Question posted by Clint-Sommers on 20 Nov 2012
Last updated on 17 November 2020 by scochran
I am a member of the U.S. Navy, that being said I have to wake-up at a specific time and be on time always(my command has a zero tolerance for being late and will not hesitate to write you up.) I am wondering if I take a 10mg dose of Melatonin is that going to hinder my ability to wake-up to an alarm, or does that have anything to do with that(would a higher dose make you sleep more soundly?)
Thank you for reading this, I am hoping someone can provide useful information.
....my apologies for the grammer fail in the question... 52 hours straight now without sleep.... I might be suffering from insomnia also? None the less.. Thank you for the assistance whoever the kind hearted individual(s) will be that answer.
This question has also been asked and answered here: How much Melatonin can I take?
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Hello and Thank You for Your Service my Brother!!!
I have taken 10mg melatonin before bed and it has worked wonders. If you're afraid that you won't get up the next day after taking it, try it out on an evening where you don't have to be on duty the next day. I have the quick dissolving kind and they work pretty good. I think they are a little more pricey than the regular kind. I feel the effects within 20-30 minutes.
I'm sure you've been lectured on sleep hygiene previously, but going to bed and getting up at the same time really helps also. Most nights I am in bed by 2100 and up at 0400. Most of the time, I'm up right before the alarm goes off. Hope this helps.
Hello. I have experienced profound insomnia at night for years. I have 2 brain tumors, and other health issues taking medications for my conditions. I take 60 mg of Prozac daily in the morning, 0.5 mg of Clonazepam 3 times a day, 20 mg of Levothyroxine in the morning and several supplements daily. I have tried just about everything to be able to sleep. Finally a highly trained and well respected local doctor/specialist prescribed 10mg Melatonin at night for me before bed. It has worked wonders for me. I now fall asleep and stay asleep getting a good restful night of sleep... after so many years of not being able to sleep. And it does not affect my ability to wake up to an alarm in the morning nor do I feel groggy during the day.. And my doctor is monitoring my progress and experience with the Melatonin.
After testing the Doctor said I have Insomnia. I have tried various meds that made it difficult to wake up clear minded the next day. I've finely came to a way that works for me. I take a 4mg tizitadine and watch a boring moving, same one every night. It sounds funny but I think I bore my self to begin with and the medication works in twenty minutes and seldom fails. Also the recordings of rain (there are others like fan or wind, there are a variety) also help. These are things that help but don't over medicate so you can wake up. Good luck.
No, melatonin has a low ability to cause daytime drowsiness but if melatonin seems to not be working as well for you as it did when you first started taking it then you might want to try some other over the counter sedatives before trying to get a prescription. If you are taking 10 milligrams of melatonin every night I think it may be time for you to switch to another sedative try these two over the counter sedatives... Benadryl and Doxylamine... hope this helps
I take 10mg Ambien and split it in half and if I don't take it before 10 at night then I won't wake up in the morning. But melatonin, I use 10mg melatonin if it's too late to take my ambien and I've never had trouble waking up in the morning after taking that. Sometimes I take 2 10mg to make myself pass out. But I've learned it only works if you're laying down trying to calm down. If you're up and about not Layin in bed or stayin on your phone (and really have sleeping problems like me) then the melatonin won't work to it's full extent. I hope this helps! But waking up, you're good on the melatonin.
I take 15 mg of melatonin sleep soundly melts and also one 450 mg valerian capsule and that seems to do it for me
I was recently prescribed melatonin because of my chronic insomnia. My Dr. Told me to start at 50mgs. This is on top of the Ativan 2mgs and 150mgs of Seroquel. I took what he prescribed and found as soon as the medication wore off I was up and awake. Everyone is different. It really depends on how bad your insomnia is.
Any doctor who thinks that 50mg of melatonin is safe doesn't know what he's talking about, and I suggest that you find a new doctor. Dr. Andrew Weil, who is one of the pioneers of supplements, recommends this: "Try sublingual tablets (to be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve); take 2.5 mg at bedtime as an occasional dose, making sure that your bedroom is completely dark. A much lower dose, 0.25 to 0.3 mg, is more effective for regular use." 50mg is 20 times more than the recommended occasional dose, and 200 TIMES the dose suggested for daily use. Melatonin is a hormone -- a powerful chemical messenger -- and the fact that it's over the counter doesn't mean that it isn't dangerous if taken incorrectly. For your own sake, please read more a bit this an be careful.
Like all timed release drugs they usually last 12 hours and the problem is that 1 or 3 mg with the immediate release lasts between 4 and 6 hours and is consumed straight away but the timed release mechanism releases a certain amount each hour over 12 hours so 5 mg timed release over 12 hours releases 0.4166666667 mg a hour which equates to 5 mg over 12 hours and for 10 mg timed release it is 0.8333333333 mg per hour which equates to 10 mg over 12 hours so as you can see it gets pretty complex and this isn't even including your metabolism rates and peek saturation and plasma rates and I would never ever recommend trying to defeat or even half a timed release medication as this could lead to life threatening symptoms from the medication as this could cause it to release all or most of the medicine faster than immediate release as all drugs have specific targeted release zones in the digestive system and have a set decomposition rate.
