Insomnia - A Common Symptom of Autoimmune

Insomnia - one of the biggest problems for many sufferers of autoimmune diseases. Fatigue is usually one of the normal symptoms with all autoimmune's, so when insomnia is also an issue it makes fatigue completely uncontrollable and your life dysfunctional.

At my last support group meeting this issue was addressed during a guest speaker talking about natural supplements and alternatives to medication. One thing that peaked my interest was Melatonin. Our guest speaker says that Melatonin is a natural hormone our body produces, but Melatonin supplements can boost your body's Melatonin and help with insomnia. It's an all natural, safe alternative to medications like Ambien and Lunesta. There are no side effects and it's non-habit forming either.

One of my fellow group attendees use to take medication for her insomnia, and then she switched to Melatonin and that's all she takes. She says it's the most restful sleep she has, much better than she had medicated. I know myself, I have been prescribed Trazadone to put me to sleep and Baclofen to help me get into a deeper sleep and stay in a deeper sleep. Problem is, when I take my meds the next day I am hung-over all day as a side effect. Needless to say I only take those meds when I'm absolutely desperate.

Melatonin is available in a pill form, powder form, liquid form and is also found in many teas as I've been told by my friend Susan. One thing I should note, is that if you are taking any form of anti-depressants you should not take Melatonin.

Physiologic's Melatonin Sublingual Liquid 1 mg 59 ml

Melatonin Sublingual Liquid 1 mg 59 ml This item is not available for shipment to Canada. Nutritionally Supports Sound Sleep* Natural Black Cherry Flavor Dietary Supplement Supplement Facts Serving Size: 1 ml Servings Per Container: 59 Amount Per Serving: Melatonin 1 mg (as n-Acetyl-5-Methoxytryptamine) Other Ingredients: Glycerin, Purified Water, Natural Black Carrot and Black Currant Concentrates (Color), Citric Acid, Natural Black Cherry Flavor, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative). Directions: For adults, take one dropper-full (1 mL) at bedtime as Melatonin may produce drowsiness. As a reminder, discuss the supplements and medications you take with your health care providers. TAMPER RESISTANT: Do not use if outer seal is broken or missing. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Store in a dry place and avoid excessive heat. WARNING: Not intended for use by pregnant or nursing women. If you are taking any medications, consult your doctor before use. Discontinue use and consult your doctor if any adverse reactions occur. Do not drive, operate machinery or consume alcohol when taking this product. Limit use to two months with a break of one week. Not intended for use by persons under the age of 18. FREE OF: wheat, milk or milk derivatives, lactose, sugar, soy, artificial flavor, sodium (less than 5 mg per serving). Laboratory Tested to Guarantee Quality For Health Care Professional Use Only Nighttime Sleep Aid* PRODUCT DISCUSSION: Occasional sleeplessness can affect anyone - young or old. Our convenient liquid Melatonin formula nutritionally supports sound sleep, especially for those experiencing occasional sleeplessness or jet lag. * *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. ~

Source Naturals Melatonin 2.5 mg Sublingual Peppermint, 120 tab

Melatonin 2.5 mg Sublingual Peppermint Melatonin is a neurohormone produced in humans by the pineal gland. A favorite of travelers, it governs the body's circadian rhythms. Melatonin is also a potent antioxidant.abel Information: Dietary Supplement The Benefit of Sublingual's Some nutrients may break down during liver metabolism. The sublingual form is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, via the blood vessels under the tongue and in the cheeks, bypassing the liver and allowing for quick entry into the system. Suggested Use: One tablet at bedtime, one half may be sufficient for some people. Do not take more than two tablets daily unless recommended by your physician. Place tablet under the tongue and allow to dissolve slowly, altering the position of the tablet to avoid prolonged contact with the same area. Store in a cool dry place .Warning: Use only at bedtime. For adult use only. Not for use by children, teenagers, or pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you are under medical supervision, or have and autoimmune disease, diabetes, a depressive disorder, a thyroid condition, epilepsy, leukemia, or a lymphoproliferative disorder, or are taking MAO inhibitor drugs or corticosteroids such as cortisone or prednisone, consult with your physician before taking this product. Do not use if either tamper-evident seal is broken or missing. Keep out of the reach of children .Supplement Facts: Serving Size 1 Tablet Amount Per Serving %DV* Vitamin B-6 (from pyridoxal-5' 335 mcg 15 % phosphate [Coenzymated] Melatonin 2.5mg* Percent Daily Values (%DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. + Daily Value not established.ther Ingredients: Sorbitol, mannitol, magnesium stearate, natural orange flavor, and stearic acid .Suitable for vegetarians. Contains no yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, soy or wheat. Contains no sugar, starch, salt, preservatives, or artificial color, flavor or fragrance.

