Melatonin

[HandbagsnGladrags]

Am on holiday in a foreign and wondrous land where melatonin can be bought over the counter, so I have provided some! V excited to try later.

But how much do I take? They offered me 3, 5 or 10 mg tablets so I went for the lowest. Do I just take one? Have taken Nytol, amitriptyline and phenargen in the past for sleep issues. Not all at once, obvs. And not every night.

I recently took some when I was hols with an 8hour time difference. I took 2x3mg for the first 2 days. First night went off to sleep well, but awake for a couple of hours in the night. 2nd night slept through. Didn't take it after that

Thanks. Anyone else? Dr Google advice is a bit vague.

I have some bought over the counter in the US. I don't use it regularly but when I do I take one tablet 20 mins before I want to go to sleep. Always have a lovely nights sleep after that and don't feel groggy when I wake up .

3mg does me fine. 30 mins and I'm asleep.

How big are the tablets though?

Sounds like my 3mg ones may be enough.

Always start low.

10mg is hard core. Avoid unless you're suffering horribly from jet lag or insomnia.

It's fine you can't overdose on any of those amounts - it's not a drug as such, it's a natural substance and the half life is a matter of hours until it's out your system too. Try 3mg if no good then try 6mg next night. I find it works best if you use it alongside other sleep inducing things. If you lie on your phone etc you will miss the window for it to work. IME that's about 20min after taking it.

I'm in the US and have a family member who uses it. Buys 1mg tablets and doesn't go over 5mg.

Sorry, mine are 6 mg

I was prescribed melatonin which was fine.

But when l sent for the American stuff l found 3 mg and above gave me blinding headaches and reflux.

It stopped working too after about 6 months.

Sorry

Ok thanks everyone. I don't intend to take every night, just if I've had a couple of bad nights and know I really need to sleep.

My toddler has 2mg, a 12 year old I know takes 8mg

My son is prescribed it he takes 6mg and is 5' 10. " and 14 stone.

There are two types one that helps you go to sleep and one that keeps you asleep

I take 10mg. Make sure you get timed release. I only use it for jetlag and never for longer than a few days.

Less than 10mg does absolutely nothing for me.

Don't take it if you have high blood pressure or diabetes.

DS1 is 14 and takes 4mg, one crushed and one whole.

Has anyone experienced being wide awake at 4am from taking melatonin? It seems to get me to sleep ok but not for long enough. I don't think I have the timed release one.