Melatonin

Hey there NightMonkey,

Yes, I have but I'm trying to interpret the data now. It seems the leak rate is high so am trying to work out the reason for it. My doctor here has prescribed Benzalin/Nitrazepam for me, but would like to get off it. My problem is falling asleep, it usually takes time...so I wanted to try something else.

http://www.flexyx.com/B/Benzalin.html

Cheers,
Emeraude

My advice:

1. Learn to understand your data (post a typical daily details report here for help) and then get your therapy optimized. Suboptimal therapy can cause sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep.

2. Practice very good sleep hygiene (Check Google to find good instructions.)

3. Wean off all sleep drugs under the supervision of your doctor.

You are young so your body should produce enough melatonin if you take care of 1 - 3.

Good luck,

emeraude wrote:I'm taking a prescription sleeping pill and would like to get off it completely. I would like to try Melatonin but unable to buy it in Japan due to regulations. Can anyone recommend a good brand to take, and without any added chemicals?
Thanks!
Emeraude

To answer your direct inquiry:

http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements ... =melatonin


Also reviewed and recommended by Consumer Lab.

emeraude wrote:Yes, I have but I'm trying to interpret the data now. It seems the leak rate is high so am trying to work out the reason for it. My doctor here has prescribed Benzalin/Nitrazepam for me, but would like to get off it. My problem is falling asleep, it usually takes time...so I wanted to try something else. . . .

Out of curiosity, you're not napping during the day are you?

gasp wrote:

emeraude wrote:Yes, I have but I'm trying to interpret the data now. It seems the leak rate is high so am trying to work out the reason for it. My doctor here has prescribed Benzalin/Nitrazepam for me, but would like to get off it. My problem is falling asleep, it usually takes time...so I wanted to try something else. . . .

Out of curiosity, you're not napping during the day are you?

No naps throughout the day at all. I leave home for work mid morning and get home around 10:30 pm. Need a few hours to unwind and then its bedtime.

NightMonkey wrote:

Hey there NightMonkey,

Yes, I have but I'm trying to interpret the data now. It seems the leak rate is high so am trying to work out the reason for it. My doctor here has prescribed Benzalin/Nitrazepam for me, but would like to get off it. My problem is falling asleep, it usually takes time...so I wanted to try something else.

http://www.flexyx.com/B/Benzalin.html

Cheers,
Emeraude

My advice:

1. Learn to understand your data (post a typical daily details report here for help) and then get your therapy optimized. Suboptimal therapy can cause sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep.

2. Practice very good sleep hygiene (Check Google to find good instructions.)

3. Wean off all sleep drugs under the supervision of your doctor.

You are young so your body should produce enough melatonin if you take care of 1 - 3.

Good luck,

Thanks for the advice, but due to long hours at work and late nights it's a little hard.

Cheers,
Emeraude

Zzzzzzzzzzz... wrote:

emeraude wrote:I'm taking a prescription sleeping pill and would like to get off it completely. I would like to try Melatonin but unable to buy it in Japan due to regulations. Can anyone recommend a good brand to take, and without any added chemicals?
Thanks!
Emeraude

To answer your direct inquiry:

http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements ... =melatonin


Also reviewed and recommended by Consumer Lab.

Zzzzzzzzzzz,

Thanks for the information and link. Appreciate it!
Emeraude

When I was taking Melatonin, I used...
Schiff Melatonin w/Theanine...3mg.....Bottle of 300 from Costco, under $7

also available at Amazon...http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OYQ93Y/ref ... B000OYQ93Y

emeraude wrote:

gasp wrote:

emeraude wrote:Yes, I have but I'm trying to interpret the data now. It seems the leak rate is high so am trying to work out the reason for it. My doctor here has prescribed Benzalin/Nitrazepam for me, but would like to get off it. My problem is falling asleep, it usually takes time...so I wanted to try something else. . . .

Out of curiosity, you're not napping during the day are you?

No naps throughout the day at all. I leave home for work mid morning and get home around 10:30 pm. Need a few hours to unwind and then its bedtime.

I wonder if you don't have enough time to unwind. You might like to try the Pur-Sleep products. They can help induce relaxation the natural way. They may work for you if you don't mind the smell of essential oils. I've used all their scents and can't imagine not using them now. http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/produ ... category=3

gasp wrote:

emeraude wrote:

gasp wrote:

emeraude wrote:Yes, I have but I'm trying to interpret the data now. It seems the leak rate is high so am trying to work out the reason for it. My doctor here has prescribed Benzalin/Nitrazepam for me, but would like to get off it. My problem is falling asleep, it usually takes time...so I wanted to try something else. . . .

Out of curiosity, you're not napping during the day are you?