Source Naturals Melatonin Liquid Sublingual Orange, 4 fl oz

Melatonin Liquid Orange Melatonin is a neurohormone produced in humans by the pineal gland. A favorite of travelers, it governs the body's circadian rhythms. Melatonin is also a potent antioxidant .Supplement Facts serving size: 1 dropper-full Amount %DV Melatonin 1 mg ?Other Ingredients: deionized water, proplyene glycol, sorbitol, natural orange flavor, vegetable glycerin, citric acid, alcohol (6%), methylparaben and propylparaben. Suggested Use: 1 to 3 droppers-full before bedtime. A dropper-full is approximately 1.0 cc (1 mg). Do not take more than 3 droppers-full (3.0 cc) daily, unless recommended by your physician. Warning: USE ONLY AT BEDTIME. For adult use only. Not for use by children, teenagers, or pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you are under medical supervision, or have an autoimmune disease, diabetes, a depressive disorder, a thyroid condition, epilepsy, leukemia, or a lymphoproliferative disorder, or are taking MAO inhibitor drugs or corticosteroids such as cortisone or prednisone, consult your physician before taking this product. SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING.

If you suffer from insomnia and find that nothing works, there are ways to adjust your lifestyle to accommodate the lack of restful sleep. I've spent over a year dealing with severe insomnia and have spoken with a lot of doctors and other sufferers to try to cope, and have gotten a lot of great advice. Here are some of the tips I can give that I have tried myself - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It may work for you, it may not, but if you're tired, you're usually willing to try anything.

1) Develop a bed-time routine. A nice bath with aromatherapy scents meant to calm and relax your body/mind works well. Some of the scents highly recommended:
- Chamomile
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Mandarin
- Rose
- and Sandalwood

2) Teas - there are many teas on the market now (some containing Melatonin) specially made to help your body calm and relax for bed.

3) Meditation - take time to meditate and with your mind relax your body top to bottom, muscle group by muscle group.

4) Turn off your TV, mp3 player, etc - they are very distracting of sleep. Instead, try natural sounds, you can find CD's and special clocks, etc. that have the sounds of the ocean, water, light thunder - sounds that soothe the mind.

5) Allow extra time - go to bed a little earlier to give yourself some extra time for you to fall asleep.

6) If you find yourself waking up throughout the night and not able to go back to sleep, etc - I highly recommend and insomnia/sleep clinic study. Many people find through sleep studies that they actually suffer from conditions like sleep apnea and that is what is jolting them awake through the night or not allowing them to sleep deeply.

7) If you're like me, once I'm awake, I'm up for the day. Even though I try all of the steps above, I cannot fall back asleep so I just learn to adjust my day for it. If possible (mostly for stay-at-home-moms) plan for a nap or rest time that day. If you have children at home, arrange for a sitter so that your body can get the sleep it needs to function. If it's impossible for you because of work, etc - it is OK to use a sick day when you have to and if you can afford to.

8) If you do suffer from severe insomnia, there could be underlying causes - I highly recommend seeing your doctor to be checked for conditions that may be keeping your from sleeping. Usually, once the underlying condition is treated, the insomnia will clear up on it's own.

Now - there are some people that suffer from insomnia simply because they're worriers and bedtime is where they cannot shut their thinking process off and cross over into sleep mode - this is where Melatonin and other supplements or medications would be very beneficial if all else fails.

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