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bhog
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
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Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:23 pm Post subject: Melatonin? |
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I'm having a hell of a time sleeping here. I looked for melatonin at the supermarket. No luck. It is easy to find here? |
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jaganath69

Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:06 am Post subject: Re: Melatonin? |
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bhog wrote: |
I'm having a hell of a time sleeping here. I looked for melatonin at the supermarket. No luck. It is easy to find here? |
I've seen it in pharmacies, 약국 in Korean. Just look around, there are usually quite a few in a neighborhood. You can also get Zalden and Aron over the counter which are mild hypnotics (I think). |
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chotaerang
Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Location: In the gym
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:35 am Post subject: |
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You can get it in the black market basement at Namdaemoon. |
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Tiger Beer

Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Melatonin? |
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bhog wrote: |
I'm having a hell of a time sleeping here. I looked for melatonin at the supermarket. No luck. It is easy to find here? |
Hannam Market also has it (one subway stop east of Itaewon).
Does Melatonin work well? Any side effects?
I bought it.. but never used it.. usually aren't very effective with me.. tripping out more with sleeping aids side effects than actually sleeping.
How about with Melatonin? |
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jaganath69

Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Melatonin? |
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Tiger Beer wrote: |
bhog wrote: |
I'm having a hell of a time sleeping here. I looked for melatonin at the supermarket. No luck. It is easy to find here? |
Hannam Market also has it (one subway stop east of Itaewon).
Does Melatonin work well? Any side effects?
I bought it.. but never used it.. usually aren't very effective with me.. tripping out more with sleeping aids side effects than actually sleeping.
How about with Melatonin? |
Melatonin gives you a good night's sleep with no residual drowsyness. |
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corroonb
Joined: 04 Aug 2006
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Wangja

Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Most pharmacies have Melatonin - but you can't buy it in Costco and supermarkets as in US. |
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jmbran11
Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: U.S.
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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I just bought it at the normal pharmacy down the street, but I find it useless. Nothing but the hard stuff for me. |
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PaperTiger

Joined: 31 May 2005 Location: Ulaanbataar
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Just bought some at the Dandy Grocery, the lil' store just outside of Hannan Mkt. proper. The stuff works like nobody's business, but I was pretty drowsy all day after, but that varies from person to person. You can't really take it more than once or twice a week or it stops working, I know because I had a pretty serious problem with insomnia and insomnia-related anxiety (basically dreading not being able to sleep, exercerbating the problem) and after taking it a few times a week it didn't do anything. I think you'll find the same goes for anything that can cause drowsiness, valerian root works well until you start taking it too often. Most other kinds of depressants such as Nyquil or Theraflu can be habit-forming or addictive, just like other prescription meds for sleep problems. If you have a condition or ongoing situation that is causing sleep-deprivation, you're going to to want to find a solution that doesn't involve drugs.
Warm milk (dairy or soy) with some honey and a 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg does wonders. Soft music, dead man's yoga pose combined with deep measured breathing, aromatherapy, reading something dreadfully boring (like one of my other posts), and EAR PLUGS all work wonders.
DON'T DRINK, SMOKE, BROOD, WORRY, WATCH TV, EAT CHOCOLATE OR PROCESSED FOOD WITH MSG, OR SURF THE INTERNET IF YOU'RE DESPERATE FOR SLEEP. Most processed food contains MSG of some kind, but it is often labelled as something else because of the associations people make with it and its concern as an allergen and toxic substance.
Incidentally, I bought a bottle of Nyquil, a bottle of Melatonin, AND a box of Theraflu because occasionally I do get behind on my sleep and I need something shut my brain down long enough to get some rest. I would use these PERIODICALLY, not not not habitually.
Could be a breathing problem too. I went to the doctor because I was having quite a bit of interrupted sleep and wasn't resting well, which has a whole rainbow of unpleasant effects on your disposition as an employee, husband, friend, you name it. The doc told me the same thing a doc told my brother (who has the same problem)...we had a kind of irregularity or deformity in our sinuses and throats which caused restricted airflow. We both had the diagnoses concurrently but without knowing the other had the same problem, much to our chagrin the solution was either surgery and a rather uncomfortable recovery period or some expensive Western voodoo involving little gasmasks and machines. I got surgery and I'm fine now, my bro...still S.O.L.
Hope this helps. Sleep problems are terrible. Be well. |
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venus
Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: Near Seoul
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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Melatonin does nothing for me. Have the odd restless night myself.
Anyone reccomend any alternatives...? Anyone ever tried yoga or accupuncture; herbs or Chinese medicine or anything...?
Heard Kava Kava is good. Is it available in Korea? |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:17 am Post subject: |
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how bout go to the gym work your ass off you will fall asleep. |
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Wangja

Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:44 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, maybe when the 380 is in service. |
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here_for-_now
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:56 am Post subject: |
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jmbran11 wrote: |
I just bought it at the normal pharmacy down the street, but I find it useless. |
Really? I was told it was illegal in Korea at 2 different pharmacies  |
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jaganath69

Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:58 am Post subject: |
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here_for-_now wrote: |
jmbran11 wrote: |
I just bought it at the normal pharmacy down the street, but I find it useless. |
Really? I was told it was illegal in Korea at 2 different pharmacies  |
Go to another two and they will tell you a different story. Its a face-saving thing here. If you don't know the answer, make one up. |
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venus
Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: Near Seoul
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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Wrench wrote: |
how bout go to the gym work your ass off you will fall asleep. |
Well. This was the first thing I tried. Even after a six K run with sprints and then an hour of vigorous weightlifting I still couldn't sleep.
So I tried that and melatonin. Nothing. Tried over the counter herbal sleeping pills. nothing.
Doc prescribed me Ambien (Stilnox.) Not a thing, really no effect. Took two. Same. Tried Ambien and lots of beer after heavy exercise. That worked the first day I tried it but hangover almost not worth it. Next day I tried that - nothing.
Am now on a cocktail of Ambien; BuSpar 5mg (a benzodiapene) and Xanax 3.75mg (aplrazolam - another benzo.) Been on it for seven days.
Now this is a great coktail. Out like a light ten minues after laying down and wake around 6am wondering where the night went. Face looks younger, feel happier and rested.
But either the Xanax or the BuSpar makes me feel a bit down occasionally, this can be a side effect of Xanax. Also if you drink after having these drugs in your system you can get out of control as both lower your inhibitions in the same manner that alchohol does.
Doc advised to try it without the Xanax and the Ambien and Buspar alone didn't do a thing. Added the Xanax and pow - full nights sleep.
Now I can learn to live with these symptoms of course, but don't want to be on drugs for ever.
Ran out of the pills last nigth but had some Xanax left over from the ngith I tried the coktail minus the xanax. It alone had no effect.
I'm not depressed and had it before I came to Korea.
Main problem is I just can't seem to switch off, even though I feel sleepy and relaxed / okay about life etc...
So seriously - anyone know any effective techniques / natural remedies for insomnia, please let me know.  |
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