In the case of melatonin, less is sometimes more. The 3 mg. tablet or capsule most commonly sold is meant as an anti-oxidant, not a sleep aid. It helps some people with sleep, but it causes insomnia in many others. I think it's no accident that a smaller dosage is what works best. Imitating what nature intends is probably the best way of getting the body to cooperate.

Many other people report the same improved results with the smaller dose. I don't know the mechanism that causes this, but I have a theory. There is (or was) a research project at Johns Hopkins University in which women were given 75 mg. for contraceptive purposes. You would think these women would have walked around in a stupor all day, but apparently they did not. I suspect the reason is that overloading the melatonin receptors makes them shut down, eliminating the sleep benefit of a smaller dose.

Since melatonin is a hormone, it can affect many internal body processes. Those with depression might experience worsening symptoms. Reported melatonin side effects include headaches, nausea, depression, nightmares and vivid dreams, irritability, abdominal cramps, decreased sex drive and dizziness.

Bottom line, don't overdo it!

"How much melatonin is too much?"

If you don't wake up the next day... that is too much.

OK OK..

The recommended dose.. and check the label for YOUR kind... is 5 mg. a night... MAXIMUM.

If your doctor tells you different.. then do what THEY say.

The problem is.. there are different brands and a HUGE difference in the way they work.

After making others experiment with it.. giving them different brands they didn't know which they got..

And noticing a BIG difference between them myself before doing that..

I found.. hands down... the BEST brand was.. by far...

Source Naturals... TIME RELEASED... 3 mg. tablets.

MUST be TIME RELEASED!!! Otherwise you wake up too soon.

And we tried 4 different brands.. and all who tried them reported back that Source Naturals worked the best.. even though they didn't know at the time which brand they were taking.

Tablets worked well and could easily be snapped in half with your fingers if less of a dose was needed.. or more of a dose was needed to add to a full tablet.

Hope that helps.

I am NOT a doctor.

I had been taking ambien to sleep (couple of months), but I would wake up in the morning feeling sluggish for the entire day. No motivation whatsoever. I didn't make the connection that ambien was the cause until recently. Just thought I was taking a nosedive from lyme. Pffffffft. I should have put two and two together.

I took melatonin, not really believing that it would help me sleep. Lights out and three minutes later I'm zonked. Zzzzzzzzz. But I ran into yet another problem. I'm waking up at 4:30 or 5:30 unable to go back to sleep. Waaaaayyy too early for this girl.

Time released is the answer, huh? Well then . . . I'm off to go find a bottle of Source Naturals.

Thank you everyone!

I know I can get them somewhere, but I want a GOOD price like before! Thanks!

Why? Melatonin is involved in the sleep process, why wouldn't it be helpful? During sleep serotonin is converted to melatonin and during wakefulness melatonin is converted to serotonin.

However, the person with depression may not be able to convert melatonin into serotonin effectively and melatonin may build up worsening depression and causing the person to oversleep. If use of melatonin makes you feel either sleepy or more depressed during the day, either cut back on the dosage or stop taking it.

When sleep eludes you, think "400 mg magnesium as magnesium glycinate or citrate", act, and sleep for at least 4 more hours.''
http://www.coldcure.com/html/dep.html

``Other things to try (for sleep): foods with naturally occurring tryptophan in high amounts; calcium citrate and magnesium citrate - 1,200mg of each taken anytime after dinner, 40mg of the B complex; and 200mg of inositol. Also, 200mcg of chromium in the evening will help stabilize your blood sugar level.'' (6)

Above source (#6) is:

(4) Get Healthy Now! With Gary Null by Gary Null. Published 1999 by Seven Stories Press,
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013.

Technically...this is what is happening:

Tryptophan (amino acid) + B6, B12, vitamin C, Ca, Mg and zinc -> L tryptophan -> 5 HTP -> serotonin + N-acetylserotonin and N-acetyltransferase (enzymes) -> melatonin produced in the pineal gland.

Read about the Serotonin-Cycle (REM sleep) here:
http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/pinealstory.htm

BB....how much?

they have both 2 mg & 3 mg time release by Source Naturals. They are a great company, their shipping is lightening fast, and the customer service is superb.

For 20% off, type in "thyroidbonus" into the code place. Found that code on the net, use it everytime, and get 20% off the prices which are already quite good.