Talk to me about Melatonin (for adults not children)

[Pebble21uk]

I've had big problems with sleep recently. My doctor will prescribe Zopiclone to get me through bad patches, but this patch seems worse than normal (there's a huge amount of stress in my life right now).

I've been using Zopiclone for just over a week and asked the GP if there was any alternative as I worry about its addictive properties (I can't take Phenergan due to a conflict with other meds) and believe me I use all the other 'home help' tricks - meditation, essential oils etc.

He's prescribed Melatonin (tablet form). Anyone found this useful? I've also read somewhere it can also help with inflammation / joint pain and even IBS - it all sounds a bit too good to be true!

Wonderful stuff!

Well that's a very positive start! Great!

I find it very good for helping me fall asleep. Not so much for staying asleep all night. No groggy feeling next day.

Great for falling asleep if that's the issue but won't keep you asleep all night. It does however have a short half life so you can take it again during the night if you really need.

Awful for me, a known side effect is very vivid dreams and for me this resulted in terrifying nightmares that were so intense I was left wondering what was real and what was not. It made me feel like I was spinning out of control, really scary.

If it works it can be fantastic, but it's not a benign drug.

OP, there are instant release and slow-release versions available, so it would be worth finding out which one yours is.
The only way you can find out if it will suit you is to try it.
Vivid dreams can be a side effect, but that doesn't happen for everyone.
I also know airline staff the world over use it to reset their body clocks when they need to.

I recommend the book Why We Sleep. There are lots of seemingly unrelated things that have a massive impact.

Yes has worked for me. Similar circumstances. But I got mine off ebay

My 17yo (so nearly an adult) takes slow release and it helps her get past feeling anxious and to sleep.

I used to take it prescribed. And l bought it from America. It worked wonderfully for 6 months.

But then it stopped.

I take a sedative anti depressants.

I bulk buy each time I'm stateside. Whether it's real or placebo they work for me (40's)

Thanks for all the replies - sounds like on balance it can be really helpful. Falling asleep is the biggest issue (although waking in the night does happen frequently) so fingers crossed.
The dream thing is interesting. Years ago I used Phenergan for a time (when I wasn't on current meds) and found that REALLY gave me vivid dreams.

I get it from the States too. Find it does make me sleep but not all night. And Yes, vivid dreams too , not necessarily scary though.

Melatonin is superb. It's miles better than "proper" sleeping pills because it's what your body produces to get you to sleep naturally.

The quality of sleep you get with it is also fantastic.
If yours are slow release make sure you take a little while before bed. Then you're ready to sleep as soon as you're in bed.

Really great stuff.

Prescribed 2mg to take an hour before bed... Dr mentioned something about that being a starting dose???

Dd just started in melatonin a couple of days ago, so far, so good, far better results than the Zoplicone she had been taking. She's taking 5mg about an hour before bedtime.

I find it's good for doing what it is suppose to do and I can get to sleep quick and stay asleep. But the next day if I dont take it I'm awake till the early hours and the following day I have the most awful headaches worse than gin hangover headaches. I don't fancy taking it every night just to avoid the horrible days afterwards if I don't want to take it.

@Pebble21uk

Prescribed 2mg to take an hour before bed... Dr mentioned something about that being a starting dose???

That's a low dose. Max dose is 10mg which is what I take for jetlag. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but anything less than 10mg has no affect on me.

Have you already tried Sominex?

I used to get it in bulk when I travelled to the US for jet lag then use whenever I have a bad run of not getting to sleep. Recently it's been prescribed for my asd DC and so now we're all on it from time to time. Not always but just if there's a bad run and someone is tired and struggling. Sunday night is the favourite!

Just Googled Sominex but see it's the same active ingredients as Phenergan.

Your replies have been more positive than expected - thanks! Picking it up tomorrow so we'll see how it goes!

I was prescribed melatonin (still have it in the cupboard) I took 10mg

Did absolutely nothing for me whatsoever apart from the few hours I did sleep I had very vivid dreams, and it makes me have raging headaches and nausea the next day.

Diphenhydramine/ Nytol (not the herbal one) works heaps better for me n

I took it for about two years, started during cancer treatment and continued as I could never sleep properly again. I stopped around six months ago when I realised that I was feeling sleepy without taking it. I was given some really strong sleeping pills that did nothing for me but the melatonin always worked, I could literally feel it kicking in after around 15 minutes.

Okay - so 2mg didn't work last night... thinking of trying 4mg tonight.

When I did sleep I had some crazy dreams though... 'Hello' Magazine were going to give me 4k for a photoshoot and going down waterslides featured heavily! (Disclaimer - I don't read 'Hello' or like waterslides!!)