Only Quayle was cuter and less annoying. Also less likely to become president.

Insomniacs, do you take magnesium supplements? I've started taking ~250-300 mg of magnesium in the evening, and it zonks me. I've done a lot of research on it, and (1) magnesium deficiency can fuck up sleep patterns, (2) most people have some level of magnesium deficiency, and (3) it's really helpful for a lot of other things, too (my perpetually sore muscles are less sore since I've started taking it, and I have -- slightly -- more energy).

Some clinicians recommend taking a magnesium/calcium combo (because the magnesium/calcium ratio in the body is important), but personally, I get a shitload of calcium in my diet, so I just take a magnesium citrate supplement.

The RDA for magnesium is 400 mg; however, sometimes too much magnesium will give you diarrhea. If you assume that you get *some* magnesium in your diet, then you probably don't need to take a full 400 mg via supplement (which is why my multi-vitamin is a Flintstone's vitamin -- I don't need 100% RDA via a vitamin pill, because my diet is decent, though not chock full o'vitamins).

Anyway. Magnesium supplements. Try them; if you take less than 400 mg, you are in no danger of overdosing.

Ginger, research has shown that people can sleep-eat while using Ambien.

I am (fat) living proof of this.

could it be the delivery system? generics are required to have the same active ingredients, but the inert ingredients can have an effect, can't they? Steph? (who will have to answer this tomorrow, 'cause I know she's in bed)

Not just inert ingredients; in terms of the amount of the *active* drug, manufacturers don't have to hit the dosage exactly; there's a +/- margin of error. So a 10-mg tablet of generic Ambien could have 9 mg. Or 11.

Magnesium--hmm. I shall add that to my cornucopia of supplements. Since my hysterectomy I take calcium, fish oil, multi-vite and chondroitin. I wanted to avoid taking any hormones, and these seem to be doing the trick--I don't seem to have any of the usual problems which come from going into instant menopause.

I shall add that to my cornucopia of supplements.

Oh lord. I take so many that I feel like an old lady:

magnesium (sleep, etc.)
fish oil (heart health)
vitamin C (immune system)
B-complex (I can no longer remember; heart health, I think)
probiotic (bad tummy)
multi-vitamin (just to round things out)

B-complex (I can no longer remember; heart health, I think)

B-complex is said to help increase energy as well.

Can I have some loan~ma? The guy TCG bought his car from recently just called me with a fantastic deal on a 2006 Camry. We're going to look at it tonight, but I need to qualify for a loan before I can say that I'll take it.

B-complex is said to help increase energy as well.

t pokes energy with a stick

Hey! Energy! I'm feeding you B vitamins! Do something!

t energy opens one eye, glares balefully, rolls over, goes back to sleep

I take a calcium-magnesium suppliment; sometimes it seems to help with the insomnia, other times it does nothing at all.

I take:

• Centrum multivitamin

• Vitamin C (Because the multi wasn't enough to stave off colds several times)

• A fish oil/evening primrose oil combo

• Biotin (to encourage my hair to Stay. In. My. Head.)

• Chromium (to encourage fat-burning)

• Calcium

I do indeed feel like I'm going to rattle every morning after breakfast.

So, meanwhile, in me news - have just got home from helping host the SingAlongASoundOfMusic at The British Club, and it was great fun!

I was Silver White Winters That Melt Into Spring. My costume was awesome (for a last minute notion).

t opens morning pill caddy, counts 6 pills, considers the much fuller evening pill caddy at home

I don't take vitamins. I'd need bigger pill caddies. No, the Glucosamine/Chondrotin for my knees counts.

Between the prescription meds and the vitamins - some recommended by the doctor, some just on general purposes - I'm taking a lot of pills.