No naps throughout the day at all. I leave home for work mid morning and get home around 10:30 pm. Need a few hours to unwind and then its bedtime.

I wonder if you don't have enough time to unwind. You might like to try the Pur-Sleep products. They can help induce relaxation the natural way. They may work for you if you don't mind the smell of essential oils. I've used all their scents and can't imagine not using them now. http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/produ ... category=3

Well, probably not due to my work schedule. I will certainly try the Pur-Sleep products. Thanks for the link and will place an order soon.

I have tried Melatonin, prescribed by my doctor. It had little or no effect on me.

I have now started taking 50mg 5-HTP in the evening. I feel that this has had a very good effect on me. 5-HTP is a natural aminoacid that the body uses to make both Melatonin and Serotonin. Since I started talking 5-HTP and Vitamin D supplements, I have also dropped 12 kilos (27 pounds) in weight, without dieting or doing anything for it. I also sleep better than I ever have before and my AHI has been less than 1 the last month.

Any problems I have with insomnia are mostly of the maintenance type and not with onset. But during the rare times I have trouble falling asleep, I find that drinking Swiss Mix Hot Chocolate with half and half (it is 99.9% decaf) and a small carbohydrate snack solves the problem.

Personally, I have never found melatonin useful for insomnia long term. But everyone's experience is obviously different.

49er

SHB,

My apologies as I just realized I didn't read your post very carefully.

Have you done all the trouble shooting necessary to see why you may be waking up after a few hours? For example, I noticed when I woke up after an hour on CPAP, I had nasal congestion.

I haven't yet determined if that is why I keep waking up which is another post. But you might want to do that type of detective work.

Anyway, I tried using melatonin to get back to sleep but found it didn't work.

49er,

have I done "all the trouble shooting".. Yes I think so - I'm a bit of a data nerd.. I've been analysing the machine data since 2006 and know the measures well. I can say my breathing is pretty much sorted. My AHI score is consistently under 1.0. But there are always a few caveats- mostly re humidification.. .

I've had an on again - off again relationship with humidifiers over the years. In the mean time I've started data-logging the actual humidity and temp in the bedroom (in 10 second increments) and graphing them with the other data. I think I will revisit the humidifier..

I;ve used data recording pulse / oximeter - which bascially shows no real issues there.

Nasal congestion has been a problem at times. I have over the years tried everything. Some things work, for some of the time. At the moment (for a few months) I'm using a once a day (morning) squirt of Flixonase into each nostril. And together with keeping the s9 filter regularly changed, the nasal pillow washed around every other day, and the humidity under control (see above) - the nasal congestion issues seems to be under control - for the time being. I also occasional get nose bleeds. They are a real problem with the mask - and badly affect sleep quality

I'm quite fit at the moment. I swim about 1km each day and also jog 5-8km at least 3 days a week. There seems to be no pattern between actual exercise days and sleep.

I use a zeo - so can quantify the sleep types and the number of wakes. I really love it for the data it provides. If my zeo score is over 85 I feel great, if it is under 70 I am a zombie. My lowest is mid 40's. And at times I've clocked a full week under 70 on consecutive nights... not pleasant. I highest is 94 - but I only have 3 nights above 90.

There are some stressful things in my life - and I think they are impacting. But I usually drop off to sleep within 15-20 mins - it is just staying asleep.

Yeah - I have ordered the Melatonin. I order the 3mg "sustained - release". "Ordered" as from Australia - mail-order is the only way.

I will report back...

Well the 3mg (time release) melatonin has helped. But it is not a silver bullet..

My best zeo scores have improved - I now have scored 3 times over 100 (record is 112) and quite a few in the 90's (which was my previous record before taking melatonin), and the average ZQ has moved up a little but not dramatically (high 70;s) . Problem is I still have too many awakenings... Melatonin won't keep you asleep all night. I think it knocks out some of the smaller mini-awakenings.

I'm now going to try the 5mg timerelease.. for a while... and since I still have more than 150 of the 3mg time-release tabs still on my shelf, I am going to order a bottle of 3mg-fast-dissolve tabs, as well. The big question is how to deal with the 2.30am wakening. Currently I often resort to panadol (paracetamol) - and it certainly helps - but I understand longterm use can wreck your liver. If I just take a 3mg-TR melatonin before bed, then at 2.30am I could take a 3mg-fast-dissolve.. and not be groggy at 8am for work. Thats my plan anyway ...

Also - if I have a late evening meal - and so take the 3mg TR on a full stomach - It really does nothing. If bed at 10pm, plan to finish eating by 7.30pm (easier said than done). Got to take them on an empty stomach.

Shb

It gives me weird dreams, sometimes unpleasant.