Melatonin?

[mrjohnchimpo]

Has anybody heard any bad things or conspiracies about the naturally-occurring drug melatonin?

For as long as I can remember, I've had trouble going to sleep early enough (usually can't get to sleep until about 3AM even if I go to bed at like 10PM) and trouble waking up in the morning, but had absolutely no problem sleeping during the day.

I was looking around and it sounds like I might have something called "delayed sleep phase syndrome" (or something like it) and one of the things people have been telling me to try is melatonin (i've tried pretty much everything -- sleeping pills, teas, warm milk, booze, etc. etc.) and nothing really works.

I took the melatonin (1 3 mg pill) last night about 10:30pm and conked out at eleven and slept better than i have as long as i can remember, and actually woke up feeling really good this morning (unlike with most of the other remedies).

Anyways, just curious if anyone has taken it before or if anyone's heard of serious side effects...I've looked around a lot and haven't found anything, but just curious.

[slam]

no, i've never heard much about it.

your job has health care, right? go see a doc!

[Ag Au]

i know several people who take melatonin, and they are quite happy with it. i don't know of any side effects, but as it is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain, i would do some research on it. i don't think you can develop dependency, but being sleep deprived is probably worse.

B complex vitamins work to help relax one into sleep, and to combat hangovers as well! i take them in the evening, but i don't have sleep problems. my fella does, and he likes the vitamins.

[mrjohnchimpo]

your job has health care, right? go see a doc!

i do go see a doc. my doc is like "go to bed earlier, don't drink caffeine so late" and so on. but nothing has worked. this melatonin thing came after all that.

[matty]

I have pretty chronic sleep problems, and I've tried the Melatonin. I works, but I can only take it about three times a week. If I take it every day, I become very groggy in the mornings and don't really wake up until about 11. So I try to take it only as needed.

Did you have fucked up dreams? It gives me very vivid dreams...

[mrjohnchimpo]

Did you have fucked up dreams? It gives me very vivid dreams...


yes. that's one of the weird side effects that i've read about, and it does happen. it's really weird.

i think i'll just take it if i find myself up and wired @ like 11PM.

[slam]

have you tried drinking yourself to sleep every night? maybe a few shots of whiskey? mmmmm, whiskey.