16 replies to this topic

[N.T.M.]

I’ve had insomnia for over ten years and this upcoming semester in school is going to be particularly brutal because of a wacky schedule I have to conform to (a product of limited class availability). Anyway, I’ve tried many medications in the past, but they’ve all ultimately been ineffective. I’ve had many people recommend using marijuana for sleep, but I’ve never tried it. One caveat for me is that I’ve heard that long-term use can lead to memory loss. I'm a chemical engineering student, so any negative effects on cognition (experienced while not being under the influence of the drug) would be unacceptable to me. I was hoping somebody could give me some information on the subject. Perhaps a long-term study. 

 

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Also, I apologize if somebody already posted a similar thread. I looked around and didn’t see anything.

[hdl_1]

Better try magnesium biglycinate (or citrate), melatonin and l-theanine. At least 3 ppl I know got benefits from magnesium alone for insomnia.

[gamesguru]

i just wrote a little about this, you can read here: https://nootropix.co...ory-nootropics/

 

i'm not sure marijuana is the best solution. the sedative effect is delayed 2-3 hours, and therefore you cut into your productive evening with a stimulated (but very scatterbrained) period.  or maybe youre just sitting on your bum watching youtube at night anyways, i wouldn't know.  probably CBD has more to offer with less side effects, the pot community likes to play up the importance of THC.  how severe is your insomina man?  sorry to report that the more potent pharms are very likely going to have cognitive side effects

 

i would recommend liquid magnesium. easy to dose and quick to absorb, it is not much more expensive.

some things you wouldn't expect (stimulants), ginseng and ginkgo are presynaptic gaba antagonists, very good long-term solutions.  you can see evidence on my post here

i'm also a fan of valerian/ash/kava a few times per week

melatonin rich foods, rice and kiwi

and obviously, vigorous exercise

[N.T.M.]

i just wrote a little about this, you can read here: https://nootropix.co...ory-nootropics/

 

i'm not sure marijuana is the best solution. the sedative effect is delayed 2-3 hours, and therefore you cut into your productive evening with a stimulated (but very scatterbrained) period.  or maybe youre just sitting on your bum watching youtube at night anyways, i wouldn't know.  probably CBD has more to offer with less side effects, the pot community likes to play up the importance of THC.  how severe is your insomina man?  sorry to report that the more potent pharms are very likely going to have cognitive side effects

 

i would recommend liquid magnesium. easy to dose and quick to absorb, it is not much more expensive.

some things you wouldn't expect (stimulants), ginseng and ginkgo are presynaptic gaba antagonists, very good long-term solutions.  you can see evidence on my post here

i'm also a fan of valerian/ash/kava a few times per week

melatonin rich foods, rice and kiwi

and obviously, vigorous exercise

 

I already exercise and take melatonin. I'll try the magnesium, though. And to answer your question, lately my insomnia hasn't been too bad, but that's normal. The severity of my insomnia is somewhat cyclical. I'll go from how I am currently, taking several hours to fall asleep, to staying up for two to three days at a time. My concern is that if my insomnia gets worse, as it always has in the past, my school load my become infeasible. 

 

*edit* The article on cannabis suggests (to me at least) that it's not a good choice. Looks like there are too many potential drawbacks. Decreased neuroplasticity, too. 

Edited by N.T.M., 31 December 2016 - 04:46 AM.

[normalizing]

i wish to help but so do most people on this thread it seems as they try hard to recommend anything they can think of and seem helpful but take it from another chronic insomniac, the stuff they suggest only works temporally, mostly the herbal stuff.

 

for a while i was dealing with my insomnia chugging huge amount of liquor which put me to sleep up to 1-2 days a time but thats detrimental so i stopped. other solutions i find are antipsychotics and antihistamine meds. anything strong enough to knock out an elephant. thats how you subdue a chronic insomnia issue BUT i dont recomend its my personal lifestyle just my way of fixing it and opinion shared

[gamesguru]

yeah, the harder meds can be okay for insomnia. Nietzsche took chloral hydrate everyday for his. and still managed to be pretty productive.

just doing cannabis at night you're not going to have huge problems with neuroplasticity and cognitive dysfunction. it's more pronounced an issue for the all day toker. left idle, his whole mind slowly unravels. as I said the main problem is just being stoned at night, and getting less chemical engineering work at that time. expect at best to be on your butt and eating grapes to the tune of Cosmos tapes

[monowav]

I have found zinc to be very effective for helping me get to sleep. It blocks cortisol, an AChEI, and also helps T levels, if you're a guy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.../pubmed/1702662

https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/16243721

https://www.ncbi.nlm.../pubmed/1609752

 

I use Optizinc, and pour out about 1/3 of it so I'm taking around 30mg. Taken right before bed on an empty stomach.

[gamesguru]

be careful with the liquid forms.  potent stuff.  i would start at 10mg.  

ive had bad reactions at just 15mg, although on an empty stomach

 

liquid zinc:

https://www.pureform...earch-labs.html

http://www.professio...cs-Research.htm

http://www.swansonvi...-2-fl-oz-liquid

 

liquid mag:

http://www.gnc.com/T...uctId=104334016

http://www.swansonvi...-8-fl-oz-liquid

[maxwatt]

I cured insomnia by reading engineering text books.  Put me right too sleep , but somehow I became expert with active filter design ....

