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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> melatonin question
        
(Message started by: blmiller84 on Apr 4^th, 2007, 9:01pm)

Title: melatonin question
Post by blmiller84 on Apr 4^th, 2007, 9:01pm

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...

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by E-Double on Apr 4^th, 2007, 9:27pm

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.

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by chrisw on Apr 5^th, 2007, 8:13am

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

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by marlinsfan on Apr 5^th, 2007, 9:27am

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.

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by blmiller84 on Apr 5^th, 2007, 5:54pm

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.

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by I Cant Dance on Apr 10^th, 2007, 10:00am

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.

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by thomas on Apr 11^th, 2007, 11:08am

When are you taking it, you should take melatonin about 2-3 hours before you go to bed.

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by chrisw on Apr 11^th, 2007, 11:38am

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

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by pieface_49 on Apr 11^th, 2007, 7:19pm

"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.html#Dosing
Please read the side effects and warnings.

Donnie

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by thomas on Apr 12^th, 2007, 10:31am

on 04/11/07 at 11:38:14, chrisw wrote:

That way you wont be so groggy in the morning.

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by E-Double on Apr 12^th, 2007, 12:09pm

http://www.mhni.com/clusterheadaches.aspx

and read the research regarding melatonin and CH

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by pattik on Apr 12^th, 2007, 12:37pm

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

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by pieface_49 on Apr 12^th, 2007, 9:32pm

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

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by frostie on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 8:03am

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.

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by burnt-toast on Apr 25^th, 2007, 7:32am

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

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by George_J on Apr 25^th, 2007, 8:42am

on 04/25/07 at 07:32:56, 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

Title: Re: melatonin question
Post by mcf69 on Apr 25^th, 2007, 2:15pm

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.