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What is the starting dose for Melatonin? Is this good for Insomnia?
Hi, a resident here told me about trying Melatonin. I have had a very difficult time sleeping. Only averaging about three hours a night. I go to sleep fairly easily, as I am prescribed 2mg in morning and 2mg at bedtime by Psychiatrist. However, I wake up always at 1 or 2am..and can't go back to sleep. I have spoken to her about this, and she just prescribes "sleep aids" that are basically sedating antihistamines..like Hydroxyzine, Clonodine, but it does very little for relaxation or staying asleep. She stopped them. Then she put me on Ambien but told me to take "as needed" only. However, I "needed" it every night. It stopped working after two months. She got upset because I took it every night. I pleaded with her for Sonata, as that used to help me, but she refuses..instead putting me on a very sedating antipsychotic called Seroquel. She said she prescribes a "low dose" for people with insomnia, when I expressed my concern about being put on that when I only have Major Depressive disorder, and panic attacks, that I am already on meds for. She prescribed 50mg. It does not help. I told her, and she increased to 100mg to no avail. A resident suggested Melatonin..but I don't know what dosage to start off with. Them I saw on a website, that people with Insomnia should not take this, only people with jet lag..I'm confused. Does anyone take this for Insomnia and how much? I have tried everything to no avail. I can't take herbs due to drug interactions. I don't do anything stimulating or drink caffeine before bed. Thanks for reading.
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Hi, @dcat, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You'll note I merged your post with this discussion about melatonin, so that you could meet some of the other members talking about this topic. Please meet @contentandwell @eliana5 @ladybirder. @mbabkk @lioness may also have some input.
I'd echo what @ladybirder said earlier in this discussion about consulting your doctor or pharmacist about any potential interactions between melatonin and your other medications.
How has your sleep been lately?
@dcat With what all you take at night I would certainly ask your pharmacist about them and your Dr about interactions In my opinion your pharmacist would be more knowledgeable I only take 5mg of Melotinion at night and dont have any nightmares but with all your on ask about it.Thank you Lisa
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1 Reaction@lisalucier @dcat I do take melatonin occasionally but I have no idea if it interacts with any drugs. I was told it was OK for me to use it, so presumably it does not interact with my immunosuppressants. Along with checking with your own physician, and pharmacist there is a site, drugs.com, where you can put your pharmaceuticals in and it will tell you known interactions. It also says that it may not be a complete list and to check with your healthcare provider. If it said there is an interaction I would not take something but otherwise I would check further.
I think the NP who is attached to my transplant surgeon thinks I’m a pain in the neck because I do check things with her. Too bad, this is my health.
JK
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1 Reaction@Contantandwell your health so keep asking
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2 Reactions@lioness exactly, I do.
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Our family doctor prescribed 3 to 5 mg of melatonin before bedtime for my husband, When we started my husband on melatonin, we started with 5mg. For a while I had him on 10mg with no side effects. The more you take, the less your body is able to produce on it's own. My husband does have REM sleep disorder and as a result, he has nightmares. The higher dose of melatonin helps calm the nightmares. As I understand it, he can be on up to 15 mg but we would need a neurologist to prescribe it at that dose. We do produce less melatonin naturally as we age. Here is the link to Mayo Clinic's position on Melatonin: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/melatonin-side-effects/faq-20057874#:~:text=Melatonin%20is%20generally%20safe%20for,Headache
I have read that the correct dose of melatonin is 0.5. Anything higher than that doesn't work. Take 1/2 hour before you go to sleep.
When melatonin was first discovered by MIT scientists, the university patented dosages were between 0.3 mg & 1 mg because they never imagined people would be taking dosages more than 3 times higher than the 'physiologic dose' of 0.3 mg. Ironically, it is BECAUSE MIT patented these tiny dosages that supplement companies make higher dosages. It's not that higher dosages are better for you, it's just that they would have to pay MIT a patent fee if they made their product in the range indicated in the patent!
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2 ReactionsAgree. I take .5