I looked through a few feeds and didnt see this but I could have missed it. Anyone know how common this side effect is? On some other websites I saw it mentioned but I'm kind of wondering if just my subconscious being messed up from sobriety. But really, really disturbing nightmares. I can only sleep a few hours at a time anyway and always wake up with my heart pounding, sweating and usually crazy anxious. I've tried a few other over the counter sleep remedies. I hate dxm so I stay away from nighttime stuff and I'm trying to not drink at night. I feel like I'm doing everything right with a daily vitamin, potassium, a prescription brain vitamin, and eating even though I have no appetite. Anyone?
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H&R Moderators: streaM Freak
Melatonin-- keeps getting suggested to me but horrific nightmares...
- Thread starter southeast
- Start date
I take melatonin every night and it also gives me some really terrible nightmares but only sometimes (well, a lot recently) but that is only because I take a lot more than I should.
It's hard for me to take less and fall asleep cause I drink too much coffee during the day and I need to cut down, but it's really hard for me for some reason.
So in the meantime, I have to take larger doses of Melatonin like between 3 millileters (3 droppers of liquid tincture) and 3.75 millileters and those dosages can give me bad nightmares and make it very hard for me to wake up the next day.
However, if I keep my dosage under 3 Millileters that doesn't happen so much, and if I take close to 2 millileters it almost never happens.
I don't know what dosage you take or if you take pills or tincture like me but I suggest you take the smallest dosage you can possibly take that you can still fall asleep on and you probably won't have that problem so much.
The liquid tincture I buy suggests that the proper dose is 4 millilters (4 droppers of liquid) on the back but I have tried that and it is WAY WAY too much and my doctor agrees.
He's told me that in his opinion the proper dosage to try for is 2.25 Millileters (2 and 1/4th droppers) and when I have been able to stick to that dose it's perfect with no nightmares and only a little morning drowsiness.
I used to take the Pills that they sold that I think were 3MG pills or something and they were WAY WAY too strong and made me feel like COMPLETE SHIT.
Take a lower dosage and see if it helps.
It's hard for me to take less and fall asleep cause I drink too much coffee during the day and I need to cut down, but it's really hard for me for some reason.
So in the meantime, I have to take larger doses of Melatonin like between 3 millileters (3 droppers of liquid tincture) and 3.75 millileters and those dosages can give me bad nightmares and make it very hard for me to wake up the next day.
However, if I keep my dosage under 3 Millileters that doesn't happen so much, and if I take close to 2 millileters it almost never happens.
I don't know what dosage you take or if you take pills or tincture like me but I suggest you take the smallest dosage you can possibly take that you can still fall asleep on and you probably won't have that problem so much.
The liquid tincture I buy suggests that the proper dose is 4 millilters (4 droppers of liquid) on the back but I have tried that and it is WAY WAY too much and my doctor agrees.
He's told me that in his opinion the proper dosage to try for is 2.25 Millileters (2 and 1/4th droppers) and when I have been able to stick to that dose it's perfect with no nightmares and only a little morning drowsiness.
I used to take the Pills that they sold that I think were 3MG pills or something and they were WAY WAY too strong and made me feel like COMPLETE SHIT.
Take a lower dosage and see if it helps.
I was going to suggest stepping down your dose.
Melatonin should be taken at about 5 or 6 pm. I think doses start at .5 mgs.
There are other options available: Valerian Root and even a nice decaf tea will ease one into a rest like state.
Melatonin should be taken at about 5 or 6 pm. I think doses start at .5 mgs.
There are other options available: Valerian Root and even a nice decaf tea will ease one into a rest like state.
how is it going now southeast?
Thanks for asking. I sleep well every couple of days, usually only 3-4 hours otherwise. Melatonin helps sometimes but I have only been taking one and no nightmares so that worked. 
I'm getting some unisom for tomorrow night. A friend of mine suggested it... Anyone know if unisom is all it's cracked up to be? Even Benadryl would just put me down for an hour or two.
I'm getting some unisom for tomorrow night. A friend of mine suggested it... Anyone know if unisom is all it's cracked up to be? Even Benadryl would just put me down for an hour or two.
