When you take melatonin

[sdWTMer]

How much do you take? And what are other sleep remedies?

Thanks in advance.

[Kelli in TN]

I take 3mg. of melatonin almost every evening.

[sdWTMer]

Thanks Kelli!

[Paz]

We usually take 3 mg at a time but often 1 to 2 work for people. The other most amazing sleep remedy we've found is L-Theanine (200 mg). L-Theanine also works for anxiety but when my ds or I take it we fall asleep quickly and sleep deeply. It's ironic that I just got on today to post a ? about ds's sleep problems.

[ELaurie]

:lurk5:

PS. Anyone have experience using Magnesium for insomnia?

[8FillTheHeart]

Magnesium with selenium will help with sleep/anxiety if the root problem is a hormonal one. It helps many pre-menopausal women.

I take 3 mg of melatonin when I can't fall asleep. However, I have learned I have to take it before midnight or the next morning I am so groggy I can't function.

[BMC]

I'm wondering because both my kids (17, 12) have trouble "turning off" enough to fall asleep. I have some of the same problems so we are all looking for help.

[Danestress]

I'm wondering because both my kids (17, 12) have trouble "turning off" enough to fall asleep. I have some of the same problems so we are all looking for help.

One negative for me with Melatonin is that it causes me to have very very vivid dreams which I remember clearly and which are often unpleasant. I think a lot of my dreams are about anxiety anyway, and I'm not sure if the melatonin makes the dreams more negative in content of if it's just that they are more memorable and vivid.

[Rachel]

I take Melatonin Plus by Schiff I think. It has 3mg Melatonin combined with L-Thealine........its a good combination and seems to work.

The dreams think is very individual. I've never had that happen to me but neither my mom or husband can take it as they have that problem. In fact my husband actually gets nightmares.......and that's the only time he's ever had them. For some people it only happens the first time or two they take it and then it goes away, so make sure you give it time to work itself out in your system.

[ELaurie]

Thanks momof7 - I'll try this!

[Kelli in TN]

I'm wondering because both my kids (17, 12) have trouble "turning off" enough to fall asleep. I have some of the same problems so we are all looking for help.

Many people report having nightmares when taking melatonin. I experienced this myself for the first few nights that I took it. I no longer have a problem with it, but apparently some people cannot take it ever without experiencing nightmares. You would want to be on the lookout for that.

[*LC]

My husband took it for nearly five years without any trouble at all.

I had night terrors from taking it. I never took it regularly, so I don't know if I would have adjusted to it at some point.

My nightmares had someone breaking into the room. I called 911 numerous times, and I freaked my husband out a few times. I never knew what was causing the nightmares until I read about melatonin/nightmares on this board. I've stopped and no more nightmares.

LC

[Rosie_0801]

Actually, the best thing I've found to use as a sleep aid is majorum essential oil. I like lavender, but on some level the essential oil irritates me, so I get up and wander off before it has time to work it's magic. I love the smell of the majorum so much that each time I consider getting up, I decide not to because I want to keep sniffing it! So, I actually do lay there long enough for it to relax me. Maybe it's a family thing, but I recommended the same to my sister and grandmother, who also had no luck with lavender. Now we're all sleeping better! Don't just buy on my recommendation, it won't work if you hate the smell! There are quite a few essential oils that work for insomnia, so you should be able to find one that suits. Not a cure all, of course, but nothing is. I put a drop on each side of my pillow so I can still smell it if I turn over.
Good luck!
Rosie

[Laurie]

I've been using "Natural Calm" magnesium powder for occasional insomnia and it works great for me. The Whole Foods where I shop sells single-serve packets so that you can try it before buying the big container. The packet contains 1.5 tsp., but I've only been using 1/4tsp. at a time and that works for me. (Too much magnesium=laxative effect, so you have to be careful about taking too much!) You add the powder to warm water, and it's a soothing drink before bed. (I like the Raspberry-Lemon flavor.)