Supplements for Sleep

[drylady]

Hi there.  I am curious if anyone on here uses supplements for insomnia. I take Temazepam for insomnia which works (most of the time).

Temazepam also has given me the side effect of apathy and weight gain. Anyway,  two natural sleep aids I've heard of are Melatonin and Valerian Root.

I did read that Melatonin might effect the immune system. Has anyone had positive experiences with Melatonin? Thanks in advance.

[Jellyb]

Hi Drylady,
Melatonin worked to help me get to sleep but I usually woke up within a few hours and had trouble going back to sleep and It gave me nightmares. Sweaty nightmares, but just a note, taking plaquenil in the evenings gave me nightmares also, so that might just be me.

Valarien did not work for me and I could taste the valarien all the next dsy. It tastes like perfume :-)

[4Kids]

My rheumy gave me Nortriptalyne (sp?) which at the low dose of 10mg, is working very well. I go into a deeper, more restful sleep and I feel much better.

[Carebear]

Hi Jellb,

Were you taking over-the-counter melatonin?  A friend of mine takes a pure form of melatonin that is available via prescription, and can only be purchased at the pharmacies in our hospitals.

[Jellyb]

Hi Carebear,
I was taking the OTC melatonin, from the natural food store. That would explain the nswaety nightmares.  I didnt know there was such a thing as prescription melatonin. I think I should look into that.  Thanks !!:-)

[amk922]

I have long had problems with insomnia. I've tried several prescription sleep aids. I currently take Lunesta but it doesn't work for me consistently. My doctor suggested I take a low dose of Melatonin in addition to the Lunesta and it has helped a lot, but I do have frequent and very vivid dreams now. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. I highly recommend talking to a doctor before combining any sleep supplements. This can be very dangerous with some medical conditions and other medications.

[Joe S.]

I have a meditation that I use to replace or trigger sleep.

[Rose G]

I have been taking Ambien for quite some time but would like to stop.  I did not get any sleep from melatonin and it gave me headaches.  So, after seeing Valerian on Dr Oz, I got some just today and am going to try it.  I will let you know how that goes.

[lea78]

I take a natural supplement which combines valerian with passionflower and one other relaxing herb. Usually take this for about a week and half when i have anxiety caused by hormones. Whilst taking it i sleep really well and feel quite relaxed.

In general though i have a spell where i sleep really well for weeks and then a spell of insomnia where i seem to lie awake all night.
At the moment i am at my insomnia stage, but for some starnge reason when i dont sleep at night i am not as tired in the day.

[Rose G]

Well, my experiment with Valerian did not go well at all!!  Took it last night and had a very terrible time with it.  I got tired and thought this is great, but I did not go to sleep.  I felt almost paralyzed and my breathing got very shallow.  Finally fell asleep for just about 2 hours or so, just long enough to be too late to take my usual, ambien.

Had awful dreams that short time I was asleep.  No more of that for sure.  I guess if I have to take ambien the rest of my life I will.  Nothing else works and it does!  And I have to sleep.  Today I feel so sick and have a lot of pain...just awful!