Posted by Ron Hill on June 10, 2003, at 11:12:41
In reply to Re: update (insomnia), posted by Boba Fat on June 10, 2003, at 3:48:48
Hi Boba,
Just a thought; this may or may not have applicability to your situation. In the past, I (like most mental health patients) struggled with insomnia (getting to sleep and staying asleep). However, I now take 800 mg of magnesium at bedtime each night and it knocks me out like turning off a light and keeps me asleep throughout the night like a hibernating bear. I awake the next morning feeling refreshed and restored. YMMV.
I'm also convinced that the magnesium exerts positive effects on my brainchemistry functioning throughout the day.
Larry can say it better than I, but not all forms of magnesium are created equal when it comes to absorption. I take 400 mg/day (measured as Mg) of magnesium citrate and 400 mg/day (measured as Mg) of magnesium malate. If it causes diarrhea, back off on the dosage.
Do you take a magnesium supplement? What chelating agent? How much? What time of day do you take it?
I agree with what you all have already said; good sleep quality and duration is essential for good mental health.
-- Ron
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> I've followed this thread with interest. My problem with sleep was that it used to take me hours to get off. No matter how tired I was I would be tossing and turning. I was also a waker, I would wake 7 or 8 times, sometimes bolt upright - wide awake over a 5-6 hour 'sleep'. My other problem was occasional sleep paralysis and regular nightmares. Over the years my doctors have been reluctant to prescribe sleep aids and I have had to rely on Valerian, chamomile tea and warm milk - not the greatest sleep aids for someone with serious sleep problems. Recently since giving up most alcohol and stimulants I have had tons of energy which has manifested my problems into true insomnia. I concur that lack of sleep worsens anxiety and mood so I sought a solution. My doctor would only prescribe dothiepin but this only helped marginally. After only a few weeks stopped working at all. I had to stop taking it anyway because of the e-numbers, lactose and wheat starch it contained (because of my pesky diet) but it was neither helping my depression or sleep anyway. Now I rely on self medicated Klonopin, Diphenhydramine, codeine and the old Valerian and chamomile, often combining all five. This isn't a permanant solution though as I don't want to become tolerant or dependant to klonopin as I would rather save it for social anxiety and panic attacks (it is also expensive). There is a risk of tolerance with Diphenhydramine with long term use and the problems with possible codeine addiction are scary. The valerian and chamomile on their own just don't cut it though. I am interested in melatonin but it is not available here in England so I would have to mail order it (don't worry Bob, I won't ask where I can get it though! ;) ). Anyway that is my story. Sorry about the length but I just thought I would add my 2 cents to this interesting and relevant thread.
>
poster:Ron Hill
thread:231352
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030609/msgs/232886.html