Melatonin Experience

[PC1989]

I saw momof3boys post on melatonin and though I had a previous bad experience with it, I've been having sleep trouble (and loud neighbor trouble). I decided to try it again to see what would happen. I think I provoked a seizure. (As I post this post I am having some intense deja vu)

Took a 3mg pill and cut it in half. Took roughly 1.5mg at 8:30pm last night.

It kicked in between 9 and 9:30. I fell asleep, but woke up shaking. I fell asleep again, but then woke up feeling VERY out of it, went to the bathroom and don't remember much, had a headache, and severe myoclonic jerking / possible seizure. A motorcycle zoomed down the road and the vibration of the noise made my body feel like a church bell. My shoulders jerked rapidly and my legs were in a lot of pain. Felt like a bad drug trip.

[Nakamova]

Yes, melatonin can be unpredictable that way -- great for some folks, but seizure-provoking for others. If you still want to try, I recommend that you go even lower ( such as a .5 mg dose). But given it's effect on you, other sleep remedies might be more appealing. Have you tried other things like foods with tryptophan (warm milk or walnuts).

Other approaches to consider: Progressive relaxation (basically deep diaphragmatic breathing while tensing and relaxing muscles starting with the toes and ending with the head) and/or the Delta Sleep System (CDs designed to produce "good" delta brainwaves associated with sleep).

[PC1989]

Thanks Nakamova, I'll look into the Delta Sleep System. I've tried warm milk but that's never really helped. My problem isn't falling asleep, it's staying asleep.

Sound seems to have a profound effect on my brain so maybe the CD would help.

[momof3boys]

What you just described is what I would have wrote down when I experience a seizure. Last thursday night I had the same thing happen to me. I dont recall alot of what happened, but based on what my husband said, I had alot of jerking on my right side, I was mumbling things he couldnt understand. I had a huge headache, and my body felt achy and stiff the next morning and into that day. I was tired, sluggish feeling all day long on friday.

Id be scared to even try a smaller does of the melatonin if it caused seizures when taking a 3mg tablet. Have you contacted your dr about this? I would probably contact them to let them know what happened and let them tell you whats the best thing to take. Im so sorry this happened. I hope you start to feel better soon!