A few weeks ago, I posted about my battle with insomnia and RLS. (You can see it featured on healthkicker today … yes, I am Ms. Cookie. 
)
Many of you shared your own stories, and for that, I thank you. It’s always nice to know we’re not alone in our struggles. For some, melatonin seemed to be the solution.
Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain that helps regulate other hormones and plays a critical role in determining when we fall asleep and when we wake up. It is all-natural and non-habit forming—a change from my current prescription of Ambien CR. Also, at $7.50 for a 60-day supply, the thought of saving money was just an added bonus.
As I walked into my local GNC this past weekend, I was hopeful I had found a better solution to my sleeping problem.
I took the sublingual tablet Monday evening—it goes under the tongue for quick disolution and absorption—and within minutes, I felt it coursing through my body. But sleep wouldn’t come. In fact, it just made me more aware of the lack of sleep I was getting. My heart was beating through my chest, and even the smallest light from the wall’s smoke detector put me on edge. I had the worst headache imaginable, but I couldn’t move to fix it. My body was resting, my mind, awake.
When I “woke up” the next morning, I was groggy. I needed to go into work, but couldn’t. I ended up falling asleep some time later, and snoozed through most of the afternoon. So much for putting my sleep schedule in check!
Last night, I decided to give it another go. The doctor suggested taking two pills, so I did. But it didn’t help. In fact, the headache came faster, and the restlessness was more intense. I was lucky to be able to sleep a few hours this morning, but I’m groggy as hell. I had errands to run today, but I won’t be driving anywhere. Better safe than sorry.
Perhaps it’s because I have a more advanced case of insomnia and RLS, but melatonin just didn’t work for me. I really wish it would have, both for my health and my wallet.
Have you taken melatonin before? What was your experience like?
