Melatonin for sleep?
 

Just had a yearly checkup and asked the Doc about problems sleeping, I said I really didn't like taking all these OTC sleeping drugs like the PM stuff so he suggested taking melatonin, well I just tried it this week and it really works great, I sleep well and wake up feeling pretty good, BUT: holy crap, the dreams I have been having are like just too real and horrible! If they were good dreams it would not be so bad but jesus, I was ready to grab my gun last night when someone was walking down the hall way into the room!!

Anyone else having the same side effects?

Good night!

lolo, last week I had a dream that this crazy girl I met was driving by the house and calling out my name ... errrr .. almost pee'd my pants, cuz, the GF sleeps next to me ....

It's funny you say this. I've been taking Melatonin for about a year.

Last night I had a dream that someone was breaking into my house and I couldn't remember the combination on my gun safe.

The problem is, I've always had extremely vivid, scary dreams. Just now I get more sleep.

I use it, but i don't dream soooooo no problem.

I started taking it months ago. Really works well for me and I dont wake up feeling weird. Haven't noticed much/any changes in my dreams though. At my Price Chopper they have it in bottles of 3mcg tablets or 3mg. I used to take maybe 4-6 of the mcg tablets but got the mg ones this time.

See, and I cut a 3 mg tablet in half. I will fall asleep naturally within 45 minutes. (Not knocked out instantly.)

When I don't take Melatonin, I tend to lay in bed, awake for 3-4 hours before falling asleep.

I think the key regarding freaky dreams is not too much. I used it after a flight to Rome a while back and immediately swore it off. The dreams were horrible. For my daughter, who has a medical issue, we do use it occasionally in small doses. Seems to be just fine.

Larry

I use melatonin also. Works great. Dreams are always fun, even when they shake me up. Smoking bud prevents dreams, Targa.

Craig, I take it most nights, but like Chris, I take a half or quarter of a 3mg tablet and don't have any severe dream problems.

When I first began taking it, it came in 1mg tablets, then one time when I ran out and got some more, that brand had changed to 3mg and I didn't notice. I did have some freaky, scary dreams then. I finally noticed the difference and started cutting them up.

I think the dreams come from being in the deeper sleep that the 3mg tablet puts you in. If your tablets are 3mg, try cutting them in half and see what that's like for 3 or 4 days... if you still have a problem, try cutting them into 1/4 size.

really? never heard that. even as a kid i didn't recall dreams. my bud use is not even occasional these days more like semi annual.

I've taken melatonin on and off for about 10 or 12 years. I sleep very lightly and tend to get into patterns of very disruptive sleep. I'll be exhausted, lay down - can't sleep. Or sleep for two hours and be wide awake or wake up every 30 or 40 minutes. Yuck.

Melatonin takes care of that without the groggy morning after feel of OTC sleep aids. Side effect? Holy smokes - my dreams are crazy enough... When I take melatonin they go from crazy to smokin' bat**** crazy. From just in color to colors so rich they seem to have three dimensions, add sensations of hot/cold, the feel of any texture in the dream (clothing, grass under my feet, skin, metal - you name it), I even smell things in the dream.

The nightmares would make Stephen King crawl into a sniveling ball of horror. For that reason, when I take it, it's only for a few days at a time. I breaks my erratic sleep patterns and re-sets me to something more normal.

Well, as "normal" as I get! :D

angela

Angela, what size tablets?

Been taking it off and on for about the past 15 years - always when I travel.

Have always had really bizarre dreams and they didn't seem to get more outrageous with Melatonin.

No, OTC sleep aids? Yeah, I'd sleep like a rock but would wake up more tired than if I hadn't slept due to some really wild running and fighting dreams.

Looks like you switched the melatonin and LSD vials - honest mistake, I'm sure it happens all the time.

Used to take melatonin when I used to travel overseas regularly. Low dose worked well for me.

Don't remember any changes with my dreams...

I am sold on melatonin
Everybody dreams, you just don't remember it.

As you get older, your melatonin levels start to fall. It helps you to stay asleep, not so much fall asleep, and promotes REM(dreams happen during this) sleep. The OTC sleep aids generally contain diphenhydramine(benadryl) which actually suppresses REM sleep, so you are not as rested in the morning, hence the groggy sensation. Ambien is straight up evil and should NEVER be used for more than a week at a time. Had a freakin' black box warning on it until the FDA got paid off, scumbag pig farkers.

If you don't get any REM sleep, you can't dream. As I recall the result of this is you become schizophrenic, or more schizophrenic in Angela's case :p No way in hell you fall asleep after dropping acid. I had never heard weed kept you from dreaming.

Seriously though, Angela how is your diet when you are sleeping badly? Are you a big coffee drinker, caffeine addict in some form? Do you exercise much, if so is it in the AM or PM?(minor hijack)

I've tried mel but prefer ambian for sleep. I take it once in a while when I can't get to sleep after 1 to 2 hours. I can never remember any dreams from either.

3 milligram dose - morning exerciser. I'll head to the gym at 4:00am this morning. I'd be there now but they don't open until 4:00. Excessive caffeine will disrupt my sleep patterns. Most of my disruptions revolve around stress related issues. It becomes a spiraling circle. Stress disrupts the sleep, being tired causes more stress, etc.

So I break the cycle. I can cope with the stressors in my life if I can face eachday rested. A few days to a week on the melatonin resets me.

Oh and the LSD comment? Dang - that was LMAO funny! :D

angela

Holy crap, where can i get some of that stuff? :D

OK, so last night...no weird dreams.

I also noticed that I accidentally unplugged the night light my wife keeps in the bathroom. I always think there is someone downstairs with a flashlight when I see it on...