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Long-term Melatonin Use

Posted by grrranny @grrranny, 2 days ago

I've been taking small doses (2-4mg per night) of melatonin since my stroke a year ago -- to hopefully help me sleep. (Doesn't always work.) Any others of you using it on a regular basis?
Is this okay? Anything better?

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Arvind Natarajan | @malebreastcancer47 | 2 days ago

Melatonin long team loses its effectiveness. I drink Chamomile tea daily before bedtime.
I have also taken magnesium supplement for several years, but not only drinking tea.

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gloaming | @gloaming | 2 days ago

Studies I have seen suggest that any sleep aid, any at all, will lose its oomph over time and with exposure to it. So, if you can, use at least two DIFFERENT sleep aids, and try to go without them as much as you can stand.

I have short sleep. The quality when I sleep is good, just not long enough. So, when I need a catch-up, I take no more than 5 mg of melatonin maybe once, at most twice, weekly. I tough it out the other days. This way, it keeps melatonin potent.

I have heard that chamomile tea helps at bed time, and it's worth a shot.

Taking 200 mg of magnesium salt (citrate, malate, taurate, bis-glycinate...) about an hour before bed is also a bit of an aid, and it can help to calm a jumpy heart.

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grrranny | @grrranny | 1 day ago
In reply to @malebreastcancer47 "Melatonin long team loses its effectiveness. I drink Chamomile tea daily before bedtime. I have also..." + (show)
Profile picture for Arvind Natarajan @malebreastcancer47

Melatonin long team loses its effectiveness. I drink Chamomile tea daily before bedtime.
I have also taken magnesium supplement for several years, but not only drinking tea.

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@malebreastcancer47
Thanks; I do take magnesium capsule before bed. I have trouble relaxing. Maybe Chamomile tea would help.

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grrranny | @grrranny | 1 day ago
In reply to @gloaming "Studies I have seen suggest that any sleep aid, any at all, will lose its oomph..." + (show)
Profile picture for gloaming @gloaming

Studies I have seen suggest that any sleep aid, any at all, will lose its oomph over time and with exposure to it. So, if you can, use at least two DIFFERENT sleep aids, and try to go without them as much as you can stand.

I have short sleep. The quality when I sleep is good, just not long enough. So, when I need a catch-up, I take no more than 5 mg of melatonin maybe once, at most twice, weekly. I tough it out the other days. This way, it keeps melatonin potent.

I have heard that chamomile tea helps at bed time, and it's worth a shot.

Taking 200 mg of magnesium salt (citrate, malate, taurate, bis-glycinate...) about an hour before bed is also a bit of an aid, and it can help to calm a jumpy heart.

Jump to this post

@gloaming
Thanks; In addition to magnesium before bed, I also take Tylenol.
Will try the chamomile tea, too.
Have trouble relaxing.

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seniormed | @seniormed | 1 day ago

The medical sources state that there is not enough data published on long term use to advise us. There are positive effects that have been discovered
as well. AMA is advising caution regarding drug interactions and use in children.
One study suggests a correlation with heart failure in patients with insomnia
in long term use. But the insomnia may be the real issue.
If you have a heart condition discuss it with your doctor. I have reduced my dose but know it may be helping my systemic inflammation with arthritis.

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