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Melatonin

Posted , 6 users are following.

sarah12391
sarah12391

Hi, anybody heard got comments on Melatonin for sleeping?x

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • loxie
    loxie sarah12391

    Edited

    Sarah, some people say its good for helping sleep, with others the jury is out so to speak.  The BMJ (British Medical Journal) had a piece about it some months back and the final comment was partly as follows: "Melatonin is POSSIBLY SAFE when used by mouth appropriately, long-term. Melatonin has been used safely for up to 2 years in some people. However, it can cause some side effects including headache, short-term feelings of depression, daytime sleepiness,

    dizziness, stomach cramps, and irritability".

    If you are having sleep problems because of anxiety or depression, you'll have to decide whether you wish to risk the side affects above in order to get better sleep or perhaps that it's not worth the risk.  As with everything, there would appear always to be the possibility of side affects but obviously not everyone will experience them.  Before it was available in the UK, I bought some in the USA as a lot of people recommended it there.  It really didnt do much for me unfortunately.  I now find for me personally if I take a Piriton at night I sleep like a log and also don't get a 'stuffy nose' overnight as I used to.

     

    • sarah12391
      sarah12391 loxie

      Posted

      Thank you for response.. Been taking Quetiapine and put a lot of weight on and only gives me 3hrs. Saw an article on melatonin and just wanted feedback guidance. Do you suffer with depression? 
    • loxie
      loxie sarah12391

      Posted

      Hi Sarah.  Yes - all my life I've had ups and downs with periods of anxiety and depression/sadness.  I have periods where I cope ok, wouldn't ever say perfect but manage day to day.  Then periods of reactions to stress that make me anxious and very downhearted.  I've tried various anti depressants, SSRIs, etc., all of which have some benefit but side affects were worse than the original problem so I decided to try to cope with more natural remedies etc.  I've been going to meditation classes and they've helped enormously with the sleeplessness issues.  If I get a good night's sleep, everything is easier to handle.  Work stress is my biggest problem, I just dont handle it well and I end up making myself ill with fibromyalgia, stomach issues, etc.  I'm sure if I could afford to stop work, I'd have an easier time with all of the depression/anxiety problems but until I win the lottery I guess I'll have to keep going smile
    • sarah12391
      sarah12391 loxie

      Posted

      Thank you so much for answering being honest with me. I had a nervous breakdown coming up to 2 years ago now, due to lots of issues high pressured job, personal home issues. Been on lots of different anti depressants currently on duloxateine and quietipine which ac I said wasn't go come off. Also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia too, due to attend pain management programme this week. I too want to take a more natural way hence my comment to yourself, just not sure where to start ...x
    • loxie
      loxie sarah12391

      Posted

      Sounds very similar to me Sarah, I feel for you.  If you're finding it difficult to sleep because of stress or anxiety rather than the meds affecting your sleep pattern, meditation definitely helps.  There's a little exercise we're told to try that's very effective.  It's called 'belly breathing'.  Concentrate on how your breathing moves your tummy in and out, don't force it or breathe any different to normal, just focus on how when you breath it moves the tummy.  It's amazing how quickly it can relax you just by being mindful of your breathing/stomach and I can fall asleep sometimes while doing it.  I did take sleeping pills for a while but the next day I was all zombied out which made work even more stressful so I stopped taking them too.  I really hope you find some relief from the pain management attendance.  
    • sarah12391
      sarah12391 loxie

      Posted

      I have heard of that. Also I have enquired about mediation classes around our way too. Sleeping meds not really helping still not having regular sleep getting by on three hrs. Next day feel dreadful and weight gain is horrendous. Are you on any anti depressants? Also did you take anything for fibromyalgia been told about an injection but refused?x
    • loxie
      loxie sarah12391

      Posted

      I understand what you say about sleeping meds, they did help me sleep but I couldnt cope at all with the daytime after effects, I felt not just wiped out but slightly nauseous the whole time, a bit like travel sickness.  Interesting to hear you mention the weight gain, I balloon up on a variety of different meds, guess my metabolism must get affected really quick.  My doctor was loathe to diagnose fibromyalgia per se, but the symptoms I get are very similar, generalised muscle pain and stiffness, tender skin painful to touch, fatigue, headaches, stomach upsets, etc., Last time I went to the doctors about it he pondered over whether my symptoms were virus connected and prescribed a four week reducing course of steroids (prednisolone), which did help with the pain element but conversely made the headaches and stomach issues worse.  Since I stopped taking them the aches, pains and stiffness are returning however.  I'm still convinced most if not all of my physical symptoms are stress related so I'm continuing to explore how to de-stress and lower my anxiety levels, hopefully without SSRIs which I really didnt feel good on.  Like Dave has commented, I didnt get any benefit from Melatonin - it didn't cause me any adverse issues, it just didnt help my sleep problems, although my friends in the states swear by it.
    • sarah12391
      sarah12391 loxie

      Edited

      Thank you again for response.. This is exactly how I feel. Just need to get off them and try and find alternative ways. So fed up with all of this. Everyday I keep on hoping things will be better x thank you again!
    • loxie
      loxie sarah12391

      Edited

      Hi Sarah.  I just thought of something else.  Have a try at Valerian.  I stumbled upon it accidentally when I bought a plug-in diffuser with it in, from a pet store for one of my cats who was stressful.  It worked on the cat and I noticed I benefitted too.  It's just plant extract so even if it doesn't work it probably won't have any nasty side effects.  You can get valerian extract capsules from health food stores or the plug-ins from pet stores.
  • dave30804
    dave30804 sarah12391

    Edited

    Hi Sara,

    As a biologist, I would say it may have limited effectivenes.  The bioavailability of melatonin in pharmacological preaparations is only 30-50% and the half-life is around 35-50 minutes.  It may help with getting off to sleep, but it is unlikely to keep you asleep.  As a retired nurse, I would say, if you find it helps, use it. It can help restore the circadian clock to a more acceptable rhythm and the antioxidaant properties may be beneficial as well.

    As a chronic cyclic insomniac with bipolar type 2, I derived no benefit from it personally, but I would not discourage others from trying it.

    • sarah12391
      sarah12391 dave30804

      Posted

      Hi Dave, thank you very much for response think you have now answered my question x
    • Mileana
      Mileana sarah12391

      Posted

      Hi sarah,

      I did get a good nights sleep on melatonin.  I used to take it alternate nights.  Never had any unwanted side effects.  At the time it was a life saver.  Hope you find something that helps

  • sheila54110
    sheila54110 sarah12391

    Posted

    Good morning, albeit not good atm for me, my 15th night of taking 2mg to help with 3years Of chronic insomnia. I feel absolutely terrible, slept of a fashion but silly dreams all nights and awful headache. The first thing I do when I wake is pop painkillers into my body, I will sit in bed sipping tea for at least 1 or 2 hours until I come around as I feel dizzy and feel I will fall ( 63 years of age ) I don't know where to turn.....ruining my life atm. I don't think it will go until I die.

  • sheila54110
    sheila54110 sarah12391

    Edited

    Hi Sarah, I have been on circadin for 25 nights, feel awful , nothing ever works for me and this I thought would be a turning point to regulate my insomnia. I have put up with the side affects....I've had them all, I have had a few nights of 'sleep' I don't know if it was sleep or a trance as I was dreaming so vividly that I wake up not knowing if the events are real or not and in a right old state.

    I am not going to ask for them to continue as I'm swapping one problem for another.

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