A Friend Suggested Melatonin As A "Safe" Sleep Aid
 

Here are some of the "safe" side effects...

Allergies

Avoid in those with known allergies to melatonin or related products. There are rare reports of allergic skin reactions after taking melatonin by mouth. Melatonin has been linked to a case of autoimmune hepatitis.

Side Effects and Warnings

Based on available studies and clinical use, melatonin is generally regarded as safe in recommended doses (five milligrams daily) for up to two years. Available trials report that overall adverse effects are not significantly more common with melatonin than placebo.

Commonly reported adverse effects include fatigue, dizziness, headache, irritability, drowsiness, and sleepiness, although these effects may occur due to jet lag and not due to melatonin itself. Fatigue may occur particularly with morning use or high doses, and irregular sleep-wake cycles may occur. Disorientation, ataxia (difficulties with walking and balance), confusion, sleepwalking, vivid dreams, and nightmares have also been noted, with effects often resolving after the cessation of melatonin. Due to the risk of drowsiness or sedation, use caution if driving or operating heavy machinery.

Mild gastrointestinal distress commonly occurs, including nausea, vomiting, cramping, stomach pain, altered taste, abnormal feces, increased appetite, or diarrhea. Melatonin has been linked to the triggering of Crohn's disease symptoms.

Other side effects include skin rash, infection, decreased mental performance, increased risk of inflammation, and increased urination.

It has been suggested that melatonin may lower the seizure threshold and increase the risk of seizure, particularly in children with severe neurologic disorders. However, multiple other studies actually report reduced incidence of seizure with regular melatonin use. This remains an area of controversy. Patients with seizure disorder taking melatonin should be monitored closely by a healthcare professional.

Mood changes have been reported, including giddiness and dysphoria (sadness). Psychotic symptoms have been reported, including hallucinations and paranoia, possibly due to overdose. Patients with underlying major depression or psychotic disorders taking melatonin should be monitored closely by a healthcare professional.

Melatonin may increase the risk of bleeding. Caution is advised in patients with bleeding disorders or those taking drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding. Dosing adjustments may be necessary.

Melatonin may cause drops in blood pressure. Caution is advised in patients taking medications that may also lower blood pressure.

Based on preliminary evidence, increases in cholesterol levels may occur. Caution is therefore advised in patients with high cholesterol levels or atherosclerosis, or in those at risk for cardiovascular disease. Abnormal heart rhythms have been associated with melatonin.

Hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar levels) has been reported in patients with type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes), and low doses of melatonin have reduced glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Serum glucose levels may need to be monitored by a healthcare provider, and medication adjustments may be necessary.

Hormonal effects have been reported, including decreases or increases in levels of luteinizing hormone, progesterone, estradiol, thyroid hormone (T4 and T3), growth hormone, prolactin, cortisol, oxytocin, and vasopressin. Gynecomastia (increased breast size) has been reported in men, as well as decreased sperm count (both which resolved with the cessation of melatonin). Decreased sperm motility and decreased libido have been reported in rats and humans.

It has been theorized that high doses of melatonin may increase intraocular pressure and the risk of glaucoma, age-related maculopathy and myopia, or retinal damage. However, there is preliminary evidence that melatonin may actually decrease intraocular pressure in the eye, and it has been suggested as a possible therapy for glaucoma. Patients with glaucoma taking melatonin should be monitored by a healthcare professional.

Use cautiously in patients using anesthetics, cytochrome P450 1A2 inhibitors like fluvoxamine, methamphetamine, nifedipine (a calcium channel blocker), or in children with a history of enuresis.

Avoid in patients using CNS depressants, including benzodiazepines and alcohol, as concomitant use may cause increased sedation.

Avoid use in women who are pregnant or are attempting to become pregnant, based on possible hormonal effects and a possible increased risk of developmental disorders.

Avoid with known allergies to melatonin or related products.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Melatonin supplementation should be avoided in women who are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant, based on possible hormonal effects. High levels of melatonin during pregnancy may increase the risk of developmental disorders. In animal studies, melatonin was detected in breast milk and therefore should be avoided during breastfeeding. In men, decreased sperm motility and decreased sperm count are reported with the use of melatonin.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mel...SECTION=safety

i sleep very good on it and i take it every night.

i had a family member that took it every single night and swore by it , i ended up running out of my sleeping meds one night and decided to give it a try kinda made me feel loopy, however I take 300 mg of seroquel for sleep and 25 mg to someone new on the drug will knock you out for 2 days, to each there own.

If I want to feel sleepy for 4-5 hours without actually sleeping, I'll take melatonin.

Take it every night and out within a half hour if its when I usually take it. Helps me fall asleep which is my problem.

I use melatonin and have for years.

I have friends and family who are completely addicted to sleeping pills (ambien is the worst drug in the world....it will ruin your life).

I would suggest that if you are scared of melatonin...you should probably also be scared of aspirin. It has about the same "risks".

