Melatonin - Cure for insomnia?

[TonyToneTone]

For those of you out there who might be suffering from insomnia, melatonin might be the thing for you.

I've been having really bad sleep problems lately (staying awake till 4 or 5 every morning, waking up a few hours after sleeping early) and a friend of mine recommended melatonin to me.

Basically it's a pill you take before bedtime. I tried it about two days ago and had no problem falling asleep early and also staying asleep throughout the night. I feel so good right now it's incredible.

You can purchase melatonin at Trader Joes or Whole Foods. I'm not sure if every super market carries it.

It says on my bottle that half a pill is sufficient for some people. I tried that yesterday and was fine.

This might be an easy way for some forum members to get some sleep.

[Holistic Star]

Interestingly you can't buy melatonin in the UK.

What are the long term risks of taking hormones directly? If the body operates on a use it or lose it principle, does taking hormones directly deplete the body's own ability to produce it?

I do suffer from insomnia sometimes. I use a combination of things. I find taking 5-HTP (a precurser of melatonin) to be effective. It doesn't make you drop of immediately, but it does give you improved quality of sleep. I'm not sure of the long term effects of taking that either, but I don't use it very often.

I also use EFT tapping and a method I learned in the Silva method to relax you into sleep (a bit like counting sheep, but backwards with relaxation commands! I guess it is self-hypnosis).

I've also got some relaxation mp3s that I put on my ipod and listen to aswell if none of those methods work.

However the biggest thing that works for me is no caffeine after 4pm!

[TonyToneTone]

Interestingly you can't buy melatonin in the UK.

What are the long term risks of taking hormones directly? If the body operates on a use it or lose it principle, does taking hormones directly deplete the body's own ability to produce it?

Very good points HS. I didn't think about the long term effects or even the fact that it was a hormone that I was putting into my body.

However the biggest thing that works for me is no caffeine after 4pm!

You're lucky!

Thanks for the heads up. I am just going to use it to get my sleep schedule back on track and for the days I need it and then discontinue it.

[sprite]

The body wont stop producing it after long term use because the body doesn't produce that much to start and its perfectly safe despite rumors that it interferes with cardiac rhythm etc. No it doesn't its safe.

[funchy]

Holistic Star has already raised some good points.

I just wanted to add...
Melatonin is the hormone made by the pineal gland which signals the hypothalamus for wake/sleep cycles and information relating to length of day (eg. believed to trigger animals' coats to change with the seasons). The pineal gland gets its information from the optic nerve. In other words, the periods of visible darkness and light are what the pineal is using to decide how much melatonin to make. People who have problems with sleeping may be confusing their body's natural rhythms. For example, some people stay up in front of the TV or computer with lights around them late into the evening, and this keeps the mind in a more alert state. Not having a completely dark room to sleep in may also make it hard for some people to get good sleep. Personally, I know when I sleep overnight in a city, I am restless falling to sleep unless I can get 100% solid curtains, because it's never 100% dark in the city at night. So one option is that instead of taking the hormone, try tinkering with the amount & length of lighting.

Other reasons for insomnia people overlook may include stress, caffeine (even in tea or chocolate), stress/anxiety, or lack of adequate exercise. Some people suffering from depression may also report poor quality sleep or insomnia.

[TonyToneTone]

Interesting points funchy munchy. I am going to turn on more lights while I type at night that way when I decide to go to sleep I will shut all of them off letting my brain know it is time to rest.

I also found that reading when I can't sleep is a good way to fall asleep. It might take me 30-45 minutes but it's an easy way for me to get rid of some nervous energy.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by TonyToneTone

For those of you out there who might be suffering from insomnia, melatonin might be the thing for you.

on the other hand, (not overly stressed/ill), notice how 'quick & easy' babies fall asleep, & really anywhere. - Of course, constantly engaged in learning... this passion to learn just drives children all day long, so when they need down-time to properly store... learnings, we just as easy & quick then fall asleep... in fact most children, unless foolishly taught, do everything easy & quick. Babies are so smart let's remember... more of their wisdom.

[runningbird]

Haha sometimes if what I am reading is really engaging it will keep me up for a long time. I usually don't have too much trouble sleeping, but I sometimes take half a melatonin pill (1.5 mg) to intensify dreams. All evidence suggests that it's safe for at least short term use.

