• From: relocating to Noble Dreams
  • Registered: 2006-01-29

Topic: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

There was some discussion regarding Vitamin B-12 (as Methylcobalamin - 5000 mcg) on another thread.  It sounded like a great sleep aid so I ordered a bottle, but it hasn't helped with my sleep.
I don't know if the brand makes a difference or not; I bought  Harvest Moon.  Any suggestions?

I bought mine online and I was surprised to learn that it had added ingredients: sorbitol, Dicalcium phosphate, Calcium Stearate, Steric acid, Silica.  Haven't had time to look them all up yet...they don't sound good though.

Any other suggestions for sleep would be appreciated; I have sleep deprivation...never go into rim.

  • From: Melbourne, Australia
  • Registered: 2005-07-11

Re: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

Exercise and go for runs during the day. Do not exercise whatsoever before sleep.
Relax and be happy before sleeping. Relaxing your eyes really helps for me. If you can relax your eyes you can go to sleep.
Keep the house as dark as possible to get your melatonin working. Don't use the computer before sleeping because the light is unnatural.

"The universe is on fire with wonder, beauty, and ecstasy." - From the Undines to Humanity

3 Reply by Auendove (edited by Auendove 2006-08-06 04:18:34)

  • From: terra incognita
  • Registered: 2004-03-25

Re: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

Hi Pamelajean,

That was me telling czyx about the higher level dose of B-12 I had found. In case you haven't seen it, there is a past conversation about B-12 found on an older page of the Dreams thread found at the following link, where we're talking about it enhancing dreams, not necessarily sleep (although it seems to make for a better sleep)--

http://forum.noblerealms.org/viewtopic. … 83&p=7

I've taken B-12 for a long time for CFS, but didn't start taking it before going to sleep until czyx had mentioned about dreams.

I take melatonin for sleep, and have for over ten years now. I take a 3mg sublingual form, but there's also a spray. I wouldn't suggest the ingestible melatonin tab though, because it doesn't work as well and takes much longer for having to go through the whole body. I'm normally fast asleep within 15-20 minutes of popping one under my tongue. I've never tried taking the B-12 without the melatonin so I don't know if it will put one fast to sleep, but it does seem to help me with having a better sleep once I am asleep.

Melatonin will also promote dreams...BIG TIME, but be forewarned that some people can't/won't take melatonin because they have bad dreams, but that's not because of the supplement itself, it's because of what's stuffed in the subconscious making it's way out. At least as I understand it this is the cause for the bad dreams. 

As for exercise--power walking and running are great, as long as you can do it. I used to power walk about 20 miles a week, but have an old lower back injury that is just causing me more and more problems as I get older. I've recently found that if I even walk 1.5 miles these days I have hip, knee, and foot pain  sad  . Quite the bummer this is, but this points to how some people can't rely solely on exercise to procure good sleep.

And anyway, I still took the melatonin when I walked because of its interworkings with the pineal gland. I had some not so good dreams when I first started taking it, but pushed past it...=D I was happy to get the kwappy out of my subconscious. 

I don't know how old you are Pamelajean, but as well, as people get older their bodies just simply produce less melatonin.

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
------
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance.
------
If you spin around on your chair really fast, things around here will make a lot more sense.

lol
  • Lono
  • Lono
  • Walker of worlds
  • Offline
  • From: Oklahoma, USA
  • Registered: 2006-05-03

Re: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

I take melatonin every night, and have recently started taking a b-complex plus valerian by Sundown, I believe.  I've been a chronic insomniac for years and had to get off the meds (ambien, lunesta, benzos), so started using more natural means.  While the melatonin helps and the b-complex results remain to be seen, I've had staggering results with a magnesium/ calcium supplement before bedtime!  I use the liquid variety and it works well for me.

5 Reply by Pamelajean (edited by Pamelajean 2006-08-07 09:00:23)

  • From: relocating to Noble Dreams
  • Registered: 2006-01-29

Re: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

Thanks for all of your replys, they're much appreciated.  I did know that the B-12 was mentioned on the dream list, but I didn't think I should post this question there...thought it may be a little confusing since I was asking about the sleep part of it.  I didn't remember who made the post so I looked  through the dream thread to find it, but for whateverreason didn't.  I was tired at the time and probably could have missed a whale singing in my living room. 

I'll give the melatonin a try, in the recommended form.  I do take magnesium (powder form) and it doesn't  help me with sleep, but maybe combined with the melatonin it will.  I stay away from calcium when I can because it seems it is added to everything under the new sun, can't see how I could possibly need calcium.

