12 replies to this topic

[zygut]

I don't have trouble sleeping, in fact I was diagnosed with mild narcolepsy (without the cataplexy). Getting to sleep is easy. My problem is that I'm incredibly groggy in the morning as if I had not slept enough at all. This happens no matter how many hours of sleep I get, how regular my sleep rhythms are, how much sun I get, how much exercise I do. I eat a vegetarian diet, which is fairly healthy.

Someone suggested that taking a magnesium supplement (250-500mg/night) and l-lysine (500mg/night) will aid in producing good quality sleep.... This sounded like a topic for imminist! Would you agree that this is true? Or is there some other suggested supplements that I should try? I've been given a scrip for modafinil and taking it has helped immensely. I'm going to be experimenting with racetams (along with choline) soon, but none of these seem related to my sleep quality issue.

[zygut]

Just to add some additional information... I have blackout blinds, which help keep out secondary light sources. I tried to wear earplugs to reduce noise, but they were too annoying to wear. However, I do have an air purifier which works great for white noise generation. This sort of advice I'm not needing, as I am seeing a sleep doctor to who has recommended a number of these steps, which have helped. However, what I am looking for is some supplement information.

[stephen_b]

Glycine helps me with sleep quality and the time it takes to fall asleep. I hadn't heard of a connection between lysine and sleep.

[Lufega]

Lysine increases calcium retention and production of carnitine so I find it to be a little stimulating when I take it. I take 3 grams in the morning. Instead, consider using Arginine for sleep. Arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide which is directly involved with sleep. Search the forum.

[Gerald W. Gaston]

"The amino acid lysine competes with tryptophan in the same oxidative degradation pathway. This means that in the presence (addition) of sufficient lysine (25% of tryptophan dosage), less tryptophan is broken down through oxidation."

That is in my sleep "notes". I'm pretty sure it came from a LEF article.

Edited by frankbuzin, 12 January 2011 - 04:23 AM.

[Neal Cullum]

Magnesium is suppose to encourage deeper sleep. Take magnesium (not sure which is best but citrate is good) and use it on skin as well. Tryptophan and valerian root has helped me alot as well.

[ZRTMWA]

Just to add some additional information... I have blackout blinds, which help keep out secondary light sources. I tried to wear earplugs to reduce noise, but they were too annoying to wear. However, I do have an air purifier which works great for white noise generation. This sort of advice I'm not needing, as I am seeing a sleep doctor to who has recommended a number of these steps, which have helped. However, what I am looking for is some supplement information.

Don't use the blinds! Well at least if you are getting up in the morning. Your natural response to the light cycle will help wake you up. Also, try and go to bed and wake up around the same time every day.

Edited by ZRTMWA, 12 January 2012 - 10:28 PM.

[Logan]

How about intense exercise followed by a meditative stretch 4 or 5 hours before sleep?

Why aren't you trying melatonin? Or have you already?

[curiouskid23]

I am a vegetarian and I was always tired no matter how much sleep I got. I think it was caused by an iron deficiency (which is probable given your vegetarian diet). I took an iron supplement and I immediately had more energy.

If you are getting lots of sleep, then how could sleep be the problem? Try taking an iron supplement.

[jetmango]

old topic but oh well...

 

lysine acts on serotonin, and serotonin is metabolised to melatonin - thats why it helps with sleep!

[Lufega]

 

 

L-lysine is a barbiturate-like anticonvulsant and modulator of the benzodiazepine receptor.

 

Abstract

Our earlier observations showed that L-lysine enhanced the activity of diazepam against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and increased the affinity of benzodiazepine receptor binding in a manner additive to that caused by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The present paper provides additional evidence to show that L-lysine has central nervous system depressant-like characteristics. L-lysine enhanced [3H]flunitrazepam (FTZ) binding in brain membranes was dose-dependent and stimulated by chloride, bromide and iodide, but not fluoride. Enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding by L-lysine at a fixed concentration was increased by GABA but inhibited by pentobarbital between 10(-7) to 10(-3)M. While GABA enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding was inhibited by the GABA mimetics imidazole acetic acid and tetrahydroisoxazol pyridinol, the enhancement by pentobarbital and L-lysine of [3H]FTZ binding was dose-dependently increased by these two GABA mimetics. The above results suggest that L-lysine and pentobarbital acted at the same site of the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex which was different from the GABA binding site. The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist imidazodiazepine Ro15-1788 blocked the antiseizure activity of diazepam against PTZ. Similar to pentobarbital, the anti-PTZ effect of L-lysine was not blocked by Ro15-1788. Picrotoxinin and the GABA, receptor antagonist bicuculline partially inhibited L-lysine's enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding with the IC50s of 2 microM and 0.1 microM, respectively. The convulsant benzodiazepine Ro5-3663 dose-dependently inhibited the enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding by L-lysine. This article shows the basic amino acid L-lysine to have a central nervous system depressant characteristics with an anti-PTZ seizure activity and an enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding similar to that of barbiturates but different from GABA.

 

Edited by Lufega, 14 April 2015 - 02:56 PM.

[jetmango]

 

Also:

 

http://www.livestron...ency-serotonin/

http://www.pnas.org/...0/26/15370.full

http://www.lef.org/P...Anxiety/Page-02

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysine

 

L-Lysine acts like a partial serotonin receptor 4 antagonist and inhibits serotonin-mediated intestinal pathologies and anxiety in rats

 

Edited by mangoa, 14 April 2015 - 03:03 PM.

[sagafemina]

Melatonin is the obvious first.  However, you optimally need either a long acting form (or short AND long acting form) to get to sleep and stay asleep for the whole night. 

Lysine is often taken with alphaketoglutarate or "orthoketoglutarate" as a growth hormone secretagogue, preferably on an empty stomach (for several hours).  Growth Hormone definitely improves sleep quantity and quality.  I can always tell when I've taken it, as I predictably have very vivid dreams and may sleep all nght without even moving.  Next day, joints are a bit looser (sometimes painful) and (facial) skin definitely oilier.