Melatonin Facts – What You Need to Know About This Common Sleep Aid

Paula — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 13:37:07 +0000

Melatonin is one of the most common sleep aids to be found. It is readily available as an over-the-counter supplement in almost every pharmacy and big box store that has a pharmacy section. It’s generally considered to be a safe drug since it is actually a pill-form of a naturally occurring hormone produced by the brain. These melatonin facts will help you to understand a bit more about this common sleep aid. Is melatonin safe for children, for you? Is it even necessary? If it’s not necessary don’t use it and always consult a doctor if you have questions. But, if you struggle with bad sleep, it could be right for you or a family member. Our Melatonin Story My daughter has always had trouble falling asleep. It became such a problem that our doctor recommended she take melatonin to help her get to sleep and stay asleep. With her disability it’s common that sleep disruption is a symptom. My youngest has trouble shutting her brain off and she also has difficulty staying asleep. The sensory part of her FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder ) and SPD (sensory processing disorder) means that she wakes at the lightest noise. Melatonin has helped her tremendously, and because it’s a completely natural supplement, I feel okay about her taking it. Lets’ take a look at melatonin facts so you can decide if it’s right for you. Melatonin Facts Uses We all know that melatonin is used to help people sleep, but it’s also been used in other areas of medicine, as well. These are the most common uses of melatonin: Trouble falling asleep Sleep disorders in the blind Sleep problems due to sleep-wake cycle disturbances Insomnia caused by beta-blockers Endometriosis High blood pressure Insomnia Jet lag Sunburn (topical) Side Effects While melatonin is considered safe, not enough is known about its long-term use to warrant it as safe for pregnant or breast-feeding women. In these cases, it’s better to err on the side of caution. For all others who take melatonin, side effects can include: Headache Short-term feelings of depression Daytime sleepiness Dizziness Stomach cramps Irritability It’s worth noting that these side effects are generally mild, short-term, and relatively uncommon. Interactions As I said, melatonin is generally safe, however, it can interact with some drugs. It’s important to avoid these interactions. Sedatives – Melatonin is used to help people fall asleep, so combining it with sedatives can cause too much sleepiness. Contraceptive Drugs – Contraceptive drugs appear to cause the body to produce extra melatonin, so combining the supplement with these drugs could cause too much melatonin in the body. Caffeine – Melatonin is essentially a natural sedative, so too much caffeine in conjunction with Melatonin can cancel out its effects. Luvox – Luvox also appears to increase the body’s melatonin production, which could lead to an overabundance of melatonin in the body when taken with a melatonin supplement. Diabetes Drugs – Melatonin has been shown to sometimes increase blood sugar, so those with diabetes and who are taking diabetes medication should use with caution an in conjunction with their doctor. Before I start getting trolls who argue loudly that I shouldn’t give this to my daughter, I want to state clearly that we tried everything with her. Her sleep was protected. Her routine always taken into account. In fact if you know anything about kids with these two disabilities then you know routine is not optional. We lived for routine for years. We still do. But nobody functions without sleep. In fact, I wrote about that here for Today’s Parent once. The Melatonin Facts Can Help You Decide if it’s Right For You Melatonin has drastically improved the quality of my daughter’s sleep. I used it way back in the 90s when I had some sleep issues from chronic pain. But after having children my only sleep issue was getting enough sleep. We’ve seen no side effects. That being said, it’s important to consult your doctor before taking any supplement or medication – prescription or otherwise. If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk with your doctor and get the melatonin facts straight from the one who knows the most. This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you as a service to my readers. If you make a purchase via one of the ads below then I receive a small commission. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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Six Christmas Essentials for the Holidays #TMMGG2015

Paula — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 02:11:26 +0000

Now I’m not saying everybody wants to receive Christmas gifts of Facial Wax and Arm and Hammer Oxi Clean Crystal Burst detergent but there’s reason to stock up on several Church and Dwight necessities during the holidays. And more than a few of these could easily be used inside care packages for your loved ones. They might even make it into a stocking or two. When the holidays hit you’ll be doing more laundry than usual. So keep the Crystal Burst laundry detergent power pacs for yourself. OR send it home with your college age son or daughter. When we were newlyweds my Mother-in-law used to gift all of her sons and daughters-in-law a gift basket filled with practical essentials like laundry essentials, cleaning products, toiletries, new towels and such. It was a nice tradition and she took great care to pack each basket every year for Christmas gifts. Many of these Church and Dwight items could be used in a similar fashion. Six Christmas Essentials for the Holidays Arm and Hammer Oxi Clean Crystal Burst – because holidays mean meals and guests which also means doing laundry. Vitafusion SleepWell Melatonin would be good for the traveler in your bunch. One of the members of this family takes melatonin out of necessity often and we’ve been trying this gummy version for a week or so. I like that there’s a gummy version of melatonin for those times when you are away from home and jet lagged. There are dozens of versions of Melatonin now, but it’s nice to see this one too. Orajel Toothpaste and Toothbrushes: With all the treats and extra goodies the kids will be eating over the holidays after they open their Christmas gifts, it makes sense to have Orajel toothpaste handy and these cute Orajel Mario toothbrushes are excellent stocking stuffers. Orajel is an anti-cavity fluoride toothpaste gel that kids love and Mario can’t help but make mini gamers want to brush. The Nair Moroccan Argan Oil Face Wax is a great little stocking stuffer. This Nair Moroccan Argan Oil has a breakthrough technology and a washable resin wax formula. It would be good for travel emergencies too. The small size works inside a suitcase and it’s only $14.99. Batiste Original Dry Shampoo is fast becoming one of my favourite new products. It works brilliantly to take care of oily hair those times when you don’t have a moment to wash. The Batiste has been used here a few times by one of my teens. This is a great stocking stuffer. This is an all year round essential but it works for Christmas Essentials too. Stuff one in the stocking of any teenager you know. We used this on picture day this year or last year. As in, the time we forgot it was picture day and then had to scramble to get dressed and presentable enough for photos that morning. Teenage necessity. Brilliant product! Gravol Ginger Liquid Gels. These work well for any stomach upsets. No drowsiness with these either. Good for anyone who gets motion sick. That makes these a crucial part of my Christmas Essentials here. Make sure to travel with them or keep some on hand for guests. I received product in order to facilitate this post. My opinion is all my own and 100 % honest.

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melatonin Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Melatonin Facts – What You Need to Know About This Common Sleep Aid

Six Christmas Essentials for the Holidays #TMMGG2015