Melatonin

[allmymarbles]

Are there any problems associated with the long-term use of melatonin?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Could be and Good Luck..:)

[allmymarbles]

Every time you reply there is a small snippet of helpful information. I'll do my best with it. But here is another obstacle. Whereas cortisol should fall during the day, mine rises. I think this condition is improving, but slowly. Could the melalonin be forcing a correction? My sleep very very slowly improves

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

I understand what you are going through. But try to recreate the environment. There is a circadian rhythm for all living organisms. It is a 24 hour cycle rhythm and the biological clock within that individual adapts to this rhythm. If you observe this rhythm, the transition happens gradually, like the daylight subsides slowly into darkness and the sounds too gradually mellow down into the night. These changes condition us and promote sleep. So, nearing bedtime, do not engage in activities like exercise or dancing or other means that can keep you active. And try to absorb this rhythm, it could promote good sleep.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[allmymarbles]

Again many thanks for your helpful advice. What I failed to mention was that many years ago I suffered severe sleep deprivation (non-sleeping baby). This led to an aborted stroke. From that time on I had problems with sleep. Before that I slept like the dead for 9 or 10 hours a night (just like my brothers and sisters) and was in tip-top health. I believe there was some damage to my nervous system at that time. There is no psychological element to my sleep problem that anyone can find. But I don't stop trying. What we do know is that I do not have an internal clock. But I never did, not even before the sleep deprivation episode.

I am an interesting case, but I would rather be cured.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament. If its helping you, you can continue to use the combination for sometime. But its best replaced with natural alternatives, like sleep hygiene, relaxation therapy, stimulus control, and sleep restriction which are referred to as cognitive behavioral therapies. As these measures help to restore your sleep rhythm, the medications can be withdrawn. Please discuss this with your doctor am sure he will provide further assistance.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[allmymarbles]

Many thanks for your reply. I suffered for decades from insomnia, at one point so serious that I suffered short-term memory loss. Nothing seemed to help. Not Ambien. Not melatonin. Not Halcien. Nothing. Then I started to take a Lugol's solution supplement. That helped the insomnia somewhat. With that improvement I tried melatonin again with better results. I have been taking the melatonin (2 mg.) for about six months and am loathe to give it up. I still don't sleep like a baby, but now I can manage pretty well.