Does melatonin work?

i sleep through everything with melatonin! and wake up ready to destroy the day! though...i've heard of people that hate it. something you gotta try. like dark beer..some people like it, some don't

As for the melatonin - there's a 10mg time release that works REALLLLY well for me. 5 mg wasn't enough for me and the 10mg puts me to sleep but I don't stay asleep.

Try the 5mg and go from there. Good luck to the OP.

OP: I have the 5 mg pills and I usually split them in half when I'm struggling to sleep...which is a couple nights a week. If I'm still wired and mind-racing after an hour, I'll take the other half. I've suffered from some sleep issues since the birth of my first kidlet, I was prescribed Ambien, but I hated it.

Oh, and NutellaBrah, I *do* lift, so your, "do you even lift?" argument is invalid.

Melatonin is great. The thing you need to remember is that it needs to be taken at bedtime for about 1 week to 2 weeks before you see the full effect. You can start at 1 mg and go all the way up to 10 mg. As someone said before, the disolvable kind works better than the digested kind and if you can take it on an empty stomach it works even better. Give yourself 8-9 hours from when you take it until you need to function. It can make you drowsy in the AM but after a week or two that side effect is gone. In addition if you are a migraine or headache sufferer start at low doses. Another great thing to try with it is Magnesium which I think someone also suggested. If you want to go even more homeopathic try chamomile tea and yoga right before bed (haters gonna hate on this one.)

Most of all, talk to your doctor. This can be a signal of something more worrisome such as Hypothyroidism.

Other adjustments:
No TV, cell phone or laptop 1 hour before bed
Exercise daily, cardio, lifting, etc can help but give yourself good recovery time
Do not eat within 4 hours of going to sleep
No caffeine after 2 pm
No water or carbs after 6pm
Remember the bedroom is for sleep and sex, nothing else.

I used to take up to 6mg per night when I had insomnia. It would help me fall asleep, but I would still wake up during the night. I couldn't turn my brain off. I suffered for many months, and the melatonin slowly stopped working.

The thing that finally worked for me... ear plugs. I started to notice my brain would focus on anything it could, even quiet ambient noises like the heat/air switching on, cars passing, even my significant other's breathing pattern. Earplugs completely blocked out everything, and would allow me to sleep through the night. I've been wearing them every night for about 3 years now. I've become so used to them, I basically black out as soon as I put them in lol. The only downside is that I have a lot of trouble falling asleep without them (if I forget to pack them while traveling for example)

Good luck!

I have been using Melatonin for 2 years now and have always split my 5 mg. in half. When I used the larger dose I felt groggy in the morning. Of course everyone is different. I did see an excerpt on Dr. Oz once and apparently the doctor said that Melatonin is a hormone and anything above 2mg. is of no value anyway and will leave you with feeling like you have a hangover the next morning.
The doctor said that the only people that would benefit from a slightly larger dose would be seniors because they do not produce as much Melatonin as they get older and individuals with Autism/ADD etc. that have significant sleep issues.
I take mine about half hour before bed and turn the TV off etc.
Good luck!:

Yes, and with no side effects. I only use it once every couple of months.

I lived with insomnia since I was a little kid, and I only finally addressed it a few years ago. I highly recommend the professional and objective attention of a mental health counselor, not necessarily a medical doctor. A counselor will dig into the reasons behind why your sleep is disturbed, and what you can change in your daily routine to improve your "sleep hygene." Melatonin was one of the things I tried, and I don't know if it is placebo effect or not, but it helped. Funny I've seen studies that show that placebo effect works even if you know/believe that you are getting the placebo. The mind loves to trick itself

Some of the things recommended for me:

30-60 minutes before bedtime:
Melatonin, if you want to try it
Brief/easy/relaxing stretches
A warm, non-caffeinated beverage (tea, chamomile, just warm water, etc.)
Write a list of the things you are worrying about, or the things you need to do in the morning (gets it out of your head, so you aren't worrying all night that you will forget it)
Turn off all electronics and overhead lights

At bedtime:
As quiet and dark as you can manage in your sleeping area
A glass of water by the bedside, so you aren't forced to get up and go to the kitchen in the middle of the night
15 minute meditation. I use the Mountain Cabin audio found at http://www.excelatlife.com/downloads.htm

My insomnia was a symptom of a deeper problem, but sleep hygiene is important for everyone. I also recommend tracking your sleep on a daily basis, as this helps me realize when my bedtime is drifting too late, or when I am sacrificing sleep for schoolwork, etc. I use a phone app called SleepBot.

**EDIT**
Also, of course, I was recommended to continue exercising, because it improves mood and general health, and both of these are good for sleep. No mention of some magical lifting routine, just good regular exercise that you enjoy.