I have been having problems with my sleep for the past 4 nights. Before that, I was using Z-12 for about 2 weeks straight… And decided I should take some time off, because, well, I don’t want to abuse it. I’m worried now, I think I might be having withdrawal symptoms because I didn’t cycle it as advised.
For the record, I have been plagued with bad sleep for as long as I can remember. I find it hard to fall asleep, or go back to sleep when I wake up. I also wake up often in the middle of the night. This is a real bitch, as if I woke up 2 hours before I wanted to today and spent 2 hours tossing and turning in bed.
Here’s what I’ve been doing the past 4 days in order to help me get to sleep:
Day 1 - Melatonin and valerian root… Fail. Took me over an hour to fall asleep, woke up about 30 minutes early.
Day 2 - Valerian root and Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride (75 mg)… Fail. I still had trouble falling asleep, and felt bad and groggy all of the next day.
Day 3 - Valocardin (a mild OTC barbiturate), valerian root, GABA. Couldn’t fall asleep 'till 3:30 AM (usual time is about 1 AM). Took a bit of Valocardin, because I couldn’t take it anymore. Woke up early and felt groggy and shite all day long.
Day 4 - Melatonin, GABA, Valerian root. Fail. I actually fell asleep pretty well (probably cause I only had like 5 hours of sleep the previous night) but woke up at 6:50 instead of the planned 9:40! Son of a bitch! Couldn’t go back to sleep.
Don’t wanna be an alarmist about Z-12, btw. One of the best supplements I ever tried. I think I’ll have some today, actually, because I really need some good sleep to keep me sane.
But, what else can I do to help me chill out and fall asleep better? I keep thinking, I don’t wanna take stuff like melatonin and scary chemicals for my entire life. I’m only 21… Bloody hell…
are you taking any stems throughout the day? try having some carbs before bed. meditate/pray before bed to clear your head. stretch before bed. take slow deep breathes. just look up some relaxation techniques and gives those a try. also, whats your diet like?
Not being able to sleep can be a real bastard child.
However Sometimes I go through periods where I only get 3-4 hours sleep for several days but feel fine. If your body doesn’t want to sleep then sometimes it doesn’t always need it.
However if your constantly feeling like shit try reducing the intensity of your workouts and increase the volume.Too high intensity can cause insomnia according to charles poloquin. Also try getting a good book to read every night.
I did not see where Biotest recommended cycling Z-12. I only saw where they recommended not taking it more than once a day so you don’t get acclimated to the effects.
“Recommended Use: Take 1-3 capsules on an empty stomach 30 minutes prior to bedtime, or whenever desiring a calm, relaxed state. To determine the ideal dose, begin with one capsule per day and increase by one capsule per day (up to a maximum of three) until achieving the desired effect. Never exceed three capsules per day. To keep the body sensitive to the effects, do not take more than once per day.”
I have my last meal (usually a shake) 60 minutes before bed then take three ZMA and one Z-12 30 minutes later. Then I proceed with my pre bed routine and am in bed within 30 minutes or less. This has worked well for me.
[quote]G87 wrote:
BillO21 wrote:
Do you get really tired at any point in the day? I mean to the point where you can close your eyes and fall asleep right away?
When you can’t fall asleep, are you wired?
I can’t fall asleep during the day
However, sometimes I’m very tired. Still, I’m wired when I actually go to bed.
Bushido, do you use a lot of stims? Has AAS usage affected your sleep?
Duddy - absolutely NO stims :S. What exactly would you like to know about my diet? Nutrient ratio?
Cheers for the read Horatio, and thanks to everyone else who pitched in.
[/quote]
I was thinking cortisol could be the issue. This was my problem. I started taking Glycine 5 grams twice later at night. I also take Phosphatidyl Serine later at night. I did this for a couple of weeks and noticed I had no nights where I couldn’t fall asleep for a prolonged period of time. Before this I would have nights where I would lay awake wired til 4 or 5 am. This would happen 2-3 times a month.
I was just reading Poliquin and he has a product called Licorice Supreme that he says increases the half life of cortisol. This would be taken in the morning to keep cortisol up to give you energy.
If you look at the Z-12 thread in the forum, I believe it’s TC who mentions he cycles it 2 days on, 1 day off personally, and other people have suggested that some of the substances in it are addictive.
BBB
Funny that you mention Thailand. I was on Holiday in Israel for a fortnight on around New Years, lived near the beach, and slept FAR better. I don’t feel particularly stressed out now that I’m back home, but I guess there is an effect after all…
Oh, also… BBB, I actually have a bunch of spikes and caff-free spikes but I’m afraid of taking them and being wired, like, forever :D.
Crazy, but when I have any caffeinated drink, I actually wake up feeling wired the next day and tend to go for a brisk walk or do some other light activity to get some of the energy out of me. I was just wondering about the AAS because everyone always talks about how they make them feel better all-around… Guess they’re not a cure for insomnia, though.
Oh, I find that Oxiracetam seems to act as a diuretic and light stim when I take it… Hasn’t been a problem most of the time, but since i’m so hyper in the past week I stopped taking it
I’m probably gonna try a long meditation session tonight and see if that helps. I believe it did affect my sleep positively in the past, but I always find it hard to stick with it consistently.
