randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i have been taking elavil but am considering stopping taking it. it makes my mouth extremely dry and i understand it's not good for heart patients.
somebody suggested and i've read alot about melatonin and valerian.
anybody know anything about these two?
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Melatonin is wonderful. My daughter's LLMD recommended she take it to help her sleep. Now we all take it in the family.
Deb g
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Randi,
I suggest starting with just one or the other.
Melatonin, try a very low dose first (1 mg) an hour before bed - say at 9 - 10 pm.
Sublingual is best absorbed. As a little pill or drops.
Then, just before bed, another one. Wait about 10 minutes and brush your teeth so that the lactose in the sublingual tablet or the glycerine in the drops is not going to affect teeth during sleep.
You might find drops so that a smaller dose can be achieved.
Same for Valerian. I suggest a non-alcohol (glycerine) TINCTURE - start with ONE DROP in 1/2 cup water. WIth drops, you can avoid too much, as that can cause a hangover for some but it really can cause nearly instant relaxation.
The first time you use it, make it a night where you have no morning driving. Just to be sure you your body reacts. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
We have been doing melatonin for years for sleep. We add it with prescription meds at this point. We can go up to 9 mgs. I bought a dual release melatonin product from Swanson's that I like as it helps me stay asleep. My husband likes the Schiff brand.
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
Hello ~ i take 1 mg. of melatonin before bed, and then with herbs i rotate them. Valerian can be helpful, but i do not recommend making it a nightly habit. You can try some high quality kava (mountain rose herbs or herb pharm are high quality), skullcap, passionflower or catnip.
I'm very sensitive and can handle these, sometimes i'll take a capsule of eclectic institute brand skullcap and a capsule of kava, or a few drops of catnip tincture (after letting it sit in hot water) and a capsule of valerian.
Keebler's idea of starting with glycerin drops slowly is a great idea.
Peace and ease ~
Posts: 164 | From North America | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
Hello ~ i take 1 mg. of melatonin before bed, and then with herbs i rotate them. Valerian can be helpful, but i do not recommend making it a nightly habit. You can try some high quality kava (mountain rose herbs or herb pharm are high quality), skullcap, passionflower or catnip.
I'm very sensitive and can handle these, sometimes i'll take a capsule of eclectic institute brand skullcap and a capsule of kava, or a few drops of catnip tincture (after letting it sit in hot water) and a capsule of valerian.
Keebler's idea of starting with glycerin drops slowly is a great idea.
Peace and ease ~
Posts: 164 | From North America | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
I have tried so many different kinds of sleep aids, but none really work that well for me.
The best so far has been Ambien, but I still wake up after a few hours, even with the extended release.
I believe the valerian is what causes - at least for me - extreme grogginess in the mornings; it's awful!
Posts: 217 | From Earth | Registered: Feb 2010
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
Valerian is also a muscle relaxer. I used it and melatonin but after awhile neither worked any more. Now they give me a bad headache if I take them.
Another good herb, the best I believe, is Corydalis root which you can get in Zhang's Herbsom. I used it for two years and it worked very well. It is also a pain killer.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
Melatonin by itself did not work for me.I have to take slow release melatonin with L-tryptophan. It works very well.It also helps me with the mood during the day. I feel very peaceful and happy.
Posts: 443 | From Montreal, Canada | Registered: Oct 2009
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