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Suggest Remedy For Trouble In Sleeping
Question: I'm 73 years old but have trouble sleeping. I go to bed at 8-8:30 because I'm tired but then wake up 3-4 hours later and stay awake for 4-5 hrs, then go back to restless sleep until 6:30 am. Is Melatonin (10 mg) ok to take to help me sleep thru the night or is there something else I should be doing (besides trying to stay up later cause it doesn't work!)?
Brief Answer:
Melatonin can be taken for sleep with proper prescription.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
You are 73 years and have trouble in sleep. You have multiple awakening in night and feel restless and depressed on getting awake.
Melatonin is a drug which acts like sleep hormone. The drug helps in good sleep without causing side effects and there is no risk of dependence. Newer drugs like Ramelteon can also be used. The drug have similar action as Melatonin and acts to correct altered sleep rhythm.
If the drugs fails to work because melatonin works mainly for altered sleep rhythm, then other medicines can be used. Common sleep medicines like Benzodiazepines or Z drugs should be avoided in elderly and they may increase risk of dependence, cognitive impairment and frequent falls.
Then other medicines like Trazodon, Mirtazapine, Doxepine etc can be utilised. These drugs are antidepressant drugs but used mainly for sleep problems. These drugs help individual to sleep properly without increasing the risk of dependence, cognitive impairment. So these drugs can prove as good options considering your age, complaints. These drugs will help to maintain sleep and will reduce restlessness, anxiety etc symptoms.
All these drugs are prescription medicines so I would advise you to consult a sleep specialist or psychiatrist for prescription of these drugs.
Thanks, please ask again for more doubts.
Melatonin can be taken for sleep with proper prescription.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
You are 73 years and have trouble in sleep. You have multiple awakening in night and feel restless and depressed on getting awake.
Melatonin is a drug which acts like sleep hormone. The drug helps in good sleep without causing side effects and there is no risk of dependence. Newer drugs like Ramelteon can also be used. The drug have similar action as Melatonin and acts to correct altered sleep rhythm.
If the drugs fails to work because melatonin works mainly for altered sleep rhythm, then other medicines can be used. Common sleep medicines like Benzodiazepines or Z drugs should be avoided in elderly and they may increase risk of dependence, cognitive impairment and frequent falls.
Then other medicines like Trazodon, Mirtazapine, Doxepine etc can be utilised. These drugs are antidepressant drugs but used mainly for sleep problems. These drugs help individual to sleep properly without increasing the risk of dependence, cognitive impairment. So these drugs can prove as good options considering your age, complaints. These drugs will help to maintain sleep and will reduce restlessness, anxiety etc symptoms.
All these drugs are prescription medicines so I would advise you to consult a sleep specialist or psychiatrist for prescription of these drugs.
Thanks, please ask again for more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I really don't want to take prescription drugs for sleeping and I am not depressed as was indicated in the answer. I guess I just want to know if taking 10 mg (or more) of Melatonin on a regular basis would be harmful to a person my age and can I take the Melatonin in the middle of the night (11:30-12:30) when I wake up so I can go back to sleep instead of staying awake for 3 or 4 hours before I fall asleep again.
Brief Answer:
Yes melatonin will be safe to use at your age
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking again
Melatonin will help in sleep and will not cause any harmful effects. The drug is safe to use and can be taken regularly without any risk of side effects of taken under proper prescription. So you can take the drug without any fear, it will help to maintain sleep. It will not be harmful for a person of your age. It will be better if you take drug in evening than late night. It helps by correcting sleep rhythm so taking in late night will not help much.
I have mentioned about antidepressants in last question for sleep. This doesn't mean that you have depression and I am sorry for that. These drugs are commonly used as sleep medicines and belongs to antidepressants class only.
Thanks
Yes melatonin will be safe to use at your age
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking again
Melatonin will help in sleep and will not cause any harmful effects. The drug is safe to use and can be taken regularly without any risk of side effects of taken under proper prescription. So you can take the drug without any fear, it will help to maintain sleep. It will not be harmful for a person of your age. It will be better if you take drug in evening than late night. It helps by correcting sleep rhythm so taking in late night will not help much.
I have mentioned about antidepressants in last question for sleep. This doesn't mean that you have depression and I am sorry for that. These drugs are commonly used as sleep medicines and belongs to antidepressants class only.
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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