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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> melatonin
        
(Message started by: troy on Jan 27^th, 2006, 8:28am)

Title: melatonin
Post by troy on Jan 27^th, 2006, 8:28am

hello everyone, it's been three months and still in this cycle. I'm so thankful for this site it is a refuge I hold dear. My question this time for those of you who have had success with melatonin what brand name do you use and where do you purchase it I've tried natures pride nine mgs with no success. Am I using the wrong brand?

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by boo-t-full on Jan 27^th, 2006, 8:44am

nine mg is a LOT. The recommended dose is less than 1mg, and 3mg is considered almost extreme. Some people don't respond to supplements like melatonin, just like some people aren't affected by caffeine, your body may just not react to it.

Here is a really good article (non-cluster specific.)

http://newtimes.rway.com/1997/052197/cover.htm

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by E-Double on Jan 27^th, 2006, 9:05am

on 01/27/06 at 08:44:10, boo-t-full wrote:

nine mg is a LOT. The recommended dose is less than 1mg, and 3mg is considered almost extreme Kidding me?Some people don't respond to supplements like melatonin, just like some people aren't affected by caffeine, your body may just not react to it. TRUE

Here is a really good article (non-cluster specific.)

http://newtimes.rway.com/1997/052197/cover.htm

Incorrect in regards to using melatonin as a preventative for Clusters. For regular sleep yes but not for preventative value.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11843873&dopt=Abstract

Not everyone responds to it.
I have had success with several different brands.
You may also want to try mixing a standard and extended release.

Good luck

Eric

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by boo-t-full on Jan 27^th, 2006, 9:07am

Sorry, didn't mean to imply melatonin was good for anything other than a sleep aid.

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by E-Double on Jan 27^th, 2006, 9:12am

on 01/27/06 at 09:07:42, boo-t-full wrote:

Sorry, didn't mean to imply melatonin was good for anything other than a sleep aid.

No apologies here!

Breathe and learn for you and your boyfriend ;)

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by marlinsfan on Jan 27^th, 2006, 10:18am

I use sundown brand, purchased at Publix Supermarket.

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by floridian on Jan 27^th, 2006, 12:17pm

I've used Schiff and Swanson Vitamins brands, both to good effect. For me, it is better to start using melatonin each night as soon as I suspect I am going into a cycle.

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by FramCire on Jan 27^th, 2006, 1:49pm

Another Melatonin question. I have taken 9 mg for the last 2 nights and my daytime headaches (the next days) are longer and worse. My nighttime headaches last night didn't respond to the O2 either.

Should I stop, or do I need to keep it up because it takes a few days (week, whatever) to build up and work.

I really don't mind going through the extra pain if the reward is sleeping at night or better days ahead. Is it normal to have bad days BEFORE it works, or should i just give up the melatonin?

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by floridian on Jan 27^th, 2006, 7:34pm

Wish I knew. Melatonin might work in several ways. It might have a direct effect on blood vessels and neurotransmitters. Or it might be resetting the circadian clock. Or both. The initial studies suggested it was useful only for episodics (suggesting a circadian role), but more recent studies found it can help chronics as well. My guess is that chronics require more time for the M to work, maybe larger doses as well. Like I said before, I am episodic and believe it works best for me when my sleep gets snarky and I use melatonin to hammer and bang my sleep back to normal. So I take a small dose (0.75 - 3 mg) every night at the same time.

Also, evidence is that clusterheads have low melatonin production year round, regardless of whether they episodic/chronic or are in cycle if episodic. So a small dose might make sense to try to normalize things even if the beast is not banging on your head box.

Title: Re: Hypothalamus/Melatonin/Carcadian rythms
Post by Dragonman on Apr 5^th, 2006, 7:18pm

Hi everyone,
I read this in a scientific magazine on line, thought it may bring some light to the hypothalamus/melatonin/carcadium rythms aspect of a possible cause of CHs...its only short but the direct connection also to the retina I thought was very interesting. The Anteria Hypothalamus area apparently swells when we are in cycle, would that swelling put pressure on the optic tract which runs directly to the retina.. just a thought about is there a correlation.
We treat the symptoms to get through to stop the pain.
Is there any info to the possible cause and imbalance wiyhin the body thats causes CHs relating to this article.
Anyway PFDAN to all of you and this is the short statement I read this morning
DM

A turning point came three years ago when biologists traced the human circadian clock to two small regions of the brain's hypothalamus, known as the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). The giveaway clue was the discovery inside the SCN of receptors for melatonin, a hormone long linked to circadian rhythms. Each no bigger than a grain of sand, the SCN lie at the base of the brain, near to the optic tract, a nerve that runs directly to the retina.

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by mynm156 on Apr 5^th, 2006, 9:32pm

OK OK NOW IM ERKED!

I posted almost the same question a little over a month ago and I was told by several to take 9mg a night. I have been now for going on two months and have really noticed nothing so what is it. How much do we take? How long do we take it before we might see some help?

GOOD VIBES TO ALL

MYNM156

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by kcopelin on Apr 5^th, 2006, 10:00pm

I started on 9 mg a night-got hit the first night, but haven't had a nightime it since (4 months). Doesn't work for everyone-nothing seems to-I get mine through Puritan Pride-cause it's buy 2 get three free.
Kathy