The first time I took melatonin, I took 1mg the first night and fell asleep fairly quickly. The next night I had to take 3mg. Now, months later, I'm up to 25mgs a night. It's after 4 in the morning and I'm wide awake. I want to take 10 or 15 more mgs. All I have are 5mg tablets and I know one of them isn't going to be enough. I'm not trying to kill myself, I just want to make sure I'm out for the night. I don't have a Dr. or medical insurance, so I'm stuck with melatonin. So my question is, would it be safe to take more 4 hours later? And how much would be ok?
25mg of melatonin... 4hrs later still awake... Can I take more??
Question posted by randa09 on 10 Sep 2012
Last updated on 3 November 2022
This question has also been asked and answered here: How much Melatonin can I take?
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18 Answers Page 2
Paige78
10 Sep 2012
And may I reiterate the importance of a VERY dark room! I have very pretty "black out" curtains. They are dark brown and keep most light out, so when you go in my room it is pitch black and that is how we should all sleep. There should be no night light, not even light from the clock, that is how important it is! If you stil aren't gettiing any relief from melatonin or a natural sleep aid, please see your doctor if you can. Sleep deprivation is cruel, and I feel your pain.
Paige78
10 Sep 2012
And PLEASE don't take the melatonin in that amount! I think anything after 3mgs is quite ineffective!
liverighteous
8 Sep 2013
I agree. I sleep in a dark room. Melatonin can build up in your system too. We use it for my ADHD granddaughter. Her pediatrician said we could give her up to 11mg, but that's too high for our comfort. We started her on it when she was a little past 2 -- a small crumb of a chewable 3 mg WITH WATER was sufficient. Then, she was needing more, and more. We were out of town and didn't have the melatonin, and realized that just a day or so without it allowed us to return to a lower dose. The key though, is to make sure she washed it down with two swallows of water, or it would just sit in her teeth and on her tongue without taking affect for too long. The water brings it into her system much quicker, taking about 30 minutes for it to take affect.
Another natural substance that works well is Valerian. There is a juice that my daughter uses -- not a lot of flavor, but it works really well for her. She, too, uses room darkening curtains.
This is my family's experience, but it may not be the fit for everyone. Also, regardless of what the pediatrician said about the 11mg dosage for a 6 year old, I don't see us going that high. As adults, we never, EVER go that high of a dosage. Good luck.
Mydoglucky55
13 Oct 2015
I have been taking melatonin for about a year.
It has stopped being as effective. ..
However, I just noticed on line. Many people are doing well with calamine tea?
I am going to try it tonight... with the melatonin. .
Good luck.
Nina
Dlg8734
15 Dec 2015
I found out 3 months ago that I have Tardive Dynskia(sp) : involuntary movement of whole jaw (causing ears aching, both inside and out because of adjoining jaw structure and also very poor enunciation of words, therefore no one can understand what you are saying). My hands also shook and my handwriting was not readable.
I tried Melatonin. The first nite, at 3 mg, I slept straight through the night. The next day I awoke to find àll the above symptoms gone!
If I feel any of those synptoms beginning to appear, usually during the day, I take 1/2 tablet to keep one or all synptoms at bay.
Now the 3 mg is not enough to relax me enough to sleep straight through the night so I take 5 mg.
Inactive
10 Sep 2012
Hello randa09. For most people Melatonin is largely ineffective. You might look up any hypnotic, see who the manufacturer is, then link on to thier patient assistance program. They will more often than not (with a prescription from your doctor) send you that particular drug for no charge. I realize you do not have a doctor but if approved, find one to write you said prescription. Otherwise as you've stated, you are stuck with Melatonin. Regards pledge
kaismama
10 Sep 2012
The 25 mg isn't safe. I've never heard of anyone here taking that much. I take a 10mg extended release tab at night. There are things you are doing that is helping feed the insomnia, like getting up on the computer. The light from the computer stops production of your own melatonin, and the stimulation gets your brain going. Your room needs to be dark. It helps to learn not to worry about insomnia, the more you worry the worse it gets. Go to bed at the same time, avoid tv and computer for 2 hrs before bed. A glass of milk helps it doesn't have to be warm. That much melatonin can cause seizures.
randa09
10 Sep 2012
I didn't realize getting on the computer was doing anything. I thought that I would just sit here and play around until I got sleepy again. I didn't take any more last night and now I'm really glad I didn't. I can stop doing that and avoiding the tv. My biggest issue though is that my boyfriend and I share the same bed and he has the same issue, but worse. Melatonin would sometimes work for me but nothing helps him so he tends to go to bed after me. I take my melatonin, lay down and am almost asleep when he gets into bed and that wakes me up. Plus we have two animals. A dog and a cat. The cat is obsessed with my hair and tries to knead it and more often than not gets her nails into my head or my neck, waking me up. The dog jumps on me. Last night it was my face and chest he got. I can kick the dog out of the bedroom but if I do that with the cat, she'll continuously meow very loudly. I'm at a loss..
