Holistic medicine for insomnia

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LM070917
LM070917 Member Posts: 323
edited July 2016 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

Hey,

Since taking Arimidex (March this year) I have had insomnia. My doc prescribed me gabapentin which I have taken for 3 months, but decided I didn't want to be on lots of drugs for the long term, so I quit it last week and the insomnia is slowly creeping back. Can anyone recommend anything naturopathic to help with this? Thanks

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited July 2016

    I use melatonin nightly. It does the trick for me. I take between 10-15 mg., but many people find that even 3 mg works

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  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited July 2016

    Melatonin works for me too. I take 6 mg nightly. When I was first diagnosed I relied heavily on Xanax to help me sleep. The melatonin works just as well for me.

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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited July 2016

    Melatonin + a product called Calms Forte (it's homeopathic, so no drug interactions, made by Hyland's) works for me. I've battled with insomnia since starting Zoladex, so I hear you!

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited July 2016

    Melatonin works for me too, but I can only take 3mg or I am anxious and snappy the next day.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited July 2016

    I think I have found that my sweet spot with melatonin is between 10-15mg. Early on, 5 mg would knock me out, but I guess I built up a tolerance. Many years ago, my older dd would have weird dreams when she took it. She recently tried it again and had no problems.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited July 2016

    I've used melatonin for years but once I was dx that no longer sufficed. I used ativan (.25 mg.) through radiation and that did help without making me feel groggy or hungover.

    Now I'm back to using melatonin and L-theanine, which my 'suvivorship nurse' recommended. I use Jarrow's and take 2-3 capsules at night. I know a few other women in the same bc boat who also get good results from it.

    I hope you find something that works for you!

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited July 2016

    Melatonin is believed to have anticancer benefits as well as sleep benefits, so good to use, if you can tolerate it. I personally can't -- too many wild and weird dreams, even at a very low dose. I've tried several natural blends formulated for sleep, and my current favorite is this one, which is melatonin-free. http://www.bluebonnetnutrition.com/product/382/Tar... And if I'm experiencing any pain, I'll just pop a good old Acetaminophen PM. But other things that help me enough to mention are lavender oil in a pillow spray, and/or diffuser, and/or nighttime bath -- and no, it's not estrogenic enough to be concerning. I also love my sound machine, which has a variety of settings such as ocean waves and babbling brook. Works great for me.

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  • HRwinter16
    HRwinter16 Member Posts: 73
    edited July 2016

    hi Deanna- what exactly is not too estrogenic to be concerned?

    I found this thread bc I'm having lots of trouble sleeping after finishing chemo and starting tamoxifen... But your comment intrigued me bc I've also been trying to learn more about sources of excess estrogen. Thanks!

    P.s. Not sure if melatonin works for me, I've just tried it once and probably need to give another try. So far magnesium (natural calm) helping a little

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