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blmiller84
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melatonin question
« on: Apr 4th, 2007, 9:01pm » |
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Okay, after doing a bit of online research (and finding things that just say the same things) and searching back about 10 or so pages of threads... I have a question.
Are there no real side effects of taking melatonin besides the slight morning sleepiness? Oh, and the dream enhancement, I'll call it. (I'm not on any other meds. just magnesium supplements. I still need to hit a gnc to get the taurine).
Tonight will be my 3rd night taking melatonin, I'm taking 3mg a night (actually something like mcg, i don't have the bottle with me right now. not sure if that makes a difference). I haven't noticed anything more than being slightly more sleepy in the morning and jumping quite a bit when the alarm goes off or someone wakes me up. It is only the 3rd night, however... so time will probably make those things go away  And I always have vivid and weird weird dreams anyway, so enhancing those won't really effect me much.
My CH cycle has been odd this time. I only woke up with the horrid pain the first 3 nights and 2 weeks later I'm only getting mild daytime attacks. So I can't say how much the melatonin is helping 
I'm hoping the melatonin works. I've been put on various sleep aids (otc and prescriptions) and all gave me the opposite effect... i was up all night. Some also made me sick. meds don't seem to like me much 
I think I'm done typing now...
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E-Double
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #1 on: Apr 4th, 2007, 9:27pm » |
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3 micrograms is a hell of a lot less than 3 milligrams.
the recommended dosage for Clusterheads is anywhere from 6-12 milligrams.
My magic number was 6 and sometimes 9.
This helped me prevent night time attacks for over a yr.
I was also able to come off of it and still did not have nocturnal hits.
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chrisw
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #2 on: Apr 5th, 2007, 8:13am » |
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9 milligrams makes me sleepy, but in a nice way, 12mgs makes me fallling over dizzy. cant tell anything about the dreams, because during a cycle, I remember a lot of dreams, because dreaming is what seems to bring on nighttime hits, so of course you seem to remeber more dreams when you wake up during one.
I dont know if it is helping the CH, but it does make it easier to at least fall asleep. Without it I am too afraid of the pain to fall asleep, with the melatonin, there is no staying awake.
chrisw
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marlinsfan
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #3 on: Apr 5th, 2007, 9:27am » |
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I have taken melatonin as soon as I feel a cycle coming on. I usually start with shadows for a couple of weeks. The past 2 tries, the cycles never really got started, and I credit Melatonin for that.
3 micrograms is 0.3 milligrams. You're taking way too little to feel any effect for CH.
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blmiller84
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #4 on: Apr 5th, 2007, 5:54pm » |
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It is 3mg, not 3mcg. I'm now wondering where i got the c from... but thanks for the responses 
and since people are taking 6-12 mg of it, I'll just credit the sleepiness and such to something else. Such as the weather. It's snowing!!! grr.
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I Cant Dance
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #5 on: Apr 10th, 2007, 10:00am » |
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I was getting hit only at night for six weeks, and when I upped to 18mg I slept through the night and took hits in the am. Stopped working 5 days ago, as I am getting hit at night again. Am lowering the dose, as I fear more than 18 may not be in my best interest. I am a person who seems to quickly develop a tolerance for any drug or supplement I take, so nothing works for long.
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thomas
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #6 on: Apr 11th, 2007, 11:08am » |
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When are you taking it, you should take melatonin about 2-3 hours before you go to bed.
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chrisw
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #7 on: Apr 11th, 2007, 11:38am » |
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Why 2-3 hrs before bed? I had to switch my dosage time to one hour before I wanted to go to bed, because I couldnt stay awake after it kicked in. It doenst seem to help me with pain though, I am kindof using it as a sleep aid.
chrisw
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pieface_49
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #8 on: Apr 11th, 2007, 7:19pm » |
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"Some experts are appalled to see so many people toying with such a potent hormone. One concern is that high doses, while causing no immediate harm, could have unknown long-term effects. 'Even one milligram, the smallest commercially available dose, is at least three times higher than the normal amount in the body."
http://www.melatonin.com/melatonin-faq.php#DOSAGE
http://www.melatonin.com/
I bought the 3mg tabs yesterday and am considering cutting them in half, making it 1.5mg when my cycle hits.
