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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Melatonin-questions for those using it.
        
(Message started by: Lori on Apr 25^th, 2005, 11:42pm)

Title: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by Lori on Apr 25^th, 2005, 11:42pm

I started using it this cycle (never have in the past cycles) and I only am taking 2 mg at night before bed. It seems to be working because when I forgot to take it a couple nights, I got hit all night. I'm wondering about others experiences..
Well, if it works to stop the night attacks, does it eventually stop working so well? If so, does it work again by increasing your dose? Does it end up making you get hit in the day because you keep them away at night? I am curious about the result on people that are/have used this. I know everyone is different in response but does this actually keep some from experiencing any or much pain for theire whole cycle or is it temporary?

Thanks for your input!

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by mcf69 on Apr 25^th, 2005, 11:58pm

I take 3 mg just before bedtime. I can't speak for how well it works while in cycle, because I haven't had a cycle since starting it, and it's just about time for the spring go-round. There is some conflicting ideas on dosage, most medical research states you only need .3mg, however melatonin is not easily absorbed by the body, so that's why most of the stuff sold is in the 2-10mg range. I'm curious too if it does wear off and loose it's effect, maybe someone more experienced in mealtonin use can give us some insight?

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by ErikY on Apr 26^th, 2005, 10:49am

During my last cycle I tried 3MG before bed as I get hit at 2AM religiously when in cycle.

I know it is not supposed to, but it actually kept me awake and did not work well for me.

I tried benedryl and the benedryl worked much much better for me. I took 4 benedryl pills right before bed and slept like a baby with no hits.

I feel a little hung over when I wake up after taking benedryl, but, once I get a little caffeine in me I am good to go.

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by Bob P on Apr 26^th, 2005, 10:53am

When not in cycle I take 1-2 mg at bedtime and sleep well. If I take 3mg I don't sleep well.

For the past 3-4 nights I've been taking 9mg at bedtime along with 120mg verapamil. Been sleeping through the night or just getting small attacks. I'm also tapering off of prednisone so not sure if it's the mel or the pred. I'll know better in a few days, after I'm completly off the pred.

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by dtruett on Apr 27^th, 2005, 1:29am

Per my neuro, started taking 9mg at bedtime. Things improved, but that could have been the verapamil and depakote I also started, or the botox treatment I got later. Pinning down causality with these things is an exercise in futility. For what it's worth, I was getting them at REM sleep over, and over, and over.... So, I guess it can't hurt.

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by TonyG1 on Apr 27^th, 2005, 5:52pm

I've been taking 6mg about a half hour before bed. Out of cycle now so I can't say if it has helped or not....

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by jokrs2 on Apr 28^th, 2005, 1:57am

I take 9mg of melatonin about 1/2 hour before I wish to or expect to fall asleep. The melatonin works great for me and I wake up like normal (actually better) because I havn't been hit all night, have my morning cup of coffee and I'm good to go. I also take kudzu daily. Joe

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by thomas on Apr 28^th, 2005, 8:47am

I take anywhere from 6-12 mg of melatonin before bed when in cycle, I mix regular melatonin with time-release melatonin at a 50/50 ratio, totally eliminated my night time hits the last two cycles.

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by Redd715 on Apr 28^th, 2005, 9:20am

When in high cycle I take 6 mg of melatonin and 50 mg of benadryl together, as neither one did anything by themselves. I did get sleep at night. However I did get hit a little more often during the day, and shadowed more as well. Woke up with that hang over feeling too, but good strong coffee cleared that up right away.

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by Kim Y. on Apr 28^th, 2005, 11:44pm

Lori

Quote:

Well, if it works to stop the night attacks, does it eventually stop working so well?

Just got my first experience to your question the last two nights I am not sleeping well and being woke with pain by 6 am having not gone to be the night before till 12am. Before on 3-6 mg I was sleeping a full 7-8 hours without interuptions. Last night I went up to 9mg and still had problems through the night and woke early.

Quote:

Does it end up making you get hit in the day because you keep them away at night

I think I do get more attacks during the day but not much. I get mostly day and evening attacks anyway.

I only took it if I was having bad shadow days and it worked well till lately and have had to try something else. Dr perscribed Trazadone..

Each person is different and it is good that you are asking some of the more experienced (I'm not). Good luck.

PF wishes.......Kim

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by E-Double on Apr 28^th, 2005, 11:53pm

Many of us (myself included) have found that taking 6-9mg (some take more) about a 1/2 hour to 45minutes prior to bed have Knocked out the night visits and can finally get sleep.

With the exception of 8-10 times.....I have slept through the night since August.....Still get hit during the day but my overall quality of life is better because I am not as exhausted all the time.

Some people report that it seems to make them worse....The fact is that we are all different and respond differently to everything therefore it may or may not...

The one thing I will tell you as far as my experience was that I had to stick with it...The first night I took melatonin, I was awoken with a doozy only I was too groggy to find my O2 .....It got a lot better for me....I then slept through the night but would get slammed about 1/2 hour after waking up....kinda like knocking the beast off schedule.....

I haven't taken it religously in quite a while....and now manage to pretty much get through the night without anything....go figure.

Days still bite though......especially yesterday Whew!!!

Be well

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by Lori on Apr 29^th, 2005, 4:04pm

Well I haven't been hit for a week. I think I will not take it one or two nights here soon to see if I get hit or not. This is extremely odd to have a cycle begin and not hardly get hit or progress as usual. NOT that I'm complaining! I also take lamictal this time and I didn't before but only when I added the melantonin did it really stop. Amazing to me!

Love the input. It's great sharing experiences and seeing the different ways people get relief. All them years in agony for no reason before finding this board!!

Title: Re: Melatonin-questions for those using it.
Post by wifesupporter on Apr 29^th, 2005, 4:57pm

My wife has been using melatonin 9 mg for the past week without a hit, [smiley=shore.gif] thank the melatonin gods and you guys for leading me to get it for her however lori she had tried to not take it on tuesday and sure enough wed. she was hit in the morning. she vows al long as she feels that pressure around her eye [smiley=pokeeye.gif] she will not miss another night. Just my [smiley=twocents.gif]