5-HTP

[jacksfullofaces]

I use 5HTP myself but you should use small doses. Husband and I take 50 mg twice daily and are fine with it.On no account combine 5HTP with anti depressants because it can cause Serotonin Syndrome which is quite nasty.
Jacks

[Admin]

I'm certainly not an expert on anything, but I have been taking sleeping medication on and off for quite a while, because my worst meno symptom is insomnia. Since I've sorted out my prog intolerance problem though, I sleep much better, and I've almost weaned myself off all medication (YAY - doing happy dance..lol..).

I started off taking Temazepam, but when I wanted to wean myself off that I read quite a bit about it and the recommended method is to switch over to Diazepam and then reduce using it, because it has a much longer half life, plus you can get it in much smaller doses. My GP also agreed with this method. Diazepam (valium) has a bad name, mainly because of its misuse years ago, but I never minded taking it, because I felt I got a good night's sleep and never had any hang over effects the next day.

Anyway, regarding the antidepressants, I was also taking Endep (amitriptyline) for a while which my GP prescribed because it is an older style sedating AD. Other ADs aren't sedating, so that might explain why some people experience insomnia while taking them.

I have also used slow release melatonin. It worked okay, but I never found that it worked well enough to sort out the raging hormonal insomnia I had, but it worked okay in conjunction with the Diazepam while I was weaning myself of it. With melatonin, more isn’t better. I have been told that you can take up to 6mg, but I’ve also read that it works better if you take between 2-4 mg, which is also the amount that my GP prescribed.

The other thing I have found to be helpful is a capsule called "Sleep Minerals". It is a natural magnesium/calcium supplement, but it has been somehow specially formulated to be absorbed very quickly, and I have found that it works very well if you take it just before bed, of if you wake up during the night. You have to buy it online from America, but it's not very expensive. I was quite sceptical about it initially, because I've never found any of those "natural" or over the counter sleep medications helped me at all (I think valerian actually made my insomnia worse), but I do feel quite impressed with Sleep Minerals.

Here is the website link if you're interested.

www.nutritionbreakthroughs.com/html/sleep_remedy_for_insomnia_help.html

[Admin]

I really feel for you getting the glums Candy. That was something that I found so hard to cope with when I went meno. I'm a normally very optimistic happy person, but the anxiety and depression really sent me into a spin. Mostly those feelings came from the insomnia, so now that I seem to have that under control (thanks to Utro which so far I seem to cope with okay), mostly I feel like my old self again, thank goodness. It's such a shame you don't react the same way to Utro.

[Admin]

I was going to ask if it would make a difference if you used Utro vaginally, because I think you said you were taking it orally??

[jacksfullofaces]

Improved quality of mood and sleep.
Jacks

[jacksfullofaces]

yes Candy
I do get along very well with Utrogestan. I think the mistake made by the company who produces it is not making up 50mg capsules. These used say twice daily might be better tolerated then 100mg at a time.
A friend of mine founed it intolerable so I advised her to cut a capsule in half ( not easy) anyhow she found it easier to tolerate.
Jacks

[Admin]

Hmm - never thought about cutting the Utro in half. Could be helpful for some women.

[menomale]

Jun 19, 2012 8:45:37 GMT jacksfullofaces said:

yes Candy
I do get along very well with Utrogestan. I think the mistake made by the company who produces it is not making up 50mg capsules. These used say twice daily might be better tolerated then 100mg at a time.
A friend of mine founed it intolerable so I advised her to cut a capsule in half ( not easy) anyhow she found it easier to tolerate.
Jacks

I agree, Utrogestan is an ancient drug now, why not produce a 50mg capsule? 
How on Earth can you cut a soft capsule in half? Unless it wasn't 'soft' back in 2012?