"Some people who have taken melatonin have reported sleepiness, headache, a "heavy-head" feeling, stomach discomfort, depression or feeling hungover. Further study is needed to find out more about melatonin's side effects, especially delayed or long-term effects. For example, we don't know if melatonin causes problems when taken with other medicines. We also don't know how melatonin may affect diseases."
http://familydoctor.org/258.xml
There seems to be concern over long term use.
"Use of melatonin for any condition should be discussed with a primary healthcare provider, appropriate specialist and pharmacist prior to starting and should not be substituted for more proven therapies."
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-melatonin.ht ml#Dosing
Please read the side effects and warnings.
Donnie
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thomas
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #9 on: Apr 12th, 2007, 10:31am » |
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on Apr 11th, 2007, 11:38am, chrisw wrote:Why 2-3 hrs before bed? I had to switch my dosage time to one hour before I wanted to go to bed, because I couldnt stay awake after it kicked in. It doenst seem to help me with pain though, I am kindof using it as a sleep aid.
chrisw |
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That way you wont be so groggy in the morning.
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Religion and sex are powerplays. Manipulate the people for the money they pay. Selling skin, selling God, the numbers look the same on their credit cards. Triptans cause rebounds. Learn it, believe it, live it. I use triptans as the absolute LAST RESORT when treating my CH.
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E-Double
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #10 on: Apr 12th, 2007, 12:09pm » |
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http://www.mhni.com/clusterheadaches.aspx
and read the research regarding melatonin and CH
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pattik
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #11 on: Apr 12th, 2007, 12:37pm » |
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Here is one published study which deals directly with CH and melatonin levels both in and out of cycle. It suggests that even when out of cycle, CH'ers have lower than average nighttime leves of melatonin and that the hypothalamus is likely envolved.
http://tinyurl.com/2drudv
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pieface_49
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #12 on: Apr 12th, 2007, 9:32pm » |
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Thanks E-Double and Pattik,
Now I know where 6-9mg comes from. I have read the study, but did not notice 6-9mg used in the testing. Here is a more recent article (2005) by Dr. Rozen:
http://www.touchbriefings.com/pdf/1239/ACF293.pdf
This information goes much more in depth than previous writings I have read. This is an excellent article, you have to page through all the crap one page at a time.
http://pain.health.ivillage.com/headachemigraine/clusterheadache1.cfm
The reason I told my Neuro I did not want to take Verap was Melatonin seems the better choice. I have yet to prove it, perhaps others have?
Donnie
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frostie
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #13 on: Apr 22nd, 2007, 8:03am » |
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I have suffered from cluster headache since the age of 18 - I got them every year - now age 38 - until i started taking melatonin. I noticed an immediate difference in the way I felt and the headaches stopped within 48 hours. I continued to take Melatonin in various doses from 3mg to 9mg, every night for THREE years. in that time I have never had a cluster headache - co-incidence? I dont think so.
Last year I noticed a loss of labido and lack of interest in sex. I did some research and found some evidence that long term use of Melatonin can cause loss of labido. I decided to stop taking Melatonin for 1 month to see if my sex drive recovers and also to see if the headaches return. I will let you all know how it works out.
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burnt-toast
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #14 on: Apr 25th, 2007, 7:32am » |
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This link from the Mayoclinic contains a good deal of information that goes beyond the usual sponsored consumer information found on Melatonin.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/melatonin/NS_patient-melatonin
Tom
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George_J
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #15 on: Apr 25th, 2007, 8:42am » |
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on Apr 25th, 2007, 7:32am, burnt-toast wrote:
Good link, Tom. The caution about taking melatonin with medications that lower blood pressure is particularly relevant.
Again--as has been said here many times, don't dose with supplements of any kind while you are taking prescription medications without checking with your doctor.
Best,
George
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mcf69
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Re: melatonin question
« Reply #16 on: Apr 25th, 2007, 2:15pm » |
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Have you tried dosing the melatonin in conjunction with benadryl? Last cycle 3 micrograms of melatonin and a benadryl made a whole lot of difference in my nighttime attacks, this cycle, it doesn't seem to work quite as well, plus I had to give it up because of morning drowsiness.
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