still love it.