Insomnia Problem- Melatonin over Zopiclone?

[dubagirl]

Well:
My insomnia has been very bad over the past 2 weeks now, and I'm fed up of trying the typical relaxation techniques as they are evidently not working!!
Normally with my insomnia I can't get to sleep for hours, and then when I finally do, I wake up many times, and so end up getting up very early.
But this time it's quite different- it still takes about 2/3 hours to fall asleep, but then I sleep for about 9/10 hours straight, only waking up when my parents try to force me up but I'm back asleep minutes later.
It's taken me by surprise (not by having insomnia again, but how it has changed in nature). I know it's not doing my depression any good at all as my daily routine has completely shifted, as I don't get out of bed now until 2.30pm/3pm.
Sorry, just noticed I'm rambling an awful lot! To cut to the chase-
I want to ask my consultant to write me up for some medication to help. I normally take 7.5mg of Zopiclone when I have insomnia but I'm thinking of asking for Melatonin instead? Since it's a natural chemical and everything. And also because I've had rather hit-and-miss experiences with Zopiclone, as it only sometimes works, and then if it does work it's either fine, or I have some very odd side-effects- whilst an inpatient, shortly after taking it, I was stumbling around everywhere but not feeling tired, falling out of bed and refusing to get back in, and generally acting like I was high/drunk. Well that's what I was told the next morning by the ward manager, who wanted to drugs test me, as I couldn't remember any of it happening. So not only was that really weird, but also highly embarrassing!!
So quite bizarre?!
Does anyone have any experiences with taking Melatonin, and whether it's any better than Zopiclone?
Thanks all,
xxxx

[Ms Tears Keep Fallin]

i don't i'm afraid but as it's natural its worth asking as your doc will propbably prefer you were on it i to have trouble sleeping and like you once i do get off i tend to sleep for to long i almost never manage to sleep at night so lose to many days any way good luck and take care i hope it settles down soon xxx

[Tig]

I haven't any experience of Melatonin but I have did exactly the same thing on Zopiclone. Sometimes it would work and sometimes it wouldn't - one night I was picked up by the police on the streets and when I woke up in hospital the next morning I was really confused as to why I was there and not at home!
Definitely think it's worth asking your consultant about trying Melatonin and also the hit & miss situation with Zopiclone because there are loads of different medications out there.
x

[everylastbit]

Melatonin is natural so it's always a bit hit and miss but it's worth a try. Zopiclone is only intended for short term use and it is not always tolerated by everyone. There are other sleep medications available though: I've been on zopiclone, diphenhydramine and a few benzodiazepines. I
These are all only intended for short term use.
I'm currently on quetiapine to help me sleep but that's an antipsychotic as well which I was prescribed for hallucinations and symptoms of psychosis. Quetiapine does work quite well and it can be prescribed off-label for sleep.

Basically it's definitely worth having a word with your doctor and seeing what they can suggest.

I know it's probably pretty obvious but you might want to try getting up early if at all possible and trying to readjust your sleep pattern to ''normal'' times.

Hope that helps,
Take care