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Safe Melatonin for Sleep (Want to decrease Ambien)
I have been using Ambien every third night for a couple of years for sleep. I try tea or just hard work the other days to try to avoid building up a tolerance to the Ambien or becoming totally dependent upon it. My doctor says I can try the melatonin. She says to stay away from anything with root in it though. Does anyone know of something reliable? I'm going to the health food store with my wife.
I have been using Ambien for over 10 years and I still take my starting dose - 10 mg.
I am not recommending it, by any means, but I do know the drug and I think it is safe and effective for a lot of people and it works over a long period of time without the need to increase dose.
Mike
I am not recommending it, by any means, but I do know the drug and I think it is safe and effective for a lot of people and it works over a long period of time without the need to increase dose.
Mike
I use melatonin whenever I need to. But I recommend a lower dose. I do 300mcg (that's 1/3 of a 1mg tablet) 15mins before I want to go to sleep. It really does work, at least for me. Note, though, that once the bottle is open, it doesn't last very well. After a few months the pills seem a lot less potent and I have to toss them and get new ones.
The smallest dose available in most drugstores is 1mg. I order 200mcg ones on the web. I think the brand is Nature's Best.
The smallest dose available in most drugstores is 1mg. I order 200mcg ones on the web. I think the brand is Nature's Best.
Similar to Valerian root but can produce very vivid dreams, even nightmares. Activated in body by darkness and SX, along with effectiveness, can be dispated by exposing ones self to light. The brighter the better to overcome the effects of vivid dreams.
For me, 3 mg really bad vivd dreams, 1 mg still bad dreams to extent that renders it ineffective as sleep aid.
For me, 3 mg really bad vivd dreams, 1 mg still bad dreams to extent that renders it ineffective as sleep aid.
Thank you for the updaes and advice. Thinking I can figure it out from these updates.
Medicmommy, you 1mg vs 3mg 20-30 before going to sleep will be my next step. Do you think I will find that specific dosage in say a GNC or a pharmacy?
Medicmommy, you 1mg vs 3mg 20-30 before going to sleep will be my next step. Do you think I will find that specific dosage in say a GNC or a pharmacy?
Here's a couple paragraphs about how to easily get more Melatonin in the body allowing a person to sleep better:
Nutrition Beyond the Trends: Pie in the Sky
http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2006/083.html
"Speaking of antioxidant protection, tart cherries are among nature's most abundant sources of natural melatonin, a chemical produced also in the pineal gland of vertebrate animals. Melatonin is a unique antioxidant, protecting against free-radical damage from several reactive oxygen species. It’s found in foods such as cabbage, tomato, rice, orange, apple and banana, where it protects the plant from free radicals generated during photosynthesis. In plant seeds, melatonin may protect the germ and reproductive tissues from ravages of ultraviolet light, drought, temperature extremes, and environmental toxins.
The amount of melatonin in cherries varies with the variety. For example, Montmorency cherries, which constitute the vast majority of US cherries, carry about six times more of the compound that do Balaton cherries. But even the Balaton cherries are far richer in melatonin than other fruits and vegetables.
Melatonin has physical properties that make it at home in both aqueous and fatty environments, so it can cross membranes and reach into the tiniest subcellular compartments to exert its protection. That makes it both powerful and highly effective. Also unique is how melatonin provides protection. Most antioxidants become radicals themselves after halting a free-radical chain reaction; they just become less dangerous ones. For example, after neutralizing a threat, vitamin E becomes a weak oxidant and must be regenerated in order to go back to work. Melatonin is different. Upon donating its services as a free-radical policeman, it is converted to a harmless compound."
According to this, you could have Green Cabbage, Tomatoes, Rice, Oranges, Apples and Bananas, and you'd be pretty much knocked out... Not only would it help with sleep but it would provide potent anti-oxidants for reducing inflammation and liver damage.
One thing that works really good too is fresh tea made from the leaves of a Black Currant Bush.
Some vegetables/fruits will make a person drowsy, others will give energy.
