Melatonin

(jilliangordona) #1

Who here takes melatonin? One of my biggest struggles with keto I just haven’t had the energy every talks about. I eat lots of calories, take lots of electrolytes, etc. I was feeling great all week after an extended fast, and last night after a long, eventful day I took a melatonin, something I do semi regularly. Today I was EXHAUSTED, like I have been on and off for months. I’m curious if anyone else has ever felt negative effects. I take a 3mg dose, and some reading I have been doing doesn’t look too positive for the supplement.

Edit: wanted to add thyroids levels, vitamin D, and b12 levels are all good, and I supplement the latter two.

#2

I do! I never thought I would take anything but I slept well after taking it once, and that was it - I haven’t wanted to skip it for one night.

But once, a while ago, I took a supplement that contained melatonin and before I ruled it out as a culprit, I dug around enough to discover out that some folks do have a paradoxical reaction. I don’t know if it makes sense that you would respond differently at some times than others, but… who knows. I swear it often seems to me that we’re ruled by an incredibly complex series of biochemical events and interactions, and sometimes we understand just enough to think we actually know what’s going on under the hood.

Re using melatonin: I read some things that concerned me, others that were reassuring. I’m planning to wean myself off of it once it warms up in my area and I can actually get some early morning sunlight.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling, Jillian. You’re such a bright presence on here!
hugs to you! I hope you figure this out

(Karen) #3

I spend my days on the computer. I use melatonine every night

(Andrew Anderson) #4

I use it most week nights. I think it helps me quickly drift off.

(Erin Macfarland ) #5

I take Doc Parsley’s Sleep Remedy, which is a special formulation that does include some melatonin. I’m a horrible sleeper and it’s the only thing that helps me sleep and not feel groggy the next day.

#6

@Emacfarland I wanted SO much for that to work for me (it didn’t), but lots of people seem to love it.

(jilliangordona) #7

Thanks for your kind words! . I’m not sure if I respond at different times, this is simply the first time I made the connection that melatonin could be the culprit of my exhaustion

(Allie) #8

I’ve never taken it and won’t since being warned that supplementation can discourage your body from making its own melatonin so does more harm than good long term.

I sometimes take ZMA, took GABA last night as I’ve been ill with a horrible cold all week and not sleeping as I can’t breath. Still didn’t sleep.

I can’t recommend a book called Sleep Smarter highly enough, it’s by Shawn Stevenson. His podcast is The Model Health Show.

(Olivia) #9

Regular melatonin supplementation sounds like a car crash waiting to happen. I thought its primarily use was combatting jetlag? Have you considered natural herbs and teas such as valerian root or St John’s wort?

(jilliangordona) #10

Honestly I’ve never had a huge problem with insomnia, I was taking it to help me go to sleep earlier so I could also wake up earlier. I see now how silly that was.

Unfortunately many people use it for general insomnia, which is not its intended use.