The B-12 I bought is a sublingual, but the tablet does not dissolve, even after an hour.  I tried chewing it and then holding it under my tongue, but it still doesn't dissolve. It's extremely scratchy and irritating.   

Thanks again.

6 Reply by PleiadeanHealer

  • PleiadeanHealer
  • Guest

Re: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

I tried the B-12 before bed last night and it worked great!   I was surprized at how vivid my dreams were.   I also took just a little melatonin too, to help me fall asleep.

Tonight I plan to try only the B-12.    Also, I used just regular B-12 not the sublingual form and only took 500 mcg.

The dreams were a bit all over the place, but were very vivid all night.  It makes me wonder what's in the B-12 that makes your dreams so vivid, I would have never guessed this would work.

I'm going to keep experimenting and see how it goes.


PH

7 Reply by Auendove (edited by Auendove 2006-08-07 10:34:54)

  • From: terra incognita
  • Registered: 2004-03-25

Re: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

Pamelajean,

...and anyone else who'll start taking melatonin--

I would suggest the first few nights that you take melatonin that you don't have anywhere special to be the next morning (like a job wherein you're required to be sharp as a tack). I suggest this because if the dose you take is more than what is needed you might have a bit of a hangover. I can take 3mg just fine, but if I take more then I'm dragging my patootie the following day. As well, I've talked to people who'll have the sleep benefits with taking a smaller dose, even as little as .5 mg, but will have a hangover with the average 3mg dose like I and others take.

So, this is just a heads-up to be aware that you may have to experiement with the dose, on your days off of work, to find what's going to work best for you. This hangover gig I'm talking about is not a debilitating thing (like an alcohol hangover), but you could be yawning and sleepy through the following day.

My suggestion is not to the end of scaring one off of taking melatonin, rather it's just to make you aware that you'll need to mete out the best dose for you. I'd not like for you to take a whole 3mg dose, have it be a little strong, and then you having to do something like make a presentation at work where you'll not be totally on your game...just because I didn't forewarn you about this.

The NOW 3mg sublingual melatonin product I take is easily broken in half and quarters.

Oh yeah, and melatonin is also a powerful antioxidant and is also known as an anti-aging supplement wink . I even once read a study where people who were recovering from brain tumors took up to 20mg a day to aid in their recovery program.  lol  How they're taking that much and functioning I have no idea, but that's what I read.

Pamelajean wrote:

The B-12 I bought is a sublingual, but the tablet does not dissolve, even after an hour.  I tried chewing it and then holding it under my tongue, but it still doesn't dissolve. It's extremely scratchy and irritating.

This sounds hinky to me. You might want to contact the maker and talk to them about this. It should melt under you tongue rather quickly, and that scratchy and irritating bit just doesn't sound right.

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
------
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance.
------
If you spin around on your chair really fast, things around here will make a lot more sense.

lol
  • From: relocating to Noble Dreams
  • Registered: 2006-01-29

Re: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

Yep, it was scratchy alright.  I called the maker and they said the company they bought it from explained that it is due to it being 5000 mcg.  I told her that that sounded illogical.  I'm returning the bottle and am going to try another brand.

Thanks for the forewarn. I'll start out with a low dose of melatonin and then work up from there.

  • Registered: 2005-07-09

Re: Vitamin B-12, 5000 - Sleep

I've used twinlabs brand (vegetarian) 500mcg b-12 sublingual tablets and they seem to be good to me. I can't really say how much my body absorbs or anything like that, but they are small tablets, don't taste bad, and the dissolve fine under the tongue and they aren't harsh and scratchy. I have a non-sublingual mixed with calcium that is chalky and scratchy but it's not meant to be dissolved in the mouth.

In general one recommendation on testing supplements is to take the pill and put it in a glass of water and let it sit and see if it dissolves over time. If it doesn't dissolve that would raise the question of if it would acctually dissolve in your stomach, to even reach the point where you might be able to absorb some of it.

I tried the B-12 before bedtime last night. Also took some valerian tincture which I normally do. I also tried taping my new moldavite crystal to my forehead. I can't say I had any more vivid or bright dreams. It was all unremarkable so I couldn't discern any benefit from taking the B-12. I had a couple fragmented memories of dreams where I was talking to some aliens (typical grey type), which isn't normal for me. But as far as I can tell it was just a dream and nothing special.