Dr Oz on Why Melatonin May Be Dangerous to Your Sleep

I posted this link here because a lot of people recommend taking Melatonin with in Withdrawals and I think people should just be aware with how much they are taking.

http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/why-melatonin-may-be-dangerous-your-sleep?video=14647

[killerzoey]

Thanks! I'm one who takes melotonin, and I'm watching right now.

[Pat1956100]

Great info.  Anything that we take can have side effects so we have to do our research.  
When we are going thru withdrawal and have gone 30 hours without sleep, and just need something to push us over the edge into sleep, I think melatonin is great.  It is much better than taking ativan, sleeping pills etc.
It also can help during the few weeks where we are unable to sleep after withdrawals.  
Many people try different things to help them sleep.  Nyquil, Benadryl, Sleepytime teas, Alteril etc.  What works for one may not work for you.
I don't think anything recommended here is for long term use.  It is just to aid us when we are in crisis mode from lack of sleep.  Even 3 to 4 hours of sleep can be a godsend to a lot of us.  

Lack of sleep is one of the biggest complaints we get here and I still think that melatonin is safer than any benzo, or otc remedy.  It can really help when we are going through a very rough time.
I have never felt like I HAD to take it and don't take it now but it sure helped me when I needed it.

[killerzoey]

Interesting. It never said it was "bad", per se, but that we take too much, and that taking it in the middle of the night is not correct, only a half hour or so before going to bed, right?

I have been having sh*tty sleep many nights, waking up a few hours after going to sleep, and not being able to go back out. I do pop another Melatonin when this happens, and I guess this is bad. It's possible that it's a vicious cycle, where I wake up because of being too saturated in Melatonin, and I take more, which prolongs the problem. Very interesting.

I have no idea where to even find 0.5 mg of Melatonin! They only had 5 and 10 mg at my drug store. I guess I can chop my 5 mg tablets in tenths, haha.

Still, I think that short-term, for acute withdrawals, whatever helps, helps. But keeping going with it after that, I guess that's not a good idea.

***************************************************************************

Here's an article that talks about proper levels and study results:


"Rest easy: MIT study confirms melatonin's value as sleep aid"

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2005/melatonin.html

[YesLife4Me]

Funny to me that the medical community endorses using a product (natural or not) then whe. Someone comes out against it, the medical community goes into a panic.  Melatonin is a natural substance our brain produces to help us rest so we can sleep.   It should be taken to induce a natural sleep cycle.   I've seen them in 3 and 5 mg.   I wouldn't suggest taking in night because it would make sense it would trigger your sleep pattern and could prevent you from getting back to normal...but on the short term....I don't see an issue.  Sleep is precious...get what you can and when sleep patterns retunr, cut back.    

[hope4good]

Some good information.  I still think out of all the sleep aids you can use while in withdrawals this is the safest.  Every other sleep remedy seems to have a lot worse side effects.  When you are going through withdrawals and haven't slept in three or four days I think taking a melatonin is a lot better on your body than not getting sleep.    I still use melatonin on nights I just can't get to sleep.  

[killerzoey]

Yeah, and there are studies that show it has other health benefits. I ran across these when trying to figure out how much I could safely take :/  The answer is a lot. But if it impedes sleep when you take it every night that way, well, that's good to know.

[Jordan_J]

I also used Melatonin to try and get some sleep in W/Ds. I just wanted people to be aware on how much is too much etc etc =D

[weaver71]

I am not an advocate of taking anything forever. When I sold melatonin in a health food store 20 yrs ago, we recommended the 2mg caps for a short period of time. People with chronic insomnia could start with 5mg, but we always encouraged a reduction fairly quickly. When used at the same time, once a night, in total darkness and silence, it can help reset the biological sleep clock. I like melatonin as a tool to help get back into a natural rhythm and then let the brain produce it's own melatonin hormone. Taking any hormone in large doses for extended periods of time can have adverse effects. Natural or synthetic, opiate or opioid, amphetamine or epinephrine, all chemicals similar to what our bodies make can be used to our benefit or detriment. Thanks for getting the word out Jordan, great post.

[VICourageous]

I had a giggle, way to go you guys are on it, and weaver you should be a writer you come across right to the point. But for me I went all natual and sometimes when I really can not sleep I too will take a melatonin. I learned in my early recovery and still am about the disease of addiction and the brain transmitters and such I call them without getting into details so I will NOT put any thing in my body that affects the brain. To darn old to have the brain not function after all these yrs of drug/booze. Ha thats my story and I'm sticking too it.
God Bless you all years down the line we will look back at this all.
vvicidaho