[owl2020]

I am considering whether I should use melatonin pills, but I was wondering if anyone has been helped (or knows someone who has been helped) by using melatonin. I have been trying to get melatonin recently through foods rich in it (like Tart Cherry Juice, Tart Cherries, Yogurt, Almonds, Olive Oil, etc.) but I am not clear on how much to eat/drink or when to do it. I have also just ordered Tart Cherry extract pills from Swanson Vitamins in order to try to get melatonin from a food source in more concentrated form. However, does all this do any good in terms of sleep? Who knows? So I was wondering what the experience of others has been with melatonin pills or trying to get melatonin from food sources. Even if it works wouldn't you have to continue to take the melatonin pills indefinitely?

[Martin Reed]

I'm not a big supporter of melatonin supplements:

http://www.insomnialand.com/blog/melatonin-for-insomnia-what-is-it-is-it-safe-does-it-work/

You ask a good question though – I'll fire this out in the next Insomniac Bulletin so hopefully some other members will share their thoughts/experiences.

—

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[Gegatso]

I've tried them on and off. It seems in my case the extended release ones will work for a day, but that's about it. Right now trying magnesium citrate. Have read tons of articles on it.

[Grambo]

How is the magnesium citrate working? I've not tried that. Is it a natural supplement?

[Gegatso]

'Grambo' wrote:

How is the magnesium citrate working? I've not tried that. Is it a natural supplement?

It is natural as well as the easiest form of magnesium for your body to absorb by FAR. The downside is loose stools. Sometimes real loose. It worked well, but my doc had a revelation and put me on a med called Latuda that is giving me a consistant 7-8 hrs a night about 9 out of 10 nights. Better still, I'll fall asleep when I want and don't wake up with a hangover. Thank God for insurance because it is very, very expensive.

[owl2020]

I think the drug Latuda is used for bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions. The sleep benefit you are getting from it seems to be great and if there are no major bad side effects and you don't develop tolerance quickly then it sounds like a gift from heaven. However, I think you will have to take it for awhile to see if problems develop. In any event, I don't think the drug is something that people who just have insomnia and not a mental health problem are usually given a prescription for, unless you know otherwise.

With regard to magnesium citrate, i question how effective it can be unless you are deficient in magnesium because of your diet. If you take a multi-vitamin and eat a balanced diet you should be getting enough magnesium.

I have tried getting melatonin from foods that contain a lot but it doesn't seem to have much effect. In particular I have tried capsules with tart cherry powder as well as dried tart cherries and it doesn't seem to have much effect. I also try to eat plain Greek Yogurt and almonds later at night, but again I don't see much effect.

[Gegatso]

'owl2020' wrote:

I think the drug Latuda is used for bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions. The sleep benefit you are getting from it seems to be great and if there are no major bad side effects and you don't develop tolerance quickly then it sounds like a gift from heaven. However, I think you will have to take it for awhile to see if problems develop. In any event, I don't think the drug is something that people who just have insomnia and not a mental health problem are usually given a prescription for, unless you know otherwise.

With regard to magnesium citrate, i question how effective it can be unless you are deficient in magnesium because of your diet. If you take a multi-vitamin and eat a balanced diet you should be getting enough magnesium.

I have tried getting melatonin from foods that contain a lot but it doesn't seem to have much effect. In particular I have tried capsules with tart cherry powder as well as dried tart cherries and it doesn't seem to have much effect. I also try to eat plain Greek Yogurt and almonds later at night, but again I don't see much effect.

I was put on the Latuda for depression/anxiety and it works for that as well as an off-label choice. It's actually an atypical antipsychotic that is a very close cousin of Abilify. THey just tweaked a lot of the side effects.

Most people are deficient in magnesium and vitamin D. You can find out by a simple blood test. The magnesium in regular vitamins is magnesium oxide, which is almost entirely passed through your body with little to no absorbtion. Legally, they can say the vitamins have magnesuim, though.

I've tried eating different things before bed, but had no effect from anything. The melatonin I used was an extended release form in 5 mg tablets. Way more than anyone would need, but unfortunately you can't cut those pills like standard melatonin.

[Mau]

Melatonion worked for me but also depressed me severely. Did anyone else experience this. I'm presently on 150 mg of Zoloft. I hate it as I have all these side effects including insomnia. I was put on it for seasonal effective disorder, which causes anxiety/depression.

[vydehi.arisetty]

I am using melatonin and it helps me to get into sleep but after 2 to 3 hours I wake up and then even If I take melatonin it won't help. I get very minimal amount of sleep and that is not deep either 🙁

[Gegatso]

'vydehi.arisetty' wrote:

I am using melatonin and it helps me to get into sleep but after 2 to 3 hours I wake up and then even If I take melatonin it won't help. I get very minimal amount of sleep and that is not deep either 🙁

Regular melatonin did that to me. If you are not taking the extended release, give it a try. You might get close to 6 hours out of it, but it seems like our bodies get used to it or something. It doesn't quit working, just not as good as when you start. Oh, and you do not need a high dose at all.

For what it's worth.

[Georgina]

Melatonin sure doesn't help me get to sleep. If I can just get to sleep, I can stay that way, but I sometimes just star at the ceiling hour after hour.

[craig50]

I a gree with you all……….also having a mindset is the real key to overcoming the sleep problem………………insomnia is only a label.

[Gegatso]

I know this originally started as a melatonin thread but I just wanted to mention that even though I had short term luck with melatonin, it seemed to poop out on me after a day or two as I believe I stated before.

Anyway, I am now using biofeedback during the day to calm my nerves and relax (as well as a bit before bed) and then I take a tablespoon of raw, unpasturized honey right before hitting the sheets. Google raw honey and sleep and you can read about the perfect glycemic index of honey and how it is stored in the liver and releases itself through the night and stops the body from releasing stress hormones and such. I've been getting close to an extra 90 minutes on nights that I don't wake real early or have to use the bathroom, and if I do have to get up for that, I fall back asleep quickly and my brain does not kick into high gear like before. Just something to think about or try. Regular honey sort of works, but if you read up on it, most “regular” store honey has been processed too much. I'm not sure I mentioned it before but I will again. I also used a pinch of Celtic Sea salt in a tiny bit of water and that worked as well, but I didn't want the extra sodium. There are articles around about salt and sugar mixed to make “sleep powder” with explanations as to why it works. From my experience, the salt alone seemed to do quite a bit and I suppose if your sodium is not high, it's worth a shot since you only use a pinch in like a shot of water. I normally fall asleep without much hassle but only sleep a few hours, so I'm not I guess what you call “typical” but I wake WAY too early. Check out honey and sleep, though…everyone. It's worth a shot if you think you tried it all.

[craig50]

thanks for the great information.

[owl2020]

Gegatso I am now trying active raw Manuka honey; I take a tablespoon 1/2 hour before I go to bed. Last night I tried it for the first time and I got about 5 1/2 hours sleep which is good for me (I woke up during the night to go to the bathroom but like you I was able to get back to sleep). The night before however, I got almost 6 hours sleep without the honey, but the night before that only 3 and 1/2 hours. You indicated it gave you up to 90 minutes additional sleep, so based on one night I don't see that happening but I will keep taking it for a while and see what happens. It is not cheap – about $25 for a small bottle at Whole Foods, but if it helps my sleep it is worth it. It also has anitbiotic power and helps with digestion. If you have anything else to add about your experience with raw honey please let us know.

[Author]

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