any suggestions for supplements for insomnia? Im looking into melatonin

[uponbenzos]

so i sometimes get a bit of insomnia. well actually most nights to tell u the truth.
im wondering what i could get a script for that may help without me getting an addiction.
If u read what's written on wikipedia about melatonin it seems like a wonder drug. it's an antioxidant & i think it says it can improve memory & everything.
Has anyone ever tried this stuff and is it otc in australia or do u need a script?
how sedating is it. for example how many mg of temazepam would it be as sedating as?
has anyone got any other suggestions of something i could use that isnt addictive?
Ive tried the otc antihistamines & they're ok but leave me with a hangover & than when i stop them my insomnia gets worse for a while.
Is there anything that melatonin is dangerous to take with?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin:

Melatonin has been studied as a potential treatment of cancer, immune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), circadian rhythm sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction[citation needed] and some forms of insomnia.[57][58][59] Prolonged release melatonin has shown good results in treating insomnia in older adults (2007).[60] It may ameliorate circadian misalignment and SAD.[61][unreliable medical source?] Basic research indicates that melatonin may play a significant role in modulating the effects of drugs of abuse such as cocaine.[62][unreliable medical source?] Melatonin is also a geroprotector.[63]

 

[cpuller]

Melatonin can help to fall asleep and also it can induce tiredness when you arent really tired.
Sedation: You definately notice it but its more like natural tiredness+ a little drowsiness this probably doesnt compare to any benzo.

I think its definately better than anti histamines hangover wise but it can be there in the morning so you should find a minimum dose that helps you fall asleep.
Sometimes 1mg is enough for me sometimes 3mg, taking 10mg doesnt give me that much benefit.
More melatonin doesnt give you more sleep because you are allready ingesting it in doses far greater than natural with 1mg.

I would take it when I slept crappy for a few days to get a night of sleep and try to sleep 10h or so.

 

[nAON]

Melatonin isn't sedating as such, so it's hard to compare it directly to benzos. Rather, it just helps me 'drift off' and feel tired.

I can't really think of any other supplements that could help with sleep, maybe valerian root?

And as far as I know it doesn't have any interactions, though if you take too much it can make you pretty tired the next morning.

 

[uponbenzos]

do i need a script in australia?
im surprised everyone isnt taking this stuff. if u read the wikipedia link it has heaps of health benefits.
can anyone compare it to valerian root?

id also need to find out the interactions. because ive got seroqul for emergency & I take opiates (mainly oxy) & benzos (mainly valium)

 

[nAON]

No idea about the legal status in Australia. Pretty sure it doesn't have any interactions though.

 

[wats615]

There will be no interactions im pretty sure as i take seroquel and etizolam quite frequently. But for me melatonin has never helped me sleep, hence the seroquel.

 

[ErgicMergic]

Try out Melatonin, it's some good stuff but not a "knockout" medicine by any means. It resets the circadian rhythm, increases REM sleep, is a powerful antioxidant, and helps with anxiety through the GABA receptors. It's most effective at dosages from 0.5-1mg, any more than 1mg can be counterproductive.

 

[nAON]

^ forgot to mention about that, yeah, you don't wanna be doing too much. What I ended up doing was getting a bottle of 3mg pills as it was the most economic, then just taking a quarter sublingual.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Melatonin - Take some instant-release before bed plus some slow-release. Start off with a small amount as too much can make you wake up in the night or have crazy dreams. But the adequate dosage (not too much, not too little) varies greatly from person to person and also depends on the brand of melatonin.
Valerian
5-HTP
Calcium Magnesium
Arginine
L-glutamine
Ornithine
GABA
Kava
(preferably more than one of the above)

ETA: You don't need a prescription for melatonin. Melatonin is what your body makes naturally to make you sleepy. I would say that melatonin and valerian are pretty different and that it really depends on the person which one will work better for you. Melatonin seems to work faster but have more side effects IME.

 

[csrao]

You can try ‘Focusing on breathing’ to get quality sleep and conquer insomnia. This technique reduces the flow of thoughts, calms the mind and relaxes the muscles, inducing quality sleep. The following mode of this technique can be tried when lying in the bed and needing to sleep.

Triple segment mode: Every finger has 2 cross lines, dividing it into 3 parts or segments. Place the tip of the thumb at the top segment of the little finger and breathe three times. Move the thumb to the middle segment and breathe three times. Move to the bottom segment and breathe three times. Repeat the same steps at the next 3 fingers. At the thumb, place the tip of the index finger on its segments and follow the same steps. Then switch to the other hand and repeat the process all over. Continue to practice, switching the hands. You will sleep automatically at some point of time.
When you wake up in the morning, you will be surprised how you slept so well last night!

The detailed article on insomnia can be seen in this page: http://countingbreaths.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Insomnia-Hand-out.pdf