Matter of fact, you should probably stay in the house with the curtains drawn and shiver in fear at any noises. lol

Melatonin makes me feel hungover the next day. I just take half an Ambien when I need it.

If I want to sleep for 10 hours, I'll take a whole Ambien.

i think i will try it ...i guess if anything happens with allergies i will know within minutes. I usually take ZzzQuil? Sleep-Aid i never remember falling asleep and never wake up all night. I sleep so deep . Its not something to take constantly .Im a night owl and have trouble getting my mind to turn off at night . This has helped. I usually take it if I know i need to get to sleep because I have to be someplace early and Im afraid I will sleep through the alarm so I need to get to sleep early ...which normally is not done with ease

I took Ambian on a trip once.. I liked it . It helped me get on the new time difference. I always have trouble going to sleep when i leave the west coast and go to the East coast .

Melatonin is a natural sleep hormone. It's about as safe as it gets, in terms of side effects. If you're scared of what you read, you should try reading up on your run-of-the-mill sleeping pills, that should scare you shitless.

I have banned myself from reading any web md or about that stuff ...a good ol fashioned.... "oh my god you are going to croak if you take that " works wonders for me. Lately I read when I get in bed and fall sleep with my kindle on my chest

magnesium is the greatest thing ever for so many ailments. It aids in digestion, sleep, blood pressure...you name it ...magnesium is so important.

Never tried Melatonin, but heard lot of good comments about it...

why not smoke a joint

Because I do not smoke anything.

Eat a brownie then

He does'nt eat anything:2 cents:

You were taking too high of a dosage if you felt hungover. You really only need 1mg a night, which is less than half a pill in most cases. The manufacturers put dosage amounts way over what we need simply for the sake of selling pills. http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/melat...our-sleep-pt-3

My brothers young daughter has serious anxiety issues (it is a long story that has a lot to do with her mom being a shitty mom). One of her problems is that she would get so freaked out about having to go to school she would not sleep at night. Eventually they got her into a child therapist who put her on a very very low dose of Melatonin and it has helped her a lot. She still gets the anxiety, but once she gets calmed down and into bed she can sleep and isn't laying their awake. It changed the kids life.

Now if her shitty mom would just get her act together things would be even better for her.

I used to drink Neuro Sleep, but now I mix the active ingredients: Melatonin, Magnesium and pharma grade L-Tryptophan instead. Mixing also allows me to tweak (not that kind of tweak) the Melatonin dosage. The drink features 3mg Melatonin. Sometimes I mix 1, 3, 5 mg, etc. I've tried Restoril and that ish gave me the worst "hangover". I've never had any problems with side effects from Melatonin or a "hangover".

I avoid Ambien for sleep purposes. My sister was heading out the door with her car keys and purse after taking an Ambien, but her fiance caught her before she went for an Ambien drive. I figured that would be my fate since we both used to sleepwalk as kids.

i suggest more exercise throughout the day

I use melatonin every night. It helps me stay asleep.

Regarding what you said about ambien... man, that shit is bad news. I went through two different periods using it for a long period of time, both ended with me being totally lethargic and depressed. Turned me into a turd both times. Luckily, I was able to see what was going on and stopped taking it, so the effects didn't last long. Changed to melatonin.

I used to just take ambien when I would fly to Asia. Then it turned into a regular thing. Stay away from that crap.

for very heavy / vivid dreams I take like 3mg - 9mg :)

Have you tried valerian root? Some people don't have results, but that stuff knocked me on my ass and gave me the most vivid dreams I've ever had in my life. Only took it for a week and decided it was too much for me. It made me groggy the next day.

you must have a shit life looking for problems all day :2 cents:

My girlfriend swears by it. I personally just use whiskey.

More expensive and a whole bunch of additional side effects. At least long-term. :)

30 minute jog should do the trick. If not try a hammer.

i use it on long flights - helps me sleeping on the plane and i adjust better to the new time zone

at home i just use the TV as sleeping aid ;)

Just looks like the standard side effects leaflet that comes with any drug.

this helps more than people realize. Most cases of insomnia are just the body telling you that you have excess energy and its not time to sleep yet.

You don't have to join a gym or anything either, a long walk or an hour in the pool works better than any pill would. You should also look into if you have any physical sleeping disorders. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and using a mask allows me to get a full night sleep even inside of 5 hours...and no it's not just fat people who get it I'm at about 13% bodyfat and well on my way to my next enduro race so these things can effect anyone.

Hahaha ... A hammer!!!

I give Melatonin to my son. Zero problems.

I also know a doctor who takes it.

This is what I use, it works wonders - http://www.rxwhey.com/lights-out-sle...-recovery-aid/

Infusion, fresh weed in hot water for 5 minutes.

Got my mother in law on it cause she had lower back pain, now she has it to sleep.

chamomile tea is also pretty good in the evening before going to bed... effective and tastes pretty good too :thumbsup

Why the heck are you taking an antipsychotic as a sleep aide? Is your doctor on crack?

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Tried melatonin one night and could not sleep at all.

Better just to jerk off.

That trumps all sleeping pills! :thumbsup