MISC: Melatonin/Sleep

[Guest guest]

Hi group,

I just wanted to let you know that since I have stopped taking TyPM and

Tylenol, I have tried Melatonin to help me get to sleep. It works. Within 30

minutes or less, I am drowsy. Please understand, I am not relating this

directly to RLS, but I know that many, many of you are sleep deprived and I

wanted to pass this along. I joined the group in October 98 and don't know if

this subject has already been discussed. I have taken the Melatonin only 2

nights now and so far I like it. No RLS during the night, either, but don't

know if there is a connection there. And I know that the RLS is still there.

Last night, I went to a dinner theater - for 3 hours - and the last 1 !/2

hrs., I was very fidgety and ready to go home. I just kept moving my legs,

crossing them, stretching them, bouncing them, etc. It was fairly dark, so no

one noticed, I hope.

I checked out some sites on the internet on Melatonin. Most were just

desciptions of the hormone - from the pineal gland - which regulates the

body's circadian cycle. The Mayo Clinic site advises against taking Melatonin

mostly because The FDA doesn't regulate it's production, therefore it's purity

is questioned and research has not proven it's effectiveness in treating sleep

disorders, jet lag, cancer, and other claims.

I want to explain why I tend to use sleep aids rather than other medications

for RLS. I have found that without something to help me fall asleep, to

totally relax my muscles and my mind, then I am plagued with RLS. Even if I

fall asleep without a sleep aid, generally I wake up to an electric shock

feeling and there it is - RLS. So, my first priority is to RELAX! WITH

HELP! Without it , I can't - like in the recent discussion on concentration.

The more I try to relax, the worse the symptoms get.

Thanks for listening.

Lynn Ga.

(ok, where is that snow I asked for?)