PMR and sleep problems: Has anyone used melatonin?

How many mg and when to get good night's sleep?
I'm taking 2mg before bed. Not working too well. Still waking every couple hours, and taking 2 more mg every time, which still doesn't seem to work. Suggestions?

5mg helped me a little.
10mg made me a zombie the whole next day.

But ever since I had a stroke nearly eight years ago, my sleep has been terrible.

Have you tried chamomile tea. I’ve taken melatonin. If you take it daily for few weeks, it stops working.

I take the 10MG melatonin OTC. The lower doses like 5MG does not work on me as well as the 10MG. 1 tab each night about 30 minutes before I want to go to sleep. It takes a bit of time for the melatonin to work on me so that I can fall asleep easily. I read that taking melatonin over a long period will sometimes be less effective. I will not take the melatonin for a week or so and than go back on it at bedtime.

Everyone is different, but the professionals state that “Less us more with melatonin.” I tapered from 10 mg to 2 mg and PRESTO I am sleeping a lot better. Also, go for a time release melatonin. They are out there.

My understanding is higher melatonin doses cause the body to stop producing its own melatonin. I take 3mg and even take periodic breaks from that. I’m sleeping well now.

@scottrl Hi Scott, I have REM sleep behavior disorder and sleep apnea. I use a CPAP machine and my Dr. almost killed me. He gave me a prescription of Clonazepam to help me sleep and it caused my airway to collapse. Then a pharmacist told me to try melatonin BUT only Nature Made brand. You may be taking too high or too low of a dosage because the stuff is unregulated. Since melatonin isn't FDA approved or regulated you don't know what you're getting. Nature Made has third party investigating companies that do quality control and are trusted most because of it. Give that brand a shot and see what you think.

@sbcarcht Just remember that these products are unregulated by the FDA. Studies found by the Mayo Clinic and the FDA that most supplements don't have the exact amount of products in the capsule or pill. Some are way over or way under the mgs stated in the label. You're best bet is to find products like Nature Made supplements that have 3rd party investigating companies that check the quality.

@peter51f Be sure to find the supplements that have third party investigating companies that will give quality control. Since all supplements are not FDA regulated you don't know what they are putting in the pills.

@malebreastcancer47 Product inconsistency: Over-the-counter supplements (especially gummies) are not strictly regulated by the FDA. Studies show many brands contain wildly inaccurate amounts of melatonin—sometimes far more or less than advertised—meaning your dose may have changed without your knowledge. Find a brand like Nature Made that had 3rd party companies that do quality control.