Waking every night . 3am every morning

[Willyt]

I had same problem for years. Two things have helped. Using prop-enan blend to create trough overnight and microdosing melatonin - only 0.3mg (300 mcg)!

I know melatonin has been talked about ad nauseum around here, but there was MIT study years ago showing that very small of 0.3mg was all that was needed considering how little melatonin the body naturally produces. I never had success with melatonin until trying such a low dose.

Scientists pinpoint dosage of melatonin for insomnia

news.mit.edu

I get the time release formula:

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Extension-Melatonin-Released-Vegetarian/dp/B00CDABRUW

 

[sammmy]

I use the fast release 0.3mg melatonin by the same company, either before bed as an add-on to prolong the sleep induced by 30mg temazepam, or I pop one melatonin when I wake from temazepam sleep at 4am and want to go back to sleep.

I have also noticed that having sugar (even a cup of apple juice) at dinner makes sleep difficult later, at least for me.

 

[Forty2]

I've found that 5-HTP has helped my sleep quite a bit.
Also taking 2 tablespoons of gelatin powder dissolved in some boiling water.
Gelatin is high in glycine, which is helpful for sleep.

 

[GreenMachineX]

I've found that 5-HTP has helped my sleep quite a bit.
Also taking 2 tablespoons of gelatin powder dissolved in some boiling water.
Gelatin is high in glycine, which is helpful for sleep.

Have you tried tryptophan?

 

[Forty2]

Have you tried tryptophan?

Yes and it didn't work as I later discovered tryptophan has poor oral bioavailability.

 

[GreenMachineX]

Yes and it didn't work as I later discovered tryptophan has poor oral bioavailability.

Gotcha.

Looks like I won't be sleeping tonight. So frustrating.

 

[MedicineMan]

Had the same problem. I am also low serotonin. You said you were previously on antidepressant. Keep in mind that testosterone drives up dopamine. In my case low serotonin levels at night and higher dopamine would result in in waking up at 3 am.
I take 5htp, taurine, melatonin and passion flower before bed. You may have a different problem. Just wanted to throw that out there. I wish someone would have helped me out. Took a lot of trial and error. Testosterone as helped me in every way. However, it does [not] solve chemical imbalance. In my case, I had to up my serotonin levels to account for new higher levels of dopamine.

 

[MedicineMan]

Sorry for typo. Does not solve chemical imbalance.

 

[Forty2]

Had the same problem. I am also low serotonin. You said you were previously on antidepressant. Keep in mind that testosterone drives up dopamine. In my case low serotonin levels at night and higher dopamine would result in in waking up at 3 am.
I take 5htp, taurine, melatonin and passion flower before bed. You may have a different problem. Just wanted to throw that out there. I wish someone would have helped me out. Took a lot of trial and error. Testosterone as helped me in every way. However, it does [not] solve chemical imbalance. In my case, I had to up my serotonin levels to account for new higher levels of dopamine.

Do you know if a high dose ssri like Prozac for 2 years could permanently suppress serotonin?

 

[MedicineMan]

On paper no. SSRIs like Prozac block reuptake of serotonin into your neurons. So they are not providing any new serotonin but rather inhibiting reuptake of what you already have…. In laymen terms, just keeping your existing serotonin from being broken down too quickly.

 

[Cataceous]

Yes and it didn't work as I later discovered tryptophan has poor oral bioavailability.

This wasn't the case for me. I found it too easy to overdose—to the point of getting sexual side effects. I now take only 100 mg before bed and find it helpful. 5-HTP bypasses a regulatory step in the natural conversion from L-tryptophan, so I'd say to use it with caution.

 

[Forty2]

This wasn't the case for me. I found it too easy to overdose—to the point of getting sexual side effects. I now take only 100 mg before bed and find it helpful. 5-HTP bypasses a regulatory step in the natural conversion from L-tryptophan, so I'd say to use it with caution.

Thanks.
What are the possible side effects of 5-HTP?

 

[Cataceous]

...
What are the possible side effects of 5-HTP?

You can get some of the many symptoms of serotonin syndrome, though the risk is probably low when only 5-HTP is used and doses are limited to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Serotonin syndrome encompasses a wide range of clinical findings. Mild symptoms may consist of increased heart rate, shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, myoclonus (intermittent jerking or twitching), as well as overresponsive reflexes. ... Moderate intoxication includes additional abnormalities such as hyperactive bowel sounds, high blood pressure and hyperthermia; a temperature as high as 40 °C (104 °F). The overactive reflexes and clonus in moderate cases may be greater in the lower limbs than in the upper limbs. Mental changes include hypervigilance or insomnia and agitation. Severe symptoms include severe increases in heart rate and blood pressure that may lead to shock. Temperature may rise to above 41.1 °C (106.0 °F) in life-threatening cases. Other abnormalities include metabolic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, seizures, kidney failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation; these effects usually arising as a consequence of hyperthermia.​