My advice is try to find a emergency doctor that you could call for advice failing that then ask some one who is in the medical profession like a 24 hr pharmacy who knows about drugs but PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT take medication that is not prescribed to you or take with out professional health care advice, I know you are struggling but I would hate to see any harm done to you just think of your family, picture them and then ask your self is it really worth it ?. You or a family member on your behalf can call a doctor or pharmacist in the morning I'm pretty sure they can do this but for the love of God and your family never ever rely on the internet or the bad advice they can give for drugs in general. Rely on a doctor or pharmacist. BE SAFE BE CAREFUL AND BE ALIVE.
I was in the army you might have to ask a battle buddy you help you get up I've taken melatonin here lately more than 10 mg I still wake up around 5 am with the alarm clock now if I don't have much to do that day I might lay around but then again I've been on meds for insomnia I've been trying everything from drinks over the counter stuff I'm trying tea tonight but there are other things that come into play with me I have adhd and depression and I'm stressed out so think about all the things you have going on in your life with me it's hard to turn of my brain at night lol best of luck to hope I didn't get you worked up with my story.
I have trouble sleeping, and I take 10mg of melatonin every night. I would work up to it, and not take 10mg at once, the first time. Try starting with 3mg, and then 6, before you go to 10. I understand your desperation of lack of sleep, I also am an insomniac, but don't overdo the supplement until you know how you will react.
Best wishes to you!!
I strongly suggest you speak with the Dr. onboard, before you self medicate, may it be a herbal supplement, but still has side effects, so do the right thing, you have not slept in 52 hrs., and I suffer from insomnia, and have gone for many days without sleep; I am trying to say one gets to a stage where one is not thinking straight, and makes the wrong decision, do the right one talk to the Doc.
All the best,
maso.-
I have an appointment on the 21NOV to see what is going on, I cannot sleep in spite of having the room pitch black and laying with my eyes closed for hours... still wide awake. Also, some things I am noticing, is I find myself losing track of certain details of the day as things are rolling together... this has been going on for the past few months.. just getting worse now. I get to points where it feels like the room starts to spin a little, I don't know if it is due to a lack of sleep, or if it is a little deeper. I have been pointed toward melatonin by some Corpsman, I just wanted to see what a proper dose would be, I am not a big person 5'8" 161lbs.
Wait until your appoinment.Sleep depravation as we both know is used as torture, be careful buddy.
Melatonin is one of the least toxic substances known. People have taken as much as 6 grams (600 to 3000 times the normal dosage) of the substance in carefully monitored studies with no sign of toxicity. Only four complaints regarding melatonin have been report to the FDA (USA's Food and Drug Administration). The only consistent side effect of high doses has been drowsiness and a slower reaction time.
In the most extensive clinical trial to date a high dose of 75 milligrams of melatonin per day was given to 1400 women in the Netherlands for up to four years with no ill effects. The FDA reports that in the more than two years melatonin has been available for sale over-the-counter in the United States, no alarming side effects have been reported.
So don't worry about it and don't waste your precious time at medical.
Please note: melatonin isn't a herb, it's a hormone that is produced by the pineal gland in animals and regulates sleep and wakefulness. Hormones are powerful chemical messengers, so -- as you implied -- the smallest possible dose should be taken.
If you've never taken melatonin, then I would say cut it in half and try half at a time. It takes a little while to make you sleepy. I have seen time release melatonin that are 10 mg, and those would be ok, you're not getting it all at once. I have taken it for years, including when I was in the army. Was never late, and I'm still not. I'm a stickler for being on time and melatonin has never been a problem. I take 10mg every night.
The 10mg supplement I was looking at was time release, so I figured it would ease me into it, at the same time, I don't want to start taking something with a high dose, the 10m8 time release are the only ones I could find at the small exchange and I was in a rush to get to work(figured before buying and taking it, I would attempt to get assistance on here.)
Time release is a little different. Lack of sleep can make you miserable. Have you tried relaxation sounds, like the ocean and thunderstorms and rain? Try 2 tylenol and a glass of milk tonight. You'd be surprised what that can do for you.
I have gone as far as sleeping at a buddies house and leaving his doors open on the balcony so I can hear the ocean, but, I will have to try the that. typically Tylenol hasn't done much for me in the past... I am willing to try it though, I am more than willing to try something like that to get some sleep.
You could also try benadryl. Take 2 at bedtime or the Tylenol PM. It has the amount of benadryl in it & works quite well. You will have no problems waking with this either... Mary
NO--don't take Tylenol!!! That's bad for your liver.
I just added this to my evening meds, apparently I have been having bad dreams and yelling in my sleep. I always wake up immediately, I think breathing all the gravel, had a negative affect.
insomnia, melatonin, tolerance
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