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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> melatonin
        
(Message started by: Carolyn on Feb 24^th, 2004, 8:36am)

Title: melatonin
Post by Carolyn on Feb 24^th, 2004, 8:36am

I am trying the melatonin. The 1st night I took 3mg and didn't notice any difference, still blasted out of sleep by K9 ha at 3:00 am. The next nite I took 6mg--K8 at 5:00 am. I repeated the 6mg last night and didn't have a ha until 7:00 am and it only got to a K5 and was easily handled with a very small dose of imitrex. Has anyone else had this type of result with it..does this mean it is starting to work? Should I up it to 9mg. Or, (lol) am I just experiencing one of those strange anamolies of our wonderful affliction.

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by thomas on Feb 24^th, 2004, 8:50am

Try adding a time release melatonin to your normal melatonin. That will help you sleep longer. Here's my melatonin treatment - copied from another thread

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 24^th, 2004, 9:04am

Most medicines that prevent do take time to work (sometimes weeks or months). If you see a steady change, you can assume that the current dose is working. Or that the beast had already decided to fade away, in which case, you don't need to up the dose.

Quote:

am I just experiencing one of those strange anamolies of our wonderful affliction.

Like you said, its hard to say what the reasons are for anything in CH. But it sounds like you are seeing improvement.

The beast could be leaving, although for me, cycles end more abruptly. Your pattern is the opposite of how my cycles start - first a relatively mild one at 6 a.m., the next day one at 4:30 another at 6, the next day at around 2:30 or 3, one around 4:30, and one at 6. All along the intensity increases.

Having headaches start later in the morning, having fewer headaches per day, and having less intense headaches is all good.

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by Carolyn on Feb 24^th, 2004, 9:23am

This is only the second week of this particular cycle. Usually mine start out every three days, very manageable, increasing over a week to 2 week period to very unmanageable(every freakin' nite, twice a nite and once during the day) This cycle started out where I would normally be at the end of the second week. My first thought was maybe this meant it would be a shorter cycle (hope, hope).

Usually whatever I start using in the 3rd month of the cycle is subject to suspicion. Never know if it really worked or if the cycle was ending on its own. Example, last cycle 2 years ago, 3rd month, doc decided to try me on Indocin. Seemed to work, within 2 weeks was gone, but oh boy was my stomach a mess. Tried it again last week with no effect.

So, hopefully, seeing results this early with the melatonin is a really good sign. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by toader on Feb 24^th, 2004, 9:48am

I had the same problem as you - the K9 night attacks all damn night long.

My neuro put me on 9mg and I've been on that for the past 2+ months and that helped a lot toward stopping the night attacks. It took me a week before they went away completely.

I'm also on Topomax and Verapamil.

Good luck.

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 24^th, 2004, 10:41am

All of the medical trials I've seen use 9-10mg/day to abort a cycle.

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by J.ten_Dam on Feb 24^th, 2004, 12:36pm

;)I use 12mg at night an 2 x dayly 200 verampamiel. I am cronic and I now finaly have 5 to 7 dats rest before I start a few days of my chronic cicel [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: melatonin
Post by Carolyn on Feb 24^th, 2004, 12:44pm

How wonderful that you are getting some relief. I just am truly in awe of those of you that are chronic. I can keep myself upbeat knowing mine will end in a few month's time, but just can't imagine not knowing there was an end in sight.

Bless you and more pf days ahead. ;;D