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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Please help
        
(Message started by: thomas on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 8:37am)

Title: Please help
Post by thomas on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 8:37am

How many mg's of melatonin can I safely take at night?

Title: Re: Please help
Post by vig on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 9:33am

"The appropriate dose can vary enormously from person to person. For example, we offer dosages of 1.2 mg, 1.5 mg and 3.0 mg. Start off with the 1.2 mg dosage each night before bed-time, and work your way to larger doses if needed." (www.melatonin.com)

I think I started at 3mg and it knocked me out and left me a little spacey in the morning. It got less effective after the first night.

Title: Re: Please help
Post by thomas on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 9:47am

Thanks Vig. I've been taking 3mg at night and getting a ch around 3am. I'm going to try 3mg of normal melatonin with 2mg of time release melatonin tonight.

Title: Re: Please help
Post by vig on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 10:27am

I used it after an episode was subsiding to kickstart/regain a sleep pattern.

It didn't do anything during the actual episode, though.
:^(

Title: Re: Please help
Post by thomas on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 10:45am

It's at least letting me get a good 6 hours of continuous sleep. That beats the alternative.

Title: Re: Please help
Post by vig on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 11:15am

Actually getting 6 hours of sleep a night during an episode is HUGE!
Keep it up.

Title: Re: Please help
Post by thomas on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 12:02pm

Tell me about it! This is the first time in 10 years that I haven't felt like a zombie through a cycle.

Title: Re: Please help
Post by Pinkfloyd on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 6:40pm

on 10/22/03 at 09:47:13, thomas wrote:

Thanks Vig. I've been taking 3mg at night and getting a ch around 3am. I'm going to try 3mg of normal melatonin with 2mg of time release melatonin tonight.

The one study that showed melatonin having a positive effect on clusters, had people using 9 mg at bedtime. I've heard of people using up to 12mg on a regular basis and finding varying degrees of success...

Some folks seem very sensitive to it....and have trouble negotiating life at high levels, such as staying awake...and many report increased dreaming, which was always my favorite effect.

PF

Title: Re: Please help
Post by vig on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 9:55am

I'm pretty groggy the next day with just 3mg.
I'd probably have good chin slobber with 9 or 12mgs.

I felt absolutely no impact on the CH's though.

Title: Re: Please help
Post by Bob P on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 12:05pm

Here is a link to Doug Wright's melotoin presentation at the Vancouver OUCH convention:

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/conventions/2002/wright.pdf

Title: Re: Please help
Post by thomas on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 1:02pm

Thanks for all of the info. I took 3mg of normal melatonin with 2mg of time release last night and slept for 8 hours - unbelievable!!!. I kinda had a "hangover headache" this morning - 3 cups of coffee and gone.

Title: Re: Please help
Post by ClstrHeadSupport on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 3:02pm

I have a question about that Melatonin medication. I know what it is, my sister-in-law takes it to help her sleep but does it also help with Cluster Headaches?

Title: Re: Please help
Post by thomas on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 4:05pm

People with cluster headaches have low to no levels of melatonin while sleeping. Normal people produce it when sleeping - it's to help the body really rest.