Use Of Melatonin

[Jed]

Hi All,
Back in 2004 i had my aortic and mitrol valves replaced and all seemed to be going fine. Then last April all went to hell. My aortic valve became septic with infection which also settled in my right elbow. To make things worse i had a "bleed" in my brain which they luckily found in time and i had an emergency craniotomy(sp). Well origionally the wanted to re-do my aortic valve and do aortic root operation. It looked real bad for me but somehow with lots of prayers and luck my infection cleared on its own and i didn't have to have that operation. Thank you god and all my angels working to protect and watch over me. I have now finally moved back on my own and retired from my job and went on full disability, i am only 43 years old. All this stuff has really changed my life alot and been real hard mentally to take. To make things worse i can't sleep unless i take Ambien. I only get a half months supply because they don't want me to become dependant on it and neither do i but i need my sleep. I have tried other "sleep remedies" and none of them work for me. A friend suggested taking Melatonin. I am a bit sceptical because of my heart issue and the drugs i take now. Has anyone tried it and how were your results? Will my use of coumadin be efffected by it? Any help or insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jed

 

[briansmom]

Wow, that's sounds really rough. And no sleep on top of it! It's a wonder you are still sane. I don't know about the coumadin interaction, but my son is the heart patient and this mom isn't sleeping much either. I take 1/2 of an ambien and 1/2 of a 1 mg Xanax when I need to sleep. I also read until I can't keep my eyes open any longer (the last thing I want to do right now is have time to think!). Maybe if they will give you Xanax your ambien prescription will last 2x as long? I assume you are doing all the other usual sleep helpers - no caffeine, hot bath, wake up and go to sleep at the same time, etc., etc.

Good luck!

 

[Karlynn]

What a horrible time you had. I glad you are doing well now.

I've seen commercials for a new Rx sleep aid that is supposed to be non-addictive. Wish I could remember what it is. It might begin with an R. Maybe someone else will recall it.

 

[Harrybaby666]

I believe it's called Relacor isn't it Karlynn?

I believe it's called Relacor isn't it Karlynn?

What a horrible time you had. I glad you are doing well now.

I've seen commercials for a new Rx sleep aid that is supposed to be non-addictive. Wish I could remember what it is. It might begin with an R. Maybe someone else will recall it.

I have been having a very difficult time trying to sleep lately, and I have been studying the ads for sleep aids....until I finally had to call the Dr. about something to help me sleep, but I do remember the name Relacor for some reason.....Hope this helps. Harrybaby

 

[Ross]

I've used melatonin, up to 9mg or 3 tablets and it never affected anything, not even my sleep. I did look this up and I don't believe it to be fact, so I've moved this thread to anticoag for Al Lodwicks input.

MELATONIN may interact with WARFARIN SODIUM (in Coumadin)

Chemicals in melatonin may reduce the blood's ability to form clots. When taken together with drugs like warfarin that also decrease the blood's ability to clot, supplemental melatonin may increase the risk of dangerous bleeding. Individuals who take both may need more frequent blood tests to make sure that blood is clotting properly. Those who experience problems may need to stop taking supplemental melatonin until warfarin is discontinued. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is well-documented and is considered moderate in severity.

Last Updated: January 2006

 

[Superbob]

Sleep, Dear Sleep

Sleep, Dear Sleep

Jed,

I can't answer the Coumadin question but I do have some experience with sleep, or the lack of it.

I've battled insomnia since my surgery two years ago. My former cardiologist recommended melatonin (I would check with your doctor first if you're doing to try it), but it didn't seem to help me.

My former PCP prescribed Temazepam (generic for Restoril) and it definitely helped me sleep. However, though it is intended for use just 7 to 10 days, I found myself still using it a year and a half later. Though my doctors are still willing to prescribe it (given that I haven't had any bad reactions) I am very reluctant to depend on any pill of that potency to sleep.

Recently my new PCP gave me samples of Rozerem. This is the new one that is supposed to be non-addictive and safe for long-term use. Don't know what insurance you have but it seems a little on a pricey side to me (just from checking the price list on my prescription plan). It did help but not as well as Temazepam (which I still have a supply of).

Within the past two weeks, however, a rather amazing (to me) development has occurred. I went to bed fairly tired one night and said what the heck I will just try going without a pill tonight. Lo and behold, I slept pretty well. Same the next night. And the next. Then had some problems and used the Rozerem a few nights, but now I'm back on a streak of going without any sleeping pills. I don't know what to attribute this to, but maybe there's hope that the sleeplessness just runs its course. Maybe you have to stop worrying about it so much. I've still got the pills but am going to try to do without them. I am waking up about 4 a.m. or 5 a.m., but then am able to go back to sleep for 2,3,4 hours.

Hope you find the sleep you seek very soon. I think it does help not to stress out about it. Maybe read til you are sleepy, have a light low-fat snack. If you are in bed and not sleeping, don't lie there and worry about it. Just relax and get your rest. Maybe playing a little soft soothing music on the radio can help. Hope these thoughts help you.

 

[Guest]

I had a sleep lab study and got a CAPA machine. I have nearly 10,000 hours on it and lowered my blood pressure and improved my cholesterol to where the doctors are amazed by the numbers.

I don't know about the seriousness of the interaction with melatonin.

I am a pharmacist and know that most "sleeping pills" are only good for short periods of time. After two weeks or so, they can be very difficult to wean off and do little good.

 

[catwoman]

Jed:

Years ago, melatonin was used to try to "mellow out" nervous show cats. It never did anything for those cats. (And, no, it wasn't me who tried it. Show rules forbid using anything to alter behavior.)
Friends with insomnia who have taken melatonin report little or no luck with it.

I take Tylenol Extra Strength PM. About 1 to 1 1/2 capsules seems to do the trick.

Have you ever had a sleep study done? When I met my husband, he commented about having insomnia. It wasn't until about 5 years ago or so that I realized he probably had sleep apnea. He had a sleep study done, and bingo! Didn't even complete Night #1 on the study -- it was very obvious.
He sleeps much better now.

 

[Guest]

Fr most people who cannot sleep the most important thing is to eliminate caffeine. No coffee, no Red Bull etc, only caffeine free herbal teas, no carbonated drinks with caffeine. If you go without these for two weeks and then still can't sleep, then it might be worthwhile to try a medication. However, few people will do this. So they wind up taking Ambien etc to counter the caffeine and then caffeine to counter the sleeping pill.

 

[geebee]

Just saw a commercial for Rozerem which is a prescription sleep aid which supposedly does not cause addiction. Probably the one Karlynn was referring to.