Has anyone taken OTC sleep aids with melatonin?

I have had some serious sleep problems. I stayed awake all night last night with my own pschycosis. I have tried lots of meds and usually they work but its a vicious cycle. I think that I might not sleep and then I can't no matter what. I hate the idea of taking ambien or other major drugs for too long. Has anyone tried melatonin? How does it react with other otc drugs like unisom?

I'm w/ the one that said otc sleep meds are safer and work better. HELLO! Melatonin is in the herbal section. It is natural. My children also take it when they are really keyed up and i know it's gonna be one of those nights. One of my kids, 9 year old boy weighs 80 lbs, takes 15 to 20 mg (not 3) a night per his neurologist. I think she knows what she's doing. He sleeps like a baby, always ready for bed , and doesn't wake up during the night anymore. But I have taken 20 mg or more of melatonin (also comes in 5 mg tablets now) and 50 mg of benadryl and even 10 mg of valium. I only weigh about 120 and have done this several times and I don't wake up groggy or nauseated like some meds make you feel. Unisom doesn't work any better than melatonin. I use to take tylenol pm and it worked for awhile but would give me that hangover. I was on 20 mg of ambien a night (high dose) and I never felt groggy hte next day. The only problem was I would have double vision and if I didn't get straight in bed I would walk around all night long confused because i couldn't find my bed. Good luck. This is a cruddy problem!

melatonin is relatively safe. both my kids take 3mg before bed. and they've been taking it fairly long-term too. if you have other psychiatric issues, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist before you take melatonin.

melatonin reduces infertility so i don't suggest that unless you have chronic migrains*, like my sister. For me, I stick to the OTC sleep aids. they just work better. and are safer.

Hi I don't know how much help I can be but my son has several different things that he deals with and he is 5yrs old. I give him melatonin every night to help him sleep. I was very surprised at the way it works. He only takes a little and he sleeps all night. It doesn't make you all groggy the next morning and it gives you a natural falling asleep instead of a straight knock you out things. Plus it is natural and better for you. I would say to def. try it! and I am sorry but I have to disagree with the one before me, melatonin is completely safe! It is what your body naturally produces to make you sleep hince why it is called natural.

I take both melatonin 3 mg AND generic Benadryl 50 mg. AND Ambien CR AND Valerian Root AND Soma 350 mg nightly. I'm lucky if I get 5 hours sleep nightly.
I'm not joking.

Melatonin is absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! try 3-5 mg first though.....also the antioxidant effects it has is promising

Melatonin is a hormone, and is relativedly safe, however it shouldn't be used if you are taking MAO inhibiters.

You allude so psychological issues--if those issues include depression or bi-polar tendencies, do NOT take melatonin without talking to your doctor first. Melatonin can make depression worse.

If you are going to take melatonin, take SYNTHETIC melatonin. "Natural" melatonin (bovine melatonin) comes from cow's brains and there are risks of bacteria and viruses, including BSE (mad cow disease).

I've had sleep problems for years, and used sonata, ambien, lunesta, etc. Now I use 25-50 mg of benadryl, or nyquil when I feel I need something stronger. It really helps, just about as well as the prescrip. meds. Melatonin has never worked for me, but you might give it a try. If you decide to try Nyquil, don't take more than an ounce, it has tylenol which is bad for the liver in high doses. Probably not good to take all the time, which is why I alternate (and try to go without sometimes). Hope you get some relief from something!

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