I take melatonin because it is recommended in the GTD for gatherers. Should gatherers be worried about long-term melatonin use?

I don't want any side-effects!

The only side effect I've heard of is that taking melatonin long-term is that it might interfere with your body's own production of melatonin. Ideally, melatonin should only be used for a few days at a time, to re-set your body clock after you've  gotten off schedule.

I give it to my son this way; he's off schedule from no school all week, then he'll be up past midnight on NYE, and will have to go to bed early Monday night for school on Tuesday. He won't be able to fall asleep on time without a little help. After a couple of days of going to bed and getting up on time, he'll no longer need it.

Unfortunately, I've already destroyed my own ability to make melatonin. Some nights, if I take enough 5-HTP and have a little bit of carbs at night, I'll be able to sleep. Most of the time, though, I'll be tired, lie in bed, and NOT sleep unless I take the melatonin. I hate it- I can totally screw up my schedule if I get distracted at night and forget to take a pill. But, for the time being, taking the pills and getting enough sleep is better for my overall health than not sleeping.

I use it once in a while, but try not to rely upon it as it can deplete your body's ability to produce melatonin on its own, from what I understand, as Ruthie says.  Try exercise during the day to make you more tired at night.  Try deep breathing to help you relax before bed.

It stops working anyways.

Type O's should try Valerian tincture or whatever is available. My friend gets KNOCKED OUT from it.

Valerian makes me dopey and can leave me "hung over" the next morning, but it won't reliably help me to actually fall asleep. I've been using melatonin at bedtime for YEARS and it still works. I've read that valerian shouldn't be used every night for too long or that stops working.

We're all individuals. What works for one may not work for another. Melatonin is something our bodies are supposed to make anyway.

methyl 12 guys!

http://www.4yourtype.com/methylb12.asp

I like the ideas by Dr D that all items are only used for a month or so.. makes sense.. why not find foods that have Melatonin in them.. 'Thinking' about it might be a good first step..

http://www.livestrong.com/arti.....ow&utm_medium=a1

Valerian gave me an itchy throat when I tried it years ago.
When I tried melatonin, I pinched off about 1/20th or less of the pill & took it. I don't remember if it helped me sleep, but when I woke up, I saw a spot in the middle of my field of vision which went away soon. That happened several different times, so I am scared of anything that would affect my eyes(or brain)in such a tiny amount.
After these years, I would like to hear what that was all about!

I have been taking 5 mg of melatonin every night since 2004.  Granted, my gut is inflamed which I think it has been for a very long time but I don't think the melatonin has anything to do with that.  Other than that, I don't have any side effects.  ND told me to keep taking it.  Maybe I will be weaned off of it once I get better.

I tried taking Valerian.  It made me feel groggy and I couldn't fall asleep.

Like ruthiegirl said, we are all individuals and it may not work for you but it helps me fall asleep.

interesting link, Lola! (down toward the bottom of the article...)

Quoted from ruthiegirl

Unfortunately, I've already destroyed my own ability to make melatonin. Some nights, if I take enough 5-HTP and have a little bit of carbs at night, I'll be able to sleep. Most of the time, though, I'll be tired, lie in bed, and NOT sleep unless I take the melatonin.

Do you know what messed it up for you?  In my own experience, taking melatonin helps me to get to sleep but I wake up again 4-5 hours later as it wears off.

No idea, but it happened at some point during the time I was eating wrong for my type (way too little meat, too much wheat and dairy) and on numerous psychiatric medications. I know I had problems with reccurrant insomnia before I got pregnant with my son (it's part of why charting got messed up and I couldn't pinpoint the date of conception) but I can't recall what I did for sleep while pg and nursing. It may have been "off and on" insomnia in those days. I suspect it might have been the Prozac (started when nursing DS) that really screwed up my melatonin production, since that drug keeps seratonin from being converted into melatonin.

Are you still on any meds now?  Do you sleep in a dark room?

I'm no longer on any meds. My room isn't fully dark- I have large windows in my bedrooms, street lights outside (not to mention neighbors who don't always turn their outside lights off at appropriate times) and my blinds aren't the best quality. I'd love to get "blackout curtains" to go over the blinds, but it's simply not in the budget right now.

I had the problem with insomnia even before we moved (6.5 years ago) when my bedroom was in the basement and the neighborhood much darker.

Well that stinks.

eat you more of your carbs and fats at night..carbs are calming and increases serotonin and helps you sleep...good probiotics for your type also helps increase serotonin production....protein is stimulating so go easy on protein at night

I don't know about this but I have read somewhere that melatonin interfere with blood clothing which O`s tend to counter. But I`m not a GTD or a Swami user for now.

http://www.westonplasticsurgery.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/SupplementandDrugInformation.pdf

Quoted from Goldie

I like the ideas by Dr D that all items are only used for a month or so.. makes sense.. why not find foods that have Melatonin in them.. 'Thinking' about it might be a good first step..

http://www.livestrong.com/arti.....ow&utm_medium=a1

Cherry juice supposedly has melatonin in it.

http://www.fyiliving.com/health/sleep/insomnia/cherry-juice-may-cure-insomnia/

Quoted from ruthiegirl

I'm no longer on any meds. My room isn't fully dark- I have large windows in my bedrooms, street lights outside (not to mention neighbors who don't always turn their outside lights off at appropriate times) and my blinds aren't the best quality. I'd love to get "blackout curtains" to go over the blinds, but it's simply not in the budget right now.

I had the problem with insomnia even before we moved (6.5 years ago) when my bedroom was in the basement and the neighborhood much darker.

ruthiegirl....I have problems with insomnia....blackout windows are a must for me. DH cut a big pc of styrofoam sheet and placed in the window behind the blinds....it's awesome, but I still take supps for sleep inc. melatonin.

Quoted from TJ

Do you know what messed it up for you?  In my own experience, taking melatonin helps me to get to sleep but I wake up again 4-5 hours later as it wears off.

There are timed release or two stage release melatonin supplements available, and in very low doses.  NOW and Jarrow (I believe) both sell 1 mg.