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'Natural' sleeping aids - mega merged

trll

trll

Bluelighter
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Messages
81
Location
London England
Anybody got info on melatonin,
I would like to replace sleeping pills with something more natural.
I am a light sleeper and wake often, noisey nieghbours and general insomia all my life.
I am leaning more than I would like on zopiclone and valiums.
advice gratefully recieved, bx
 
melatonin usually knocks me down, like a proper sleeping pill, and its not just a sedation like other sleeping pills, you enter in a such mental state that you need sleep, just like when at morning, you don't really want to wakeup, and you can't think anything else than sleep.
it really helps, at least for me. i know its kind of subjective thing.
 
Melatonin helps for me too, it's really one of the most natural supplements to aid sleeping. However, there's two or three things you should keep in mind:
- Most supplements with melatonin contain retarded amounts of melatonin. I have tablets with 100 mcg (0.1 mg), 1 or 2 of those is usually enough for me.
- If you take too much or you take it too late (at least 1 hour before you want to go to bed) you might wake up feeling very tired. I suppose this is because the effect has not worn off yet, but it is really the perpetual snooze-button kinda tiredness.
- There are some theories that your endogenous melatonin production will be affected if you use it daily for long periods. I always try to at least skip using melatonin during the weekend, and mostly use it every other day.

Oh yeah, one more thing: I get insanely vivid dreams while on melatonin, usually with a strong connection to the shit that spiced/fucked up my day. Could especially be of value to the lucid dreamers out there, perhaps. :)
 
Pretty much was said:)
I will quote myself from another thread(which worth checking).

I will quote myself from there.
allium said:
I usually use one 3mg pill for sleeping and I abstain from taking more, because if I take more(4.5-6mg), I will get "hangover" and will feel tired in the middle of next day.

I heared reports of people who took melatonin for 1-2 years, and they were alright after stopping it. So I guess it is more or less safe.
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Also, 1.5 mg isn't enough for me, I steel have troubles with getting asleep, and 3 mg is fine. So if doses <1 mg doesn't work for you then try taking more.

EDIT: recent ADD thread - sublingual bioavailability of melatonin - might worth checking too.
 
For some reason melonin is not on sale in the UK, but I have been given a bottle frm the US, brand is Natures Bounty 3mg, I does seem to help sleep, but I was keen to find out what if any side effects, or negatives,I have read the thread, thanks, allium I would like a more natural method for sleep. I have very noisey nieghbours and am by nature insomniac.
Bx
 
I find that it gives me really intense dreams, which is a bonus.

Like all sleeping aids, it's best not to take it for too long consecutively. Combine it with good sleep hygiene, and hopefully you'll be able to train yourself to fall asleep more easily. I usually use melatonin when I need to change my schedule around, but it was very helpful for me when I was getting my sleep hygiene habits solidified.
 
In my younger days, pre-interwebs, I found some of these at my grandma's. I'd chomp them like candy and wait for a warm fuzzy hit, which didn't come, obviously. ;)

Remember that natural melatonin production occurs as light decreases, so light sources are important to note and manage. Try to get your eyes off bright things, wind your body down with gentle activities once the sun goes down. It helps to wake up before 6, fight sleepiness through the day-- this will (and it often does) cause you to plop out early and without challenge. Quiet evening walks (pre-bedtime) and ear plugs also help. These will help you as you take melatonin. Good luck!
 
If you've experienced general insomnia all your life, a sleep therapist can often provide answers after a single consultation. Melatonin is a healthy improvement on valium & zopiclone.. but as others pointed out, it can be powerful and may disturb your sleep cycle in other ways.

Melatonin is often used in conjunction with full spectrum lights to regulate sleep for those with Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (a medical term for being a night-owl). Meanwhile, Seasonal Affective Disorder (depression/fucked sleep/lethargy in the winter) may become worse from the use of even moderate doses of melatonin.

Spend the $ to see a specialist at least once, insomnia sucks.
 
There is some excellent information in this thread. Having just started using melatonin per pharmacists recommendation, figured I'd bump this to see if anyone has any other useful information. I woke up feeling absolutely drained today (which could just be coincidental), but I guess I may have taken it "too late" as a poster said up there? I took it around 7:30p, fell asleep around 8:30/9p and woke at 4:30a.
 
I don't sleep well at night. Maybe because here the tree frogs are so loud and earplugs don't work for me. I have tried Melatonin 3 mg and sometimes it helps and other times not. I think I'm like a difficult baby who has his days and nights mixed up. I just sleep better during the day. It's a struggle for me to have to get up early in the morning. Yet I feel more energetic at night while everyone else is sound asleep. :(
 
^ Have you considered getting a third shift job? Some people just work better on that.

Or have you tried taking more than 3mg? I don' tknow much more than what's in this thread though, so hopefully someone'll chime in as far as safety (I don't recall what's up there ^^ and I'm too lazy to read/scroll atm. 8))
 
I've found that more doesn't always mean better with melatonin. I used to take 5-6mg, and I've come to find that I get just as much of a soporific effect with 2mg or so, sometimes more so.

Second thing that I've learned is that if I take melatonin without a full 7-8 hours to dedicate to sleep afterward, I tend to be groggy upon waking. So I typically reserve it for the nights when I already have the time to spare for a full rest.

Melatonin is great. Even my pill-paranoid mother is grateful for it.
 
I took it it can be helpful if you have insomnia or jet lag. I also found that combining it with vitamin B-3 gave me very vivid and unique lucid dreams.

Make sure you can take it though since it can interact with medications and probably with drugs too. For example I wouldn't combine it with any alcohol.
 
if melatonin is sufficient for you then it's probably the best choice (cheapest, least 'grogginess', fast onset if sublingual which is common preparation).
maybe try a time released version if the waking up continues but for most the sublinguals work best.
it's also really good for fixing (or establishing) proper sleep cycles/rhythm
 
Since this is a melatonin thread ima post a couple questions in here:

Can you be somewhat natuarally tollerant to melatonin? My doctor said to take some becuase i apparently got my sleep cycles reversed and when i take 3-6mg i really dont get sleepy (like others say it makes them sleepy n pass out). Is there another supplement like melatonin otc only more effective that can help knock you out at night (cuz i have trouble passing out)

Does melatonin cause wierd vivid dreams? Most of the time when i take it i remember the dreams and theyre like wtf dreams. Any connection?
 
Melatonin is good for reaching deeper levels of sleep and aiding in growth and repair of damaged tissue. As a sleeping pill it does the job for some, but not all.

XThexXTank said:
Does melatonin cause wierd vivid dreams? Most of the time when i take it i remember the dreams and theyre like wtf dreams. Any connection?
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Vivid dreams usually have a connection with weak sleep. You may be sleeping longer when you take melatonin which can cause you to have life-like dreams.
 
Renz Envy said:
Melatonin is good for reaching deeper levels of sleep and aiding in growth and repair of damaged tissue. As a sleeping pill it does the job for some, but not all.



Vivid dreams usually have a connection with weak sleep. You may be sleeping longer when you take melatonin which can cause you to have life-like dreams.
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What kind of muscle tissue does it repair? Does it affect the entire body or like brain tissue?
 
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