Do You Use Melatonin To Help You Sleep?

[theweave3162]

I have been taking Melatonin to help me sleep for quite a while now. However, recently I have been having really weird dreams.

Just for an example, I had one last night that I had an NHL hockey rink in my basement. Yes in the basement!!! I was on skates shooting pucks, and I can't even skate!

What makes this even weirder is, I would wake up and go back to sleep and the dream seems to continue. Now that is weird!

So I googled it tonight and it seems to be a common problem, so I am wondering if others may have tried it and experienced it too. I am going to try cutting back or stopping it and see what happens. Some say it will end if you stop taking it.

Another thing, most of my dreams that I do have, I remember them after all the time!

Thoughts?

[Natalka]

I have insomnia, but haven't tried melatonin because of so many side effects.

It's meant to be a short-term solution, so perhaps you've been using it too long. Or maybe the dosage was incorrect.

See what your doctor says about changing what he's suggested, see what else can be done for you.

[padyofurniture]

I have chronic insomnia as well. I'm not sure if I've tried melatonin or valerian, but the only side effect it left me was feeling really groggy the next morning. And it didn't work subsequent nights. I take Trazodone now and it's helped immensely. I always have weird dreams so the meds didn't cause them lol. Last week I had one in particular where I was punching people in the face. Better in dreams than real life, I suppose.

As Natalka mentioned, don't wait too long to ask your doctor about it. The side effects from my insomnia have caused memory loss and a lack of concentration at times. In the meantime, try some of these suggestions (WebMD):

[MrsSunshine]

my son uses it as well weave.. very rarely, once in every few months.
when he does.. he occasionally has interesting dreams as well.
lets just say he's thankfully to have had a dream... as least he was sleeping he says

[padyofurniture]

I always say that when someone tells me I was snoring all night long lol

[frugal50]

melatonin is horrible!! tried it once and never again!!

IF ...... i have to get up early the next day, i take prescription pill for the rare occasion..... works like a charm

thank God, i don't have insomnia .... i don't know how folks who have it can function!!

i only get it when im anxious.

[theweave3162]

Thank you all for the advice, it is comforting to see that I am at least not alone in this. I am going to try just half the dosage tonight and see how that works.

Again last night, more weird dreams that seemed to continue after each awakening. I won't even get into this one, it was that weird!

[xlxo]

I have a similar stuation with vitamins.... I now take vitamins during the day to avoid weird dreams at night.

My sleep quality is dependent on the number of interruptions. I avoid any fluids 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. If I'm super thristy, I reach for an orange.

Do you have a fitness tracker? I use my fitbit to graph the number of sleep hours I get in a day or week.

[theweave3162]

I have a similar stuation with vitamins.... I now take vitamins during the day to avoid weird dreams at night.

My sleep quality is dependent on the number of interruptions. I avoid any fluids 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. If I'm super thristy, I reach for an orange.

Do you have a fitness tracker? I use my fitbit to graph the number of sleep hours I get in a day or week.

Vitamins gave you weird dreams? That is a new one! Well of course I never (ahem) dreamed that Melatonin would do it either! So this is why I stay away from all the healthy stuff, too much going on! I am going to stick with my chocolate chip cookie and Dorito's diet from now on! LOL

I don't think a fitness tracker is needed for me, why track the number of hours that you sleep? Either you get sleep or you do not right? Besides, all I do is subtract a bit from 24 and that gives me the total! Not hard to track that! LOL

I am going to cut the Melatonin dosage in half tonight (new week anyways) and see how that goes and maybe ween myself on them for good.

I quit hydromorphone on my own with no withdrawal symptoms, so why not Melatonin? Hopefully it will work because sleep is fitful right now.

By the way, you know how people say they "Sleep like a baby"? Does that mean they pee themselves and wake up crying in the night? Just wondering....

[tiffy1324]

Ive been occasionally taking melatonin lately and YES ive found it does mess up your dreams. Ive even had the going back to sleep and having the same dream problem.

[theweave3162]

Well I tried none last night, could not get to sleep. Finally gave in and took one 5 mg (instead of two) and swallowed it instead of sublingual. Guess what? Weird dream!!! I have to take one tonight so I do get up early tomorrow to see my step niece open her presents from Santa (I am staying elsewhere). Tomorrow night I am home so who cares!

[xlxo]

I found hard boiled eggs help for me and here's some other suggestions...
http://www.womansday.com/health-fitn...u-sleep-114149

Otherwise, Nyquil works wonders too.

[theweave3162]

Well I don't know what happened, maybe all the planets lined up or something. I took 1 5 mg Melatonin last night and though I had a weird dream I think it was one of the best sleeps I had in months! Hoping for repeats from now on!

On another note, Merry Christmas to all my friends here at Smart Canucks! Hope you have a safe and happy holiday, no matter what your plans are!

[theweave3162]

Ahhh Nyquil! Yes that stuff is wonderful stuff!

[Lynn49]

I've tried melatonin in the past..no weird dreams that I recall, I just found that it didn't help me fall asleep. For the occasional night I just take a Gravol...works perfectly, no drowsy mornings..