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time released versus regular melatonin??

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
I have only used regular melatonin with some effect but havent used any time released melatonin. Can anyone say if they have noticed much of a difference in effect between the two types, maybe able to sleep longer or improved sleep quality from time released version??

cheers!!!
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
I myself find there is quite a difference between the two types. My big issue is in getting to sleep and find that time release ones dont tend to work for me at all. (or maybe they would if I took far more then my normal 3mg dose of melatonin).

Ive only tried time release ones at my regular melatonin dose and seeing the melatonin one gets is spread out.. maybe one would need to take a FAR LARGER then a persons normal dose of it, for it to work?

I nowdays make sure any melatonin I get isnt a time release one.

edit.. I just remembered that I did try the time released one at double my normal melatonin dose but still felt no effect at all from it.
 

garcia

Aristocrat Extraordinaire
Messages
976
Location
UK
i was thinking of taking my normal immediate release melatonin with my time released version??

I started off taking time release way back, but then noticed that melatonin is good for sleep initiation but not so much for sleep prolongation. So now I just take ordinary sublingual. One of the things I've found recently that I seem to feel more sleepy if I take it say an hour before bed rather than say 15 minutes before bed.
 

snowathlete

Senior Member
Messages
5,374
Location
UK
I've tried both and time release isn't as good. Made me feel odd. I think melatonin is perhaps working to get you off but maybe not so good at keeping you asleep. I take about half a mg each night with my amitryptaline . Before the A I just took m which was beneficial but not a complete solution.
 

Seven7

Seven
Messages
3,444
Location
USA
I was just prescribed melatonin. Specialist says that is only good to for initiating sleep so we are changing from temazepan to melatonin. I still need to take trazadone to stay sleep.

Ordered to take it 3 hours before going to bed, start w low dose and increase to no more than 10mg dose.
 

alex3619

Senior Member
Messages
13,810
Location
Logan, Queensland, Australia
In theory time release melatonin can only be good as an antioxidant, not for helping sleep, though we all know how good a lot of the theory is for people like us. This is because there are two windows when melatonin can trigger or reset sleep, only several hours per day. At least that was the theory years ago when I was looking into this. So a sudden high burst of melatonin will have a much more powerful effect on sleep - but only if your body is receptive to melatonin at that time of day. Some of us who do not respond to melatonin are thought to not respond because their response window has moved ... its not where its supposed to be.

Melatonin is also a powerful antioxidant with neuroprotective properties though. Melatonin taken for this reason probably makes sense as a time released form.

Bye, Alex
 

baccarat

Senior Member
Messages
188
Yes, me too I found the TR not good. I have used melatonin for years and I also noticed significant differences between brands. The most effective I've tried is the nano-plex melatonin drops by Premier Labs. Like others I found it good for falling asleep but it didn't give me more than three-four hours of continuous sleep.

Very recently I switched to ashwagandha and so far, out of the dozens of remedies I've tried, it's the only one that gives me six to seven hours sleep but I need to take more than suggested on the label to work. I think I'll stick with this for as long it's going to work. A double bonus pushes glutathione up and protects the liver.
 

caledonia

Senior Member
Timed release melatonin works well for me. I fall asleep fairly quickly and sleep 8 or 9 hours. I'm using Douglas Labs Melatonin PR. The PR stands for Prolonged Released.

Maybe this a case where the brand makes a difference.

ps. certain medications can deplete melatonin. Clonazepam is one. I was taking as much as 6mg melatonin. As I taper off the clonazepam, I'm needing less (down to 3mg).