[maxwatt]

PS If you do use melatonin, 1/3 to 1/2 milligram most closely mimics blood levels of a normal sleep cycle.  More, and you are likely to waken early when the levels drop after being over-elevated.  I find 300 mcg is an ideal dose taken about 1/2 hour before sleep time. 

Edited by maxwatt, 31 December 2016 - 08:08 PM.

[monowav]

PS If you do use melatonin, 1/3 to 1/2 milligram most closely mimics blood levels of a normal sleep cycle.  More, and you are likely to waken early when the levels drop after being over-elevated.  I find 300 mg is an ideal dose taken about 1/2 hour before sleep time. 

I hope you mean 300mcg

[maxwatt]

 

PS If you do use melatonin, 1/3 to 1/2 milligram most closely mimics blood levels of a normal sleep cycle.  More, and you are likely to waken early when the levels drop after being over-elevated.  I find 300 mg is an ideal dose taken about 1/2 hour before sleep time. 

I hope you mean 300mcg.

 

 

damn auto spell correction
 

[N.T.M.]

yeah, the harder meds can be okay for insomnia. Nietzsche took chloral hydrate everyday for his. and still managed to be pretty productive.

just doing cannabis at night you're not going to have huge problems with neuroplasticity and cognitive dysfunction. it's more pronounced an issue for the all day toker. left idle, his whole mind slowly unravels. as I said the main problem is just being stoned at night, and getting less chemical engineering work at that time. expect at best to be on your butt and eating grapes to the tune of Cosmos tapes

 

I've taken strong medication for insomnia in the past, and the issue is always the same: initially they work, but then I have to take more to elicit the same effect. This continues until I've reached the maximum dose, and then eventually my insomnia returns to how it was before. The lethargy the next day, however, doesn't really go away. 

 

 

I have found zinc to be very effective for helping me get to sleep. It blocks cortisol, an AChEI, and also helps T levels, if you're a guy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.../pubmed/1702662

https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/16243721

https://www.ncbi.nlm.../pubmed/1609752

 

I use Optizinc, and pour out about 1/3 of it so I'm taking around 30mg. Taken right before bed on an empty stomach.

 

 

I've never heard of zinc as a remedy for insomnia, but I could try it. There's a supplement shop pretty close to my house. I could pick some up. 

 

PS If you do use melatonin, 1/3 to 1/2 milligram most closely mimics blood levels of a normal sleep cycle.  More, and you are likely to waken early when the levels drop after being over-elevated.  I find 300 mcg is an ideal dose taken about 1/2 hour before sleep time. 

 

 

I've been taking 10 times that amount (3 mg/night). Although I do wake up early sometimes, my biggest issue is just getting to sleep initially. 

Edited by N.T.M., 31 December 2016 - 09:52 PM.

[PeaceAndProsperity]

PS If you do use melatonin, 1/3 to 1/2 milligram most closely mimics blood levels of a normal sleep cycle.  More, and you are likely to waken early when the levels drop after being over-elevated. 

Are you sure that it's not in fact due to melatonin's effects on specific serotonin receptors that, when activated or whatever, can actually lead to less sleep and poorer quality of sleep? I find that if I take too high a dose of melatonin then it feels just like having elevated activation of the 5HT2 family of receptors.

[adamh]

I've had severe insomnia for years so bad I would go days without any real sleep, just resting in bed. I started blacking out when driving even though I took back roads and was super careful knowing I was impaired. I still had a very close call, looked both ways and pulled out right in front of a car. I knew I had to do something.

 

Don't use benzos, they are only good for short term, are highly addictive and have nasty side effects. I found several things that worked with just minor side effects. MJ is good for sleep, the bad thing is it loses its magic if you use it frequently and you need more or take something with it, maybe kava or what not. Most nights it will get me to sleep but not if I'm wired up over a project or new concept.

 

Mirtazapine knocks me out when I use micro doses once a week or 10 days. More often and it loses magic fast. I need only about half a mg to do the job. Another one that works well is seroquel, small doses again and no more than once every 9 days. Then I have etizolam, works very well, not as bad as the benzos since it isn't one but can be habit forming and tolerance. I need only about 1/4 mg to do the job.

 

Any of those can give mild groggy hangovers the next day, depending on dose. Thing is what is worse, a hangover or not sleeping and dying? Even if not dying, severe insomnia makes life hell and might make one want to die. Pick your poison. Using things less often  means they keep working. Right now instead of pot 5 times a week I want to be able to cut down to no more than twice, which keeps its magical feeling and sleep inducing charms. I have some herbs on the way I plan to try. Nothing that has been mentioned.

 

This system has worked for me for over a year. Sides include short term memory loss and occasional groggy feeling the next day, mostly from the mirtiz and seroquel.

[sthira]

I've not had any negative long term consequences from sweet mother medicinal. Remember: the dose makes the cure or the poison. Don't go crazy on the stuff. Some of these beautiful strains are just waaaay too potent. Respect! Go easy! Marijuana is a medicine, and you've gotta regulate it with common sense like you'd not abuse any other powerful plant. That means -- take a break, no need to get flying high every single day -- go easy, be at peace with it long term.

[Adaptogen]

3-5 grams glycine + 250 mg theanine + 200-400 mg magnesium + 300 mcg melatonin.  You should also download/enable f.lux on your computer a few hours before bed to limit blue light exposure, avoid mid-day caffeine, bright light exposure immediately upon waking, etc, etc