Thread: Melatonin

So ive been having insomnia lately and was wondering what i could take to help combat this. My mother told me to try melatonin but before i do i want to know if this will effect my sleep cycle or if it even works? If i use this and it does effect sleep cycle would taking B6 in addition regain sleep cycle/dreaming and let me sleep well?

Well in my opinion you don't combat insomnia with something that will help you lucid dream. Bit silly if you ask me, because dreams require sleep, and you're not getting sleep thanks to insomnia.

I recommend some good basic tips on battling insomnia.

First I would examine what is causing your insomnia.

I think you misunderstood, Melatonin is a substance that is saposed to promote sleep. It is similar to triptophan which is in turkey and makes you sleepy. It is a sort of hormone, and what i was wondering was if anyone had any experiance with melatonin and if it works? And if it does work does it effect your sleep and dreams?

UPDATE: i would also like to point out that i cant figure the cause of insomnia, and i used to use benadryl to get to bed but due to my sports i was taking to much of it and became addicted to it via sports so for sleep aid it doesnt help. The 2 things that get me to bed is either not sleeping for literally 2 or 3 days, or using marijuana. I used it once for recreational purposes and that night i feel asleep really quick and it didnt disrupt my sleep cycle. So since then ive used marijuana only when i am really really deprived of sleep, due to social and legal reasons.

I've taken melatonin before, and it hasn't affected me one way or the other. But, everyone is different. You are just going to have to try this for yourself and see if it works.

I would first think about why you are having insomnia, though, before rushing off to take supplements.

The best cure for insomnia is not sleeping, sooner or later your body will catch up.

I would only use it at the natural sleeping hour, never to "catch up with sleep" if you know what I mean.

I bought these pills that has melatonin in it called 'Brilliant Dreams' pills. I'm the type of person who usually takes an hour or so to go to sleep once I hit the hay, but I usually go to bed at like 2 am even though I my have to get up for work 5-6 hours later. The pills themselves completely knock me out. They relax your body so good that I was surprised of how fast I fell asleep the first few nights of using it. I highly recommend it if you have trouble.

Hi Pocker

First, don't eat or drink anything with caffeen in it after 4pm in the afternoon - I've just discovered it makes all the difference. Aparantly the caffeen doesn't leave your system in time so even if you do manage to fall asleep, you won't be able to sleep deeply and for as long as you need to.

As for Melatonin, our bodies produce this naturally but some people may not produce enough of it. I tried to get some a while ago because I hadn't slept a proper deep sleep through the night for years, but I was told it's not sold over the counter here in the UK. I was going to order it online from the USA, but then I found Paths which increases the body's own Melatonin production, so I never did buy it.

I would say try no caffeen (remember tea and coke have caffeen in them as well as chocolate and coffee) after 4pm first, and see if that helps. You may not need extra Melatonin.

I use melatonin on a regular basis, it just helps put me at ease, but ever since I started meditating right before sleeping, I found that the meditation is enough for me to go to sleep. Have to admit, I just like the melatonin, I mean I take it, and right away I will start meditating, and its easier for me to meditate because it just completly relaxes you. And I used to have trouble sleeping too, but it was just because my brain would never slow down and let me sleep. Ever since I started using melatonin, I havent had any problems. However this stuff does work pretty quickly man, so make sure you are in your house ready to go to sleep when you take it. I prefer the dissolvable tablets instead of anything. I find that by drinking any liquid or eating anything within 2 hours of sleeping, it throws me off and keeps me up.

What helps one person might not help another. Melatonin doesn't effect me at all. I agree you need to look closer at what is causing you not to be able to sleep.