Nutrition Beyond the Trends: Pie in the Sky
http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2006/083.html
"Speaking of antioxidant protection, tart cherries are among nature's most abundant sources of natural melatonin, a chemical produced also in the pineal gland of vertebrate animals. Melatonin is a unique antioxidant, protecting against free-radical damage from several reactive oxygen species. It’s found in foods such as cabbage, tomato, rice, orange, apple and banana, where it protects the plant from free radicals generated during photosynthesis. In plant seeds, melatonin may protect the germ and reproductive tissues from ravages of ultraviolet light, drought, temperature extremes, and environmental toxins.
The amount of melatonin in cherries varies with the variety. For example, Montmorency cherries, which constitute the vast majority of US cherries, carry about six times more of the compound that do Balaton cherries. But even the Balaton cherries are far richer in melatonin than other fruits and vegetables.
Melatonin has physical properties that make it at home in both aqueous and fatty environments, so it can cross membranes and reach into the tiniest subcellular compartments to exert its protection. That makes it both powerful and highly effective. Also unique is how melatonin provides protection. Most antioxidants become radicals themselves after halting a free-radical chain reaction; they just become less dangerous ones. For example, after neutralizing a threat, vitamin E becomes a weak oxidant and must be regenerated in order to go back to work. Melatonin is different. Upon donating its services as a free-radical policeman, it is converted to a harmless compound."
According to this, you could have Green Cabbage, Tomatoes, Rice, Oranges, Apples and Bananas, and you'd be pretty much knocked out... Not only would it help with sleep but it would provide potent anti-oxidants for reducing inflammation and liver damage.
One thing that works really good too is fresh tea made from the leaves of a Black Currant Bush.
Some vegetables/fruits will make a person drowsy, others will give energy.
I would definitely try not take ambein as much. I have been taking it every night. I ran out and that night I did not sleep all night. They are very habit forming.Now I have to figure out how to get off them. Benadryl does not work at all for me. I just finished tx hopefully will be able to sleep soon without anything.
When I take it, I do so about 20-30 minutes before going to bed. No alcohol, nothing else unless you count nose strips for sinus issues. Personally, I use the 1 mg version, but the 3 mg is safe -it's just too much for me! The cool thing is, when it works for someone, they get really good REM sleep (dream sleep) and feel very rested when they get up in the morning. I had worked 24 hour shifts as a paramedic for years, and on my days off when I tried to sleep like a normal person, it was quite challenging. The meletonin helped my sleep patterns to regain some normalcy and I was able to get the rest I needed. I hope it works for you! :)~MM
The dose is 1mg to 3mg of meletonin, is this correct?
And, is it taken just before bed. Yesterday while in Trader Joe's all I found was a chewable which appeared to be taken once daily.
And, is it taken just before bed. Yesterday while in Trader Joe's all I found was a chewable which appeared to be taken once daily.
Hello!
I've tried meletonin and it works for me. I had to use the 1mg strength though because, with the 3 mg, I had the most vivid, crazy, technicolor dreams imaginable...Very freaky. But in the AM, I felt rested and it didn't give me the "hangover" that I experienced from benedryl. Also, if you get up during the night, you can go right back to sleep without a problem. If you are in the middle of Hep C treatment, I found chlorophineramine to work well as an anti-itch and sleep aid....Good luck! ~MM
I've tried meletonin and it works for me. I had to use the 1mg strength though because, with the 3 mg, I had the most vivid, crazy, technicolor dreams imaginable...Very freaky. But in the AM, I felt rested and it didn't give me the "hangover" that I experienced from benedryl. Also, if you get up during the night, you can go right back to sleep without a problem. If you are in the middle of Hep C treatment, I found chlorophineramine to work well as an anti-itch and sleep aid....Good luck! ~MM
I have tried many natural products for sleep and they didn't do a thing for me, but I take a hot shower before bed and take a Benadryl it will put me to sleep it just won't keep me asleep. I am looking for an alternative for ambien too. Amitripline works quite well but can make you feel sleepy for awhile the next day and it does seem to lower blood sugar, a little too much for some. If you find something natural that works I'd love to hear about it so I'll be watching-Take care-aheart:)
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