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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Help with Melatonin
        
(Message started by: LucyBee210 on Jan 15^th, 2008, 1:19pm)

Title: Help with Melatonin
Post by LucyBee210 on Jan 15^th, 2008, 1:19pm

[i][/i][b][/b]I've been reading the posts on Melatonin and since I don't take any medication at all (except Excedrin Migraine) I am going to go ahead and order a large supply. However, I've read most of you say to start off with 9-12 mg every night. From what i'm seeing they come in 1mg, 2 mg and 5 mg bottles. If I get the 5 mg bottle would it be safe to take 2 on my first try? I don't want to OD on something I'm not familiar with.. Any help would help... Thanks a bunch.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by vietvet2tours on Jan 15^th, 2008, 1:26pm

on 01/15/08 at 13:19:03, LucyBee210 wrote:

Take nine ones.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by George_J on Jan 15^th, 2008, 3:23pm

I'm not sure what the toxicity level of melatonin in humans might be (some information shows an LD50 of 1 gram per 3 kilograms in laboratory animals) but it's going to be pretty high.

You won't even get close to OD'ing at the dosages we're talking about, even though it's above the "recommended" amount they put on the label.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by LucyBee210 on Jan 15^th, 2008, 3:56pm

Viet .. you say take 9 of the 1 mgs? Is there any reason why I can't take 2 of the 5 mg's safely ...? The only reason I ask is because I am not a pill taker and generally gag on any pill... Thanks for your help.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by vietvet2tours on Jan 15^th, 2008, 4:06pm

on 01/15/08 at 15:56:56, LucyBee210 wrote:

Guess ya answered your first post.

Potter

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by jace77 on Jan 17^th, 2008, 8:32pm

Neuro yesterday said that we need to increase to 15mg from 6mg, to increase every 3 days by 3 til we hit the 15. He stated that that is the standard the cleveland clinic recommends, my jaw dropped at the 15 as I had not read anything saying that high of a dosage

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by E-Double on Jan 17^th, 2008, 8:34pm

my magic # was 9mg

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by LarryM on Jan 17^th, 2008, 10:26pm

9mg worked for me. I wouldn't be afraid to keep going up till the dosage worked. I got about a six month supply at a Rite Aid, buy one get sale - total $18.99. They took about a week and a half to become effective. As a check I decided to skip the melatonin and energy drinks to see if they were more placebo than real help. Mistake. They work

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by LucyBee210 on Jan 17^th, 2008, 11:04pm

Today I bought a bottle - they are 3 mg. I guess it would be ok to take 3 of these tonight.. I am very skittish about taking medication but if you all say it works I'm game ... anything to get a decent night's sleep. As I read further now I see it will take awhile before they're effective .. Thanks for all the help.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by ski2k on Jan 18^th, 2008, 9:36pm

I haven't needed to use melatonin this cycle (RC buster), but in the past, I started out with 6mg. As my cycle progressed, went to 9mg, then up to 12 at the peak of my cycle. Seemed to help out a lot with the night hits! I personally didn't notice any side effects at all, though some report next-day sleepiness.

Hope it helps!!

Adam

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by Garys_Girl on Jan 19^th, 2008, 1:50pm

For what it's worth, Gary's neuro says 18mg is max.

There is also a more-targeted pharmaceutical option called Rozerem: http://www.rozerem.com/consumer/voucher.aspx

It is 8mg, so obviously doc said not to take more than two.

However, to actually treat insomnia (as opposed to CH), clinical studies have indicated that very SMALL amounts work - 0.3mg.

Laurie

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by Stinger on Jan 22^nd, 2008, 12:45pm

Being new here, I haven't read all the discussion areas yet, but I have one question. What does the melatonin do? Does it get rid of the headache or just let you sleep through it, or what. I'll try anything.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by birdman on Jan 22^nd, 2008, 3:31pm

Stinger, I have never known anything to let you sleep through it. It helps wipe out some nighttime hits. Others swear it also helps some daytime hits too.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by thomas on Jan 22^nd, 2008, 4:09pm

on 01/22/08 at 12:45:40, Stinger wrote:

It actually will eliminate night-time hits.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by E-Double on Jan 22^nd, 2008, 4:40pm

on 01/22/08 at 16:09:43, thomas wrote:

It actually will eliminate night-time hits.

exactly - preventative = sleep

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by Stinger on Jan 25^th, 2008, 11:14am

I woke up last night at 1:30 am with a headache. It was just bad enough to wake me, but it went away after about 15 minutes. Maybe the melatonin kept the pain down?

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by thomas on Jan 25^th, 2008, 11:16am

on 01/25/08 at 11:14:50, Stinger wrote:

I woke up last night at 1:30 am with a headache. It was just bad enough to wake me, but it went away after about 15 minutes. Maybe the melatonin kept the pain down?

Take more and/or mix in some time-release melatonin.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by coach_bill on Feb 2^nd, 2008, 11:13am

started on melatonin about 10-days ago. at 6mg. was still waking up after only being alseep for only maybe a hour, right about the time the beast would drop in for his nite cap, but these wake up calls had no pain. but i was on preds still. so i pushed it to 9mg and woke up 1/2 hour after sleeping? but no pain, slamed a ho- ho and back to sleep. talked to the doc and the last 3 nights im taking only 3mg and have slept like a baby. all the way to 4am. only a few days of low dose pred taper left so i hope i found my number, because it will be game time soon for me. good luck in finding your right number. coach bill

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by Scrooge on Feb 3^rd, 2008, 7:40pm

Will the higher doses of Melatonin make you groggy the next day? I know the important aspect is to halt the attacks but I don't want to fall asleep at my desk either.

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by George_J on Feb 3^rd, 2008, 7:57pm

on 02/03/08 at 19:40:01, Scrooge wrote:

Will the higher doses of Melatonin make you groggy the next day? I know the important aspect is to halt the attacks but I don't want to fall asleep at my desk either.

I think there's some individual variation there--some have reported that it does so, but I've never noticed any grogginess the next day. Purely speculation, but I suspect that there's a balance between an effective dose, and an excessive one. It may require a bit of experimentation on your part.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by Miz_D on Feb 6^th, 2008, 2:13pm

My new Neuro suggested upping the melatonin to 15mg (rather than the 9 I was taking). It seems to be effective and I am not experiencing any drowsiness in the mornings and haven't had a night hit in about a month...not bad I'd say for a chronic :-*

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by thomas on Feb 6^th, 2008, 3:16pm

on 02/06/08 at 14:13:12, Miz_D wrote:

Great news !

Title: Re: Help with Melatonin
Post by Stinger on Feb 6^th, 2008, 6:49pm

I guess I knew it wouldn't let you sleep through a headache. I have never done that yet. My doctor told me last week that I could continue the 9 mg (up to 12 mg) with the verapamil and prednisone he prescribed for me. It has been helping, I think. I am on prednisone for one week. I hope they don't come back worse after that.