Unisom is either diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in benadryl) or doxylamine. If benadryl doesn't help you then this isn't gonna put you to sleep either.
Why not see a doctor and get a prescription antihistamine?
Why not see a doctor and get a prescription antihistamine?
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Fuck. Thanks, but... Fuck. I don't have health insurance, I'm only writing this summer and applying to new programs, so I don't get school money. And I left both my jobs to get clean so no money BUT when I go should I say why I'm not sleeping? Or not mention getting clean and just say I have insomnia? I slept two hours last night... Ten the night before. Between 1-5 the week before that. It's pretty bad.
Hey southeast how many hours before desired sleep time are you taking the melatonin as taking it four or five hours before works the best for most people. Are you getting some aerobic exercise as this can really help promote sleep. Once your opiate receptors shut down you will be able to sleep normal again. The average for this is around month six or seven, but can happen sooner is promoted with exercise, meditation, puzzles or other mental workouts, dancing or other complex motor skills workouts, etc etc. I would give the benadryl a try as it also helps return neurotransmitter levels to base line and is specifically used to stabilize dopamine in drug induced dystonia. Im not sure what affect it will actually have on your ability to sleep. Your doing great and soon you will sleep great.
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Thank you so much! Ill keep doing the Benadryl then just for that. Like two hours tops, ill try to take earlier I really appreciate the tip. I'm trying to start running again... I used to be able to run six plus miles a few times a week, but it's hell trying to build back up. I got in a bad wreck and wasn't allowed to run or work out vigorously for 8 monthes. But, I'm trying... I won't have time today-- picking up my car plus World Cup game with friends but tomorrow I will again. I keep hearing it helps I just need to keep doing it. Thank you so much!
No problem.. exercise can improve the fatigue, restlessness, depression, anxiety, etc associated with PAWS.. it also helps us regenerate our brains, stabilize the neurotransmitters. Here is some other good information on PAWS incase You have not looked through these yet.
Exercise and Brain Neurotransmission
Neurobiology of Exercise
PAWS LINKS
Why We Don’t Get Better Immediately: Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome Wiki
Chemicals and supplements to recover from opiate addiction
Here is the mindfulness thread.
it is a powerful thing to keep our thoughts possitive and here are some threads many of us use to help us do this.
Managing depressive thinking
Good things about being off drugs/getting sober
Share something POSITIVE from your day!
Today I Am Thankful For... Ver. 3: Earth, Wind and Fire!
The very things that we can do to make our time in PAWS more peaceful also often can significantly shorten the time we spend in it.
Your doing great.. don't forget to give yourself the credit for the amazing accomplishments your have made
Exercise and Brain Neurotransmission
Neurobiology of Exercise
PAWS LINKS
Why We Don’t Get Better Immediately: Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome Wiki
Chemicals and supplements to recover from opiate addiction
Here is the mindfulness thread.
it is a powerful thing to keep our thoughts possitive and here are some threads many of us use to help us do this.
Managing depressive thinking
Good things about being off drugs/getting sober
Share something POSITIVE from your day!
Today I Am Thankful For... Ver. 3: Earth, Wind and Fire!
The very things that we can do to make our time in PAWS more peaceful also often can significantly shorten the time we spend in it.
Your doing great.. don't forget to give yourself the credit for the amazing accomplishments your have made
lman_15
Bluelighter
I was really big on melatonin when I first got sober as I had many sleepless nights prior to starting using it. However, I started finding it made me feel strange the next day, hard to concentrate, racing mind, etc. I very rarely take it now maybe once every 1-2 months. Instead of melatonin I have several sleep methods which you might want to try I use any combination of the following:
working out (works best when you work out 4+ hours ahead of when you are going to sleep)
hot shower before bed
masturbating before bed
stretching before bed
meditating before bed
Hope this helps as an alternative
working out (works best when you work out 4+ hours ahead of when you are going to sleep)
hot shower before bed
masturbating before bed
stretching before bed
meditating before bed
Hope this helps as an alternative
I actually had to stop taking melatonin because I would get these intense using dreams on them. I went to my Doctor and got 25 milligrams of Seroquel which helps me. If I am really worked up and sleep is an issue I use low dose valerian and magnesium.
