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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Ever heard of this???
        
(Message started by: Thorns on Mar 23^rd, 2004, 2:31pm)

Title: Ever heard of this???
Post by Thorns on Mar 23^rd, 2004, 2:31pm

Ok I'm on my fifth day of prednisone (50x3, 40x3, 30x3, 20x3, 10x3) and 240 mg verapamil. I am also taking 9mg melatonin at night to help me sleep. The past two mornings when I wake up I have experienced the worst nausea, pounding/pressure in my head. It feels like I drank 4 gallons of wine and it takes me about 2 hours to feel somewhat coherent again.

My question: Can you take melatonin with corticosteroids? and has anyone had this happen?

I did a little searching and all I can really find on the two mentions less effectiveness:
http://www.drugdigest.com/DD/PrintablePages/herbMonograph/0%2C11475%2C4060%2C00.html

"Melatonin opposes the action of natural corticosteroids and corticosteroid drugs, which are used for a wide range of inflammatory conditions including arthritis, asthma, cancer, eye conditions, and skin infections. When supplemental melatonin is taken at the same time as corticosteroids, the effects of the corticosteroid may be decreased. It is best not to take melatonin and corticosteroids at the same time. Commonly prescribed corticosteroids include:
beclomethasone (Beconase, Beclovent, Vancenase,
Vanceril)
dexamethasone (Decadron)
hydrocortisone
methylprednisolone (Medrol)
prednisolone
prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone)
triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort)

Studies have revealed that melatonin may interfere with the blood pressure-lowering effects of nifedipine GITS (Procardia XL). As a result, blood pressure was not controlled. Another medication used for blood pressure, verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), reduced the effectiveness of melatonin when they were taken at the same time. Whether melatonin and other high blood pressure medicines interact is not known. If you take medicine for high blood pressure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you take melatonin".

Does anyone know the 'science' behind this and what the possible side effects are?
~Thorns

Title: Re: Ever heard of this???
Post by thomas on Mar 23^rd, 2004, 2:35pm

Cut back on the melatonin.

Title: Re: Ever heard of this???
Post by Thorns on Mar 23^rd, 2004, 5:10pm

Should I give it up altogether or just take ~3mg. Thanks,
~Thorns

Title: Re: Ever heard of this???
Post by t_h_b on Mar 23^rd, 2004, 6:34pm

Thorns, you should probably ask your doctor (who probably won't know.) You could also ask your pharmacist who can research it.

0.5mg of melatonin works great for me and has pretty much eliminated my attacks. Your body only makes a miniscule amount.

Melatonin can also CAUSE headaches and when I added 3mg SR to help me sleep I had non-cluster headaches from it.

However, melatonin has really helped a lot of us with the CH. If you hit the correct dose to stop your CH then you wouldn't have to take the corticosteroids.

Title: Re: Ever heard of this???
Post by Thorns on Mar 24^th, 2004, 5:14pm

Update-
After running a fever for the past 24 hours and developing a rash my doc pulled me from the prednisone b/c I may have developed an allergy to it. I only hope the verap. kicks in and fast. Are there any cheap alternatives to prednisone to help until the verapamil kicks in? I have been using melatonin for about 3 yrs now with no real CH relief--just helps get a few extra z's during the cycle.

Feelin' like I got stomped by a herd of elephants,
Thorns

Title: Re: Ever heard of this???
Post by HypnoticFreddy on Mar 24^th, 2004, 6:46pm

The doctors may not know, but they have access to a book that tells them drug interactions. They would be able to tell you.

Although Melatonin isn't really FDA-approved is it?

-Freddy

Title: Re: Ever heard of this???
Post by t_h_b on Mar 24^th, 2004, 7:26pm

From the PDR:

INTERACTIONS
DRUGS

Aspirin and other NSAIDs may lead to decreased melatonin levels.

The bioavailability of oral melatonin is increased by coadministration of fluvoxamine. This is believed due to inhibition of the elimination of melatonin.

Beta blockers may lead to decreased melatonin levels.

A psychotic episode has been reported associated with the use of melatonin in a subject taking the antidepressant fluoxetine.

There is a report of melatonin augmenting the antitumor effect of interleukin-2.

There is a report of melatonin enhancing the activity of the anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug, isoniazid.

Melatonin and progestin combinations can be additive in inhibiting ovarian function in women.

Use of melatonin with benzodiazepenes, sedating antihistamines, sedating antidepressants and other sedating drugs may cause additive sedation and increase incidence of adverse effects.

Use of melatonin with corticosteroids may interfere with the efficacy of the corticosteroids.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/mel_0286.shtml

Title: Re: Ever heard of this???
Post by Thorns on Mar 25^th, 2004, 11:23pm

Ok last update and then I'll let this thread die [smiley=bigguns.gif].
I essentially crawled my way back to the Dr.'s office today per her request and it turns out that I have shingles. I don't really understand this being that I am only 26 but wtf it seems that bad luck always seems to find me during a cycle.
Apparently the prednisone weekened my immune system just enough. Or maybe the beast has a posse now!--F*@^! bastard. [smiley=finger.gif]
Now I understand all of the symptoms I've been having=basically feels like the flu multiplied by 1000. Man this is turning out to be a bitch of a cycle already. On the positive side of things I do have some tylenol with codeine to help me get out bed and walk ;;D

Anyway, enough bitchn'. Thank you all for reading and for the info.
Thorns

Title: Re: Ever heard of this???
Post by PittsburghJoe on Mar 26^th, 2004, 3:57am

Oh man Thorns... shingles SUCK! They hurt like hell, and I still have scars on my face from them. Yeah, lucky me, the shingles traveled up the same damn nerve as my clusters, and bloomed on the left side of my forhead above my eye. Oddly enough, my doc put me on pred for the pain of the shingles, along with an antiviral. I was just a wee bit older than you (34) when I got them.

Best of luck to you with it, it ain't easy, and to add a CH cycle is just unfair!

Joe