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Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,193
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

I have no issues falling asleep; it's all I can do to stay awake until 10pm.  Then I am awake at anywhere from 1am- 2am and cannot get back to sleep, sometimes up to 2 hours.  I have read taking GABA with Melatonin is very effective.  GABA is to have a calming effect in conjunction with Melatonin.  Has anyone tried this who has falling back to sleep issues?  

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,094
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Melatonin with GABA

[ Edited ]

I have the same problem.

 

I hope someone has an answer.

 

Melatonin gives me  huge dreams so I stay away from it.  Smiley Sad

 

The only thing that helps is Benedryl but then I'm not so good at walking  the next day   Smiley Sad

 

I sort of came to terms with myself.lol....... if I go to bed at 7 pm and sleep untill 1 or 2 am  (if I'm lucky) ,well thats who I am.

 

I watch the shows I like and missed earlier,  ,get up at 7 or 8 am and continue on.........lol

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,738
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@BornToShop ,

I tried it a few weeks ago, a capsule

supplement and didn't like it. I felt knocked out and just not good,like run over by a truck or drugged.

I took it because i read it can reduce 

neuropathy (pain). 

So,it might affect everyone differently of course and also what they are taking it for. iguess you would only know by trying it.

I was told i should try it at night before bed. I probably took it too early in the day but still felt the effects the next day!

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"
Honored Contributor
Posts: 25,830
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

GABA and/or L-Theanine are supposed to be calming.  My chiropractor recommended them before bed.  It did help, but gave me a bad headache so I don't take either regularly.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,913
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

@BornToShop 

 

I can't remember any period in my adult life where I have been able to stay asleep more than 2+ hours. Wake up/back to sleep and on it goes. Made no difference when I worked the Graveyard Shift/4-midnight shift, or days hours.

 

Why? Well I have had 6 Sleep Studies, not for this reason, but nothing suggested by my doctors, made a bit of difference. I have never needed over 5-6 hours of sleep, and when working, many times 4 hours was just fine.

 

Never took NoDoz to stay awake, or any type of pill or prescription to try to sleep. If an occasion comes up where I can't get back to sleep, I got up and did something, even when I was working. Retired?  Makes no difference to me, if I can't sleep I get up and do something.

 

Have you had a Sleep Study done? If not, might give that some thought. 

 

 

hckynut 

hckynut(john)
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,134
Registered: ‎03-30-2014

After one of my strokes, I was having some seizures and was put on Gabapentin.  I have since moved on and am still on a mix of other drugs.

 

Later I looked at gaba supplements.  I could not find any evidence from a human trial that was very good.  It seems to have a problem crossing into the brain.

 

Tried melatonin too.  Didn't work for me.

 

So, for me, neither are any good.  Good luck on your search.

 

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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,050
Registered: ‎03-15-2021

I have the waking at 3:00 am problem as well. Someone told me it was the glucose level dropping. Whatever, it is no fun. My cousin told me the worst decision he ever made was to let his doctor prescribe sleeping pills. Benadryl does help but it aggravates my dry eye issues. Can't win for losing.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,808
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

I wake up a lot during the night to urinate. I take 10mg of melatonin and 1 Kirkland Sleep Aid (from Costco) tablet before bed and I have no trouble going back to sleep after I get up. This will probably sound like a lot to most people but it works for me. I am not usually drowsy during the day.

 

I used to use benadryl but find the Kirkland works better for me - the active ingredient is doxylamine succinate - a different antihistamine than benadryl.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,776
Registered: ‎07-09-2011

@hckynut 

 

I did have a sleep study, two of them.

 

Found out I have a delayed sleep cycle, or a feline circadian rhythm!  I sleep just fine in the daytime.

 

Just try to live with it, sleep aids, except the very powerful, do nothing.  I’m a Third Shift Person, stuck in a First Shift world 🌎 

 

Best to you and family.

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras
Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,913
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Melatonin with GABA

[ Edited ]

@Drythe 

 

"Third shift world". That shift was the worst for me. Night life? Not in the age I worked it. Date! Say "good night" at 9:30? Wasn't worth it. Started at Midnight on Sundays, so Sunday was essentially Monday to me.

 

Sleep? Sometimes in the morning/sometimes in the evening, many times not at all. Did drink more coffee to stay awake while my coworkers took NoDoz. Never had trouble sleeping, just didn't get my 4-5 hours everyday.

 

I have always been a night owl, and an early riser, but that Graveyard just didn't cut it for me. When I had a choice I went to 4-midnight. Didn't have enough seniority till I worked about 15 years.

 

Guess you at least you found out your issue, but it sure ain't one I would want.

 

Stay well and enjoy Easter. My wife is out of town Pet Sitting.

 

 

hckynut 

hckynut(john)