Melatonin

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Most auties don't produce much melatonin, and those that produce the least have more symptoms, especially with regards to verbal communication and play:

The first day I tried melatonin, it worked great. Second day it didn't work. Kept trying and it didn't work. I also grew tolerant of ambien within a week.

Icarus, I think I'll try your method. Is Valerian root easy to obtain?

You can find valarian at any health food store...and many drug stores...in pill form and in tea form.
I use a natural sleep remedy that does not contain melatonin (since it does not really work for me...but it does contain valarian and other stuff...( i forget what the one I take is called)

thanks poopylungstuffing. Was just looking it up



Whole Herb Supplement.

For relief of occasional sleeplessness.

Effectiveness supported by clinical trials.

Standardized Valerian Root.

No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Valerian has been popular for centuries with people seeking natural support to enhance their nighttime rest.

Along with proper diet and exercise, getting adequate sleep is an important part of maintaining optimal health and well-being.

Color variation is normal in this product.

Valerian root has a natural odor that some people find objectionable.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

So people have been using it for centuries. It's not fda approved. No artificial additives. Okay it's worth trying!

Valerian is pretty easy to find. I was headed to a friend's farm earlier this month, and realized that I had forgotten my anxiety war chest (which naturally made me feel on the edge).

The only place to look for something (I was hoping for passionflower or skullcap) was the Super Walmart in the middle of nowhere but on the way. They had valerian capsules. (Yes, with the Earthy smell. Accept no substitutes - that's the mark of good product.)

Valerian and hops combined seem to be better for sleep, according to research (on NTs). Hops extract also comes in capsules or tincture; I drink O'Douls in the evening, a non-alcoholic beer with a fair dose of hops.

I used to take 9 mgs of Melatonin at a half hour to bedtime (made me very drowsy); before my doctor had me on so much bedtime medication that it had become totally redundant for me.

(I took Valerian along with it.)

The effects of taking melatonin on me have been so pronounced that I am inclined to agree with you. It has just been a few days and I feel that everything is turning around. Last night I went to bed at 10:30 pm and took 1 mg of melatonin 30 minutes before but there was some noise that woke me at 11:00 pm. What would usually happen is that I will lie in bed, try my best to but be unable to sleep. When I woke up in the morning the autistic symptoms would become very pronounced. But instead of just lying in bed, I decided to take another 1 mg and it worked like a charm. More importantly, I did not just fall asleep, I got very good quality REM sleep and woke up this morning feeling refreshed and without any autistic effects.

There was a MIT study which suggests that small doses of melatonin are actually more effective than large doses. They do not know why though. Someone else spoke of taking 9 mg and that might be a little too much. It is also interesting that some report a tolerance to melatonin because the online literature seem to suggest that tolerance does not happen or that if it did, the thing to do to regain sensitivity would be to go off melatonin for a while and then back on it again.

Melatonin does seem to slow down my metabolic rate though. My physical activity has actually slowed down in the last few days. For example, I power walk and what took me 40-41 minutes to accomplish before required 43 minutes today. I tried to push but for some reason even my mind refused to accept my Type A aggression and insisted on a slower pace.

For kids who cannot sleep, and many Aspie/Autie kids exhibits sleep disruption, melatonin might make their care and management a lot easier. It may also greatly reduce the autistic symptoms that these kids exhibit in the day helping them to be calmer and more sociable.

I had been using Advil and Excedrin PM (1 capsule or tablet) to help me doze off. I ran out the other day and had some Melatonin left over, so I tried the 3 mg. I'm experiencing the vivid dreams everyone else mentions. They are not nightmares, but they are the type of thing that would make David Lynch proud.

I think I've found that the major effect of melatonin is to speed up the sleep cycle. I think it tends to cause long REM cycles earlier in the night than is normal. Normally I would hardly ever wake up from a dream after only 4 hours of sleep but melatonin does this to me. I also notice evening grogginess the day after. I feel like I'm ready for bed by 8:00 PM sometimes, yet if I don't take a melatonin I become wide awake in the wee hours of the morning.

Okay benign wasn't the right word. But I'm glad you know what I meant.