Melatonin as a Sleep Aid

I take melatonin every night and it works wonders. I used to have such an awfully difficult time trying to fall asleep, but within 20 minutes I become tired enough that I can actually go to bed. It's lovely.

Hey guys! My husband bought me a bottle of melatonin for nights I have trouble sleeping (usually once or twice a week). I used to have some pretty bad anxiety, so my doctor prescribed me a very low dose of Xanax to help me out on those nights. I never used up the bottle, so the pills were getting ready to expire. Hence the melatonin. ANYWAY, I'm wondering if any of you have ever tried it and if you had any strange reactions to it. I've done a little research online to make sure I'm not a person that shouldn't be taking it, but I want testimonials before I try it. Any opinions?

i use valerian root works great and is good for anxiety too

I have lots of trouble sleeping...but dont want to resort to sleeping pills in fear that I will get addicted. I have had numerous people suggest taking melatonin. Its all natural - in fact, your body produces it. Some people dont produce enough melatonin, therefore need to take pills to help.

The only thing I am unaware of is a healthy and safe amount to take. I believe they sell bottles in 3mg and 5mg. I also have trouble sleeping through the night, my aunt suggested I take extended release melatonin - she suggest that after I just bought a new bottle, so I have yet to try it.

Melatonin is wonderful, but remember to take it 2 hours before you want to be sleeping. I have found that 6mg works well to help me fall asleep and keep me asleep all night. And no Tylenol PM hangover! I have taken every sleep aid there is and this is the only one that doesn't leave me just dying in the morning, struggling to get out of bed and barely able to function for hours.

I have worked in restaurants for years which means lots of late nights for me as ive gotten older sleep was harder and harder so i asked a nurse friend of mine and she suggested melatonin so i got the 5mg and i love it
I am a stay at home mom now and when i have lots of anxiety it works great i just cant take it too late cause it will keep we asleep late in the day.
It is great!!!!

I take 1 mg tablets occasionally when I haven't been sleeping well or if I've been working late and need to reset my internal clock. 1 tablet makes me drowsy fairly quickly, and I do tend to fall asleep pretty quick, but I've noticed I have stranger and more vivid dreams when I take it....and I tend to feel a little groggy in the morning just like I do with an ordinary sleeping pill.

I have taken melatonin for about 4 years now. Not nightly, but at times, I have taken it every night. Works wonders and does not leave me groggy in the morning. I highly recommend!

I use melatonin occasionally, when I think I'm too keyed up to get to sleep easily. I take either a 3mg or a 6mg pill. If I have to be up early for work, I take the 3mg. I get to sleep within an hour after taking it...it really helps me relax and just drift off. And I never have the morning groggy feeling.

I also read up on valerian root, and apparently it can make a drug test show up positive for benzodiazepines (xanax, ativan, etc), so if you work in a place that drug tests randomly, or have an interview coming up that may require a pee sample, you may wanna stay away from that one.

Melatonin has no such issues. So I stick with that!

Did nothing for me, but then again my problem is not getting to sleep it's staying asleep.

Nice to know I'm not the only one. I had lots of people tell me that it works great, so I bought some when I was having trouble sleeping... and still couldn't sleep.

melatonin pills have been my SAVING GRACE! especially since I'm in college.

It is non-addictive, works in 15 minutes, completely natural...not sure what more you could ask for. I can go weeks or months without taking them, and once I get stressed and start having trouble sleeping, i take 2 mg a night and once my sleeping schedule gets back, i stop taking them. it's great stuff, i highly suggest it!!

and I do tend to have some super vivid dreams when I take melatonin :P

It has had no side effects for me, except it helps me to fall asleep! I love it! And trader joes has chewable mint ones that taste really good, (haha)

I've heard before that sometimes after you start, it's hard to sleep without it? Not sure if that's true. I don't want to start a rumor but that's what I've heard.

I have gone for a few weeks taking them every night, and I can still sleep fine without them. I guess everyone will respond to them in their own way. But that's why I generally try to only take them when I know I'm gonna have trouble getting to sleep. According to studies, however, they are apparently non-habit-forming!

I take melatonin every night and love it! My back is terrible and my brain tends to overthink a lot so I was consistently not falling asleep for hours... with melatonin, I'm asleep within 20 minutes, wake up feeling refreshed and can actually wake up and function (other sleeping pills made me groggy in the morning)... Good luck!

Only drawback is it can cause vivid wild dreams, which means you're not cycling through to Stages 3 and 4 of sleep. Without proper sleep cycles, you will feel fatigued.