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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Melatonin
        
(Message started by: Bunky on Feb 16^th, 2004, 7:29pm)

Title: Melatonin
Post by Bunky on Feb 16^th, 2004, 7:29pm

Has anyone taken 6 to 9 mg of a melatonin supplement @ night and found success? If so, please share your experience.

Title: Re: Melatonin
Post by thomas on Feb 16^th, 2004, 7:36pm

Ok, one more time and this is it, just kidding.......... I took 3 mg of "normal" melatonin, combined with 2mg of "time release" melatonin 45 min before bed, preceded by a hot, steamy shower 1 hour before bed, you must do the shower first, otherwise the melatonin will kick in whilst you are in said shower and you will be lucky if you don't fall on your ass in the bathroom, after this is done and you "may" have a wonderful night's sleep without interuption by our common "friend". You wake up in the morning, take 20 mg of fluoxitene(prozac, for all non-pharmacy majors), combined with 250 mg of magnesium, then travel down to your nearest convenience store, get a big cup of joe, or cappuccino........ drink it down and enjoy pf times........ at least that is what worked for me.......... 2 weeks into my cycle I did this and was pf after 1 week of this treatment........my cycles normally last 3 MONTHS........ disclaimer- This treatment may not work for everyone, and I ain't no friggin' doctor, but I know more about ch than most of those folks bother to learn about it anyway (docs I'm talkin' about here peeps)PFNAD!!!!!!

Title: Re: Melatonin
Post by floridian on Feb 17^th, 2004, 8:21am

I start on melatonin (3 mg time released) as soon as I notice my sleep getting messed up in the summer. I am episodic with (so far) a strong pattern that is centered around July and August. I start to stay up late and wake up early and have lots of energy a few weeks before the attacks start. Used to think that was great - now I think "uh-oh!" and take melatonin (and 5htp) to keep my sleep normal.

I also take magnesium, turmeric, tea, and flax/fish oil. 2 of the last 3 years have been dry cycles - I know I am in a cycle and things are messed up, but I was headache free. Not sure if it was the melatonin, but I think it helped.

Title: Re: Melatonin
Post by Giovanni on Feb 17^th, 2004, 8:36am

About 3/4 thru my last cycle started melatonin @9 mg with B complex vitamin. The headaches stopped immediately. I continued the melatonin for another 2 months afterwards.

John

Title: Re: Melatonin
Post by henzey on Feb 17^th, 2004, 3:19pm

on 02/16/04 at 19:36:11, thomas wrote:

I ain't no friggin' doctor, but I know more about ch than most of those folks bother to learn about it anyway (docs I'm talkin' about here peeps)PFNAD!!!!!!

I would agree with this!!! Most of the regulars on here know more than the docs. I would suggest experimenting with different levels of melatonin to see if it helps. You may need less or more...or it may not help at all.

Title: Re: Melatonin
Post by Bunky on Feb 17^th, 2004, 3:41pm

Thanks for your replies regarding Melatonin. I am a newbie to this site, and am trying to get as much information for my husband as possible. He's had on big, everlasting chronic CH since May, 2003 with about 2 to 3 periodic remission periods of 1 to 2 days. We're just getting started with the wonderful world of drugs, and your ideas and conversations have been most helpful. Right now, my husband is taking 2 Elivel (50 mg) @ night, 3 Indomethacine (25 mg. each) during the day, and only finding relief by switching between 2 Anacin and 2 Firocet every 3 to 4 hours. So, not only does he have CH, but he's in a real fun rebound cycle as well. We're going to see a headache specialist on March 1st, and will be armed with all of your great information.

Thank you! My prayers are with you all!

Title: Re: Melatonin
Post by ExPat_jac on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 4:04am

I have been dealing with CH's for *years* (since I was around 7-9 years old...now I am 45)

As I have agged, it has gotten worse, till it is now chronice, with almost never any reliefe to my cycle. In other words, I can pretty much count on 3-5 headachs a DAY.

(it just keeps gettin better and better...like a fine wine ;) )

When Firocet first hit the market, my doctor would *give* it to me...handfuls of samples (remember the cute little blue pill case that lokked like a Firocet pill that had four sample pills in it they use to give away? I still have one or two of those cases)

It has been the ONLY drug that has ever really had any effect on making my headachs bearable....

As I said, use to, they'd give um to me...now it is almost impossible to get a doctor to write a me a 'script for it, even knowing my full background.

I tend to relocate as I am a consultant, and have gotten so that I carry a copy of my CT scan and medical records with me just so I don't have to keep going through that ordeal each time I move...

Now, I am living overseas in a country that does not even have anything equivilant to Firocet, even if I could get the doctor to give it to me.....

Boy..life can be fun....

As for Melatonin, I am starting back on it now...having never found it successful in the past...but with nothing else to try....I'll try it again....

jac

Title: Re: Melatonin
Post by farmboy on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 8:57pm

floridian I took your post to my dr office today. i went thru the same sleep pattern as you did , just before the start of this cycle.

I start to stay up late and wake up early and have lots of energy a few weeks before the attacks start. Used to think that was great - now I think "uh-oh!" and take