Just for your information Melatonin reduces LH release so take it with caution:http://www.biomed.cas.cz/physiolres/pdf/47/47_329.pdf
Also, there is such a thing as terminal insomnia. It's quite interesting actually: http://en.wikipedia....milial_insomnia
That kind of insomnia is different from mine (fortunately).
I'm taking 10mg Valium each night + Tinnitus formula (1.90mg Melatonin, 236mg Magnesium, 54mg Ginkgo Biloba)
Next night I'll stop taking the Tinnitus formula and see what happens.
Thank you again
If you're taking valium then it could also be valium tolerance, how long have you been using it?
I've been taking valium for 2 weeks. (I switched from Ativan to Valium).But I had been taking Ativan 1mg for 6 months. The reason I swicthed was because Valium has a longer life and can be withdrawn a bit easier (or at least that's what I read). The other reason I switched was because I read that Ativan could be the cause of my tinnitus
Thank you
2 weeks is already too much, benzos are supposed to be used punctually in cases of temporary extreme anxiety/insomnia and not as a permanent sleep aid.
If I were, I would withdraw as early as you can before it gets worse.
Besides since you're in Spain you can buy off prescription Lioresal (baclofen), it's less dangerous than benzos and there is less addiction.
If you're looking for non-addictive sleep aids :
- melatonin
- magnesium
- glycine
- taurine (though long term it might cause withdrawals)
- vitamin B6
- cholinergics (not to be taken before sleep)
- brainwave synchronization
- last but not least, eating carbs 1h before sleep
to me cholinergics are my favorite, I can sleep very easily and onset comes within minutes.
I'm on benzos since june 2012 (Lorazepam 1mg) and I recently switched to Valium 10mg
I'm aware of how damaging benzos are so I'm starting to withdraw by reducing 2.5mg each week.
Anyways, last night I tried just melatonin alone (1.5mg) and my early awakening improved since I woke up at 7am (I fall asleep at 2) so is not bad at all. The hangover feeling is a bit uncomfortable and the vivid dreams too. I'll try with a lower dose.
I used the Neuro Programmer and wow, that worked unexpectedly well to induce sleep.
Next week I'm going to be experimenting with the alternatives you mentioned. By the way, what do you mean by cholinergics?
Thank you so much for your interest
PD: I'm already taking Magnesium at mealtime (along with calcium and vit. D in a Jarrow's formula) and that does wonders for my anxiety
For melatonin, several studies say that 350-700mcg are the most effective dosages, taking 10mg won't be more effective than 500mcg plus it will make you drowsy all the day. (that's the hangover feeling you experience)
Cholinergics enhance acetylcholine neurotransmission, it helps lowers excessive excitatory neurotransmission and that's why it can help with the sleep-wake cycle, there are a lot of them :
- soy lecithin (that you can buy in a supermarket)
- phosphatidylcholine
- choline bitartrate/citrate
- phosphatidylserine
I was a chronic insomniac too, it was taking for me at least 45mins-1 hour to sleep sometimes 2 hours, now I just lay on the bed and 3-5mins later I'm already sleeping. this occured thanks to the soy lecithin and choline bitartrate I take. I don't even need to take it everyday just from time to time.
It mustn't be taken at night or else it will wake you up, you have to take it in the morning.
You can also find your choline naturally in foods :
http://en.wikipedia....rces_of_choline
Edited by renfr, 27 January 2013 - 11:22 AM.