"The seventeen randomised controlled trials with 651 participants showed no evidence of adverse effects of melatonin with short term use. The study concludes: "There is evidence that melatonin is safe with short term use." In most of their analyses they are able to state that there is no significant difference between melatonin and placebo; even the most common adverse events reported; headache, dizziness, nausea and drowsiness; did not significantly differ for melatonin vs. placebo. A similar analysis[74] by the same team a year earlier on the efficacy and safety of exogenous melatonin in the management of primary sleep disorders found that: "There is some evidence to suggest that melatonin is effective in treating delayed sleep phase syndrome," and that evidence suggests that melatonin is safe with short-term use, three months or less."

"While no large, long-term studies which might reveal side effects have been conducted, there do exist case reports about patients who have taken melatonin for years.[76]"
(wikipedia)

You can buy it just about at any supermarket or drugstore in the U.S., I think.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by runningbird

Haha
I usually don't have too much trouble sleeping, but I sometimes take half a melatonin pill (1.5 mg) to intensify dreams. All evidence suggests that it's safe for at least short term use.

why dependent on 'drugs' for everything:
extra? melatonin for sleep, & now to intensify? dreams
when
(without drugs), you can learn to intensify your dreams

[runningbird]

Just called being resourceful. :shrug:

[dave marshall]

Hi, I spotted this post and thought I would follow it.

I cured myself of insomnia a while back by getting back into the sleeping 'habit' and resolving some issues in my life and with the help of some ideas from this book.

Please do take a look at this book, I did not write it, and see if you think it could help you,

The Sleep Secret

cheers

Dave

[Eric Roosevelt]

I think a lot of people start taking pills when there are usually much better ways of improving sleep quality. Melatonin doesn't work for a lot of people because people's sleeping problems are often related to other factors, especially different types of emotional stress (e.g. a fastly changing environment), but also other physiological factors apart from melatonin such as core temperature and breathing. Nevertheless, melatonin production is certainly an essential factor, whichever way you look at it. Another way of increasing melatonin production without taking any pills is to expose yourself to a lot of sunlight during the day.

[greeneyedgirl]

I took melatonin and it put me into a foggy stupor of depression. I took it for a couple of weeks before it dawned on me that something wasn't right. I stopped taking it and immediately the fog went away. (I figured it was perfectly safe, but I am learning that I have issues with many of the things that are widely talked about as safe.)

[Fullcrum]

Natural production is increased with more sunlight, which stimulates serotonin, which is then used to make melatonin at night to sleep. Eating foods high in tryptophan, necessary for both hormones, is critical.

[TonyToneTone]

Today I've been groggy most of the day and felt really out if it. I also almost blacked out right now at Barnes and Noble. If there hadn't been a railing by me, I would have fallen on the floor. So for now, no more melatonin for me.

I'm just going to get myself up early and keep myself awake throughout the day. Within a day or two my body should reset its sleep schedule. It's a bit tough on my body but should do the trick.

[dave marshall]

Hi,

I have been working with people for over a decade and every time, literally, with enough change in lifestyle/behaviour/beleifs/stress management, the insomnia has been cured naturally without drugs.

I was amazed at first that this could be done as there are so many people with this 'illness' but the results stand for themselves.

Dave

[TonyToneTone]

Originally Posted by dave marshall

Hi,

I have been working with people for over a decade and every time, literally, with enough change in lifestyle/behaviour/beleifs/stress management, the insomnia has been cured naturally without drugs.

I was amazed at first that this could be done as there are so many people with this 'illness' but the results stand for themselves.

Dave

Hey Dave,

I definitely agree with this. I made some minor and major changes to my life and have been sleeping quite good since I wrote this. I'm almost shocked that so few things could add up to such a big result. Thanks.

[quin]

I recently visited my naturopath to get some help on overcoming stress and beating insomnia. Along with the Magnesium supplements I normally take, she recommended Kava supplements (don't worry - the Kava supplements I take are very refined - they don't just knock me out!!) and St John's Wort.

I've been taking these for the past month along with reducing my caffeine intake, exercising more regularly and meditating and have found a dramatic improvement in my sleep quality and the time it takes me to get to sleep.

She mentioned if these supplements and general lifestyle changes weren't working I could try melatonin. To be honest, I'd rather not!