Melatonin users, what happens when you suddenly stop?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been taking one melatonin tablet a night for the past 60 nights (exactly)

I’ve ran out. I ordered some more days ago but the delivery is not forthcoming.

I expect It will not have more than a psychological effect (The knowledge of not having taken one might indirectly keep me awake) but I thought I’d ask anyway, as I know a few dopers use it or have used it in the past.

2

Any reason for ordering it rather than buying it in your local pharmacy?

3

A friend at work led me to believe it wasn’t available in the UK. He gave me the first 60. When I knew I was about to run out I went on the internet. Turns out there are uk based sites. To be honest I didn’t think of going to a pharmacy.

4

I don’t know about the UK, but in California it’s available in every drugstore.

5

Wouldn’t that be directly, rather than indirectly? :dubious:

6

I had no problems when I went off of it. I suspect that it will take a while to fully deplete the reseves. But I am not an expert on such things, that is only an opinion.

7

I’ve never heard of anyone having problems going off melatonin, and I’ve always been fine without it. Now, ZMA is a different thing altogether…

8

Personally, I go back to being an insomniac. Otherwise no effects. And the insomnia is an immediate effect; it happens any night I don’t take it unless I’m really dead tired. As far as I know, the body doesn’t store melatonin.

9

Same with me.

10

I was taking melatonin regularly for years, but stopped recently when I thought I was developing a tolerance for it: it would help me go to sleep, but then I’d wake up in the middle of the night and toss restlessly for 2-3 hours. Since I’ve stopped taking it, I don’t fall asleep as quickly–I might be up an or so hour later than I used to–but the long periods of wakefulness in the night don’t occur as often.