kaismama
10 Sep 2012
lol..the animals will get you, lol..My dogs think they can snuggle under the covers and tickle me. Nothing like 2 insomniacs in the same bed. I don't have an answer for that one. I was married to a man who snored like a buzz saw. I used to poke him until he'd get up and go sleep on the sofa. Sometimes it takes a long time for melatonin to work. I usually take mine 2 hrs before bedtime. There is a tablet that dissolves in your mouth. That seems to work faster.
randa09
11 Sep 2012
He had suggested a while ago that we sleep in separate beds sometimes just so we can get a good nights sleep, especially when we know we have to get up early. At the time I was totally against it bc just resting my head on his chest and knowing he's beside me, sometimes relaxes me. And he loves his dog and wants him to sleep in the bed. I don't allow it bc he sheds too much and it grosses me out. Now I'm thinking that, only sometimes, separate beds would probably be a good thing. I don't have to worry about him getting into bed and waking me and he'll have the dog with him so he won't be jumping on my face in the middle of the night. Getting another bed a finding room for it though, is a completely other story.
lady2882
4 Nov 2013
My hubbie and I changed to two twin beds pushed together instead of a double bed. We each have our own space and blankets so now he doesn't wake me up. The cat sleeps in a different room with the door closed, one farthest from our room so I don't hear him. He now doesn't fuss when put in his room at night.
Your boyfriend may have to accept that the dog can't sleep in your room or at least on the bed. Make the dog a bed of his own on the floor on your boyfriend's side of the bed. I would say that you are using this much melatonin to keep you asleep rather then get to sleep when what you need is less things waking you up.
Compromising on your bedroom setup could help you both sleep better.
irishmist
2 April 2015
I have been taking 25 mgs of melatonin for a long time. I get them from Walmart or any store. I take my nightly pills at 8pm. I usually don't fall asleep till 11pm. A friend of mine gave me some 3mgs melatonin and I took the 2 - 10mg s and 2 of her 3mgs. All I remember was my grandson trying to wake me up and I tried so hard to wake up but fell back in to my chair. When I woke up there was a note on my tv from my daughter saying she picked up my grandson and took him to work with her. She must have gotten a call from him so she probably came to see if I was ok. I don't know but I'll bet she's pretty pissed.
Now why do I have to take 25mgs of mine but taking 2 of hers made me drop. It must have been an overdose. So why do I have to take 25mgs but it hardly works and I take 2 of hers and I'm practically in a coma???
irishmist
2 April 2015
I have been taking 25 mgs of melatonin for a long time. I get them from Walmart or any store. I take my nightly pills at 8pm. I usually don't fall asleep till 11pm. A friend of mine gave me some 3mgs melatonin and I took the 2 - 10mg s and 2 of her 3mgs. All I remember was my grandson trying to wake me up and I tried so hard to wake up but fell back in to my chair. When I woke up there was a note on my tv from my daughter saying she picked up my grandson and took him to work with her. She must have gotten a call from him so she probably came to see if I was ok. I don't know but I'll bet she's pretty pissed.
Now why do I have to take 25mgs of mine but taking 2 of hers made me drop. It must have been an overdose. So why do I have to take 25mgs but it hardly works and I take 2 of hers and I'm practically in a coma???
RosieFbxAK
31 Aug 2015
Just FYI, saying "25 mg isn't safe" is NOT a fact. Some people do take that much. Some folks even take more. I don't know the maximum safe dosage but just because YOU haven't heard of anyone taking that much, doesn't clear the way to make things up and call them facts. Visit mayoclinic.org for more information about what melatonin really is, how it works, side effects one might experience, and to see what they have to say about dosing.
Stew2014
5 April 2016
its odd you say melatonin can cause seizures but no where else on the internet says so... I would like to see documentation on this statement, or its just something you made up.
psands58
12 Sep 2016
I have never heard of Melatonin causing seizuresome but I have witnessed from several patients over the years and extreme agitation and severe outbursts exhibiting bizarre behavior, do not exceed 10 mg. In a 24 hour period. Try taking your melatonin with a warm cup of green tea. Or a cup of mill. No need to warm milk, cold milk is fi,e, same benefits, also try extended releasee melatonin capsules and consult a physician. Good luck! ♡♡♡♡
Sayitasiseeit
19 Nov 2016
I take 60 mags a night. I just can't fall asleep. But I can take Z-quil and fall asleep in a matter of 30 minutes. So 60 mgs of melatonin was way too much what is suppose to happen if you take that much. My sister takes the same amount if not more??
Related topics
insomnia, sleep disorders, melatonin
Further information
- Melatonin uses and safety info
- Melatonin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Melatonin (detailed)
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