Melatonin

katcar0001

OMG, lyzzysmom, you are so brave to take 20mg! I have been taking only 1.5mg, and I have had the most outrageous, frightening nightmares ever. I don't know how I'll even be able to stay on this amount let alone increase the dosage. Plus, I still don't sleep. My lower back and hip pain, which I have had for many years, seems to be getting worse. Between the back pain and the need to go to the bathroom frequently, I am up a lot at night. I hope that's not the Tamoxifen. I've only been taking it 9 days so far.

Does anyone know if the Melatonin-induced nightmares get better?

gentianviolet

kat - I, too, had horrible nightmares on melatonin. I started on one mg but subsequently cut the pill in half to try again. It worked and eventually I got back to one mg. Now three years later I can take 6mg. If I try to go to 7, the nightmares return. Try cutting a 1 mg. in half to see if that works and adjust it up as you become used to it. Good luck.

Hopeful82014

For those afraid to try melatonin due to nightmares, etc. - I've been taking 3 mg. at night without any change in my dream patterns in either direction. My pills are 1.5 mg each and I take 2 but could cut back if needed.

The first brand I tried a few years ago did nothing for me but I gave it another try last year and found that it does seem to help.

labelle

After being diagnosed w BC in Sept I started taking Xanax (.5-1 mg) nightly for anxiety and just to sleep. It worked but I was getting uncomfortable about my over reliance on it-I've taken it for years for anxiety but never consistently each and every day like I was doing. About 3 weeks ago I switched to 3 mg of melatonin nightly as a healthier alternative. It's worked well and is undoubtedly better for me.

Hopeful82014

That's great, Labelle! I think the melatonin has some additional possible benefits as well as aiding sleep, so you've hit on a win/win. How are you doing these days? Are you doing rads.?

labelle

Doing Rads, 20 down 10 to go. I bit pink but the RO says I look great (tons of coconut oil have been applied).

Was to have an ooph last week but I chickened out and cancelled it. Off to see the OC on the 10th, doubt it will be pleasant as she wanted the ooph so I could start aromatose therapy. I've absolutely decline Tamox-wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.

Did a lot of reading on hormones/therapy. I am now using progesterone cream-let's just say I've become a Dr. Lee fan-and feel great! Seeing an endo on Monday to talk about my Hashimotos, optimizing my vitamin D and iodine levels. Will start DIM when radiation is over. Pretty much going the holistic/natural route I think, so appt w OC may be the last unless she tells me something that will convince me to have another look at ooph and aromatose.

It would be one thing if they could guarantee no reoccurance w hormone therapy, but they can't, or if there was no guarantee about effectiveness but the substances they prescribe were harmless w/o horrible side effects, but they are not.

As far as I can see natural treatments don't offer any guarantees either, but they won't hurt me. So there I am.

Imimpressed

Hi I am new on this forum but not new to MBC. I take melatonin 1 mg chewable about 20-30 min before I want to sleep. I started with the recommended dose, but it didn't help the way I thought it should. I read that 10 mg is ideal for those of us with,MBC. And it helps me to get the sleep I need.

mary625

I have been taking 6 mg. of Melatonin nightly. I have vivid, detailed dreams, but they are not nightmares. I thought it was the Femara causing them. I saw something about that in the fine print on Femara. Onc denies it, of course. I am sleeping better than before BC for sure. I was taking 1/2 tablet Ativan at bedtime up until a few months ago. I decided to get off of it in case of dependence.

peacestrength

I've been taking 20 mg of melatonin for a year...had weird/vivid dreams in beginning but have subsided. I'm with mary625, I too sleep better now.

Geo

Right know I Don't have nighmares but i feel like hangover with a light headache.

pipers_dream

My holistic doc told me I can take up to 20 mg but I take 15 b/c I have a hard time waking up with 20. I'm amazed at all you all's weird dreams--I never have nightmares and I've only just begun to dream again recently--after being on the melatonin for months. Since I enjoy dreaming, I'm fine with the change but wondering what brought it about. One thing that I've read is that dreams are connected with acetyl-choline, which is the same neurotransmitter that controls your memory, so not dreaming was making me a bit nervous--my mother had dementia before she died so that is present on my mind sometimes.

Oh and Heidi--I had not heard that. I don't think the vit D messes with my melatonin, but now I'm wondering if the melatonin has been messing with my D--I've been on 15,000 iu/day for a year now and my level is still only 35. I take the D in 3 doses and one of them is before bed.

ksusan

Pre-surgery, I'm taking melatonin at 9 PM and a Xanax in the night as needed for anxiety. I found the time-release melatonin made me groggy.