mostly for tim tam

Dan:

I'm sorry to hear about your sleep problems.

Many years ago, I was trying to avoid a doctor sleep pill, so I went to the library to look for data, there was no net, and there was one sentence in the entire book I found that was helpful.

It said tryptophan health food for sleep. I bought some and it worked. Then a couple of years later they quit selling it for some reason due to side affects, or something, so I had to quit that and never found anything else.

Then many years later, Melatonin from health food store for sleep, and worked. Then the same Melatonin was making me groggy in the a.m., so I switched to Power to Sleep from the health food store.

A few weeks after taking it, my kidneys started to hurt, and I knew it was the re-start up of Power to Sleep, because my kidneys had never hurt before.

So I quit taking the Power to Sleep and went back to the Melatonin, and it puts me to sleep, and I'm not so groggy in the a.m.

So I've been on Melatonin now for several months is a guess, and I've had no problem.

As for the kidney pain I had, I also take Lithium (700 mg.) for my bipolar, along with an anti-depressant. I've heard a lot that Lithium can cause kidney damage, which is why they test you for Lithium level a number of times a year.

So I think Power to Sleep and Lithium combined might play havoc on the kidneys.

So you say Power to Sleep can be bad on the liver, which is why you don't want to take too much.

Wasn't it you that wrote here on this forum, in a I can't sleep, type of thread, that you took 6 Melatonin a night, along with Valerian Root, or something.

Why did you get off Melatonin? You think going back might be worth a try?

I've found that if I get 30 minutes or more of exercise a day, it helps me sleep at night.

I've also noticed that a heating pad helps me sleep. I know you don't believe that. It's like a child's teddy bear, something warm to cuddle up with.

As far as a heating pad is concerned, here's what helps even more. I moisten the foam insert (or a kitchen towel). (You can also try not having a moistened heating pad).

I put one end on the pillow and put one ear on it. I wrap the other end of the 22-inches long heating pad around the top of my head and put the other end on the other ear. I use part of a phone type book to hold it on my top ear.

(I use this moistened heating pad to help my ears, by expanding the blood vessels in my ears, to get them more nutrients and oxygen. But I found this also helps me sleep.)

As a diabetic, I usually sleep about 1 and 1/2 hours before I wake up to go to the bathroom, and I do that about five times a night.

With the heating pad on my ears, I go to sleep quicker, and sleep probably 4 to 5 hours, not 1 and 1/2 hours.

Dan, I know the heating pad sounds silly. But I would say, try it one time, prove me wrong, to see if it might work. It does for me, I can guarantee that.

So I say:

1. Power to Sleep (or Melatonin)

2. exercise for 30 -60 minutes

3. moistened heating pad as noted above

4. Also waking up after only 2 hours of sleep, can you take another Power to Sleep?

Now, I know you don't want to take too much. Or how about Melatonin at bedtime, and then a second one if you wake up in 2 hours?

If you say you take more than 1 Melatonin at bedtime, then you can try that if you are OK with it.

I know they sell 3mg Melatonin tablets, so I would think taking 2 or 3 Melatonins would be OK, if 1 tablet doesn't work.

I only take 1, but I have other meds which also help me sleep, Lithium for bipolar and Mirtazapine anti-depressant.

As you say, you should check with your doctor or druggist to see if they conflict with your meds.

My psychiatrist does not mind me taking Melatonin for sleep. She does not want me taking Power to Sleep.

I want to clarify-the power to sleep dosnt harm your liver. its the kava that I also bought for anxiety that has been shown to harm liver