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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Melatonin - how high?
        
(Message started by: Jill on Aug 9^th, 2005, 10:15am)

Title: Melatonin - how high?
Post by Jill on Aug 9^th, 2005, 10:15am

Hello..

I didnt want to 'high-jack' the other thread about Melatonin, so here is a new one...

I am curious to know how high you can go when taking the melatonin... anyone have any ideas? I am just wondering how high you have gone...

The pills come as three mg and it says to just take one pill but that does nothing. So I went to two pills (6 mg) and still cant sleep at all and headaches are coming too much at night. Now I am on three pills (9mg), tried that much for the first time last night, and still no sleep... I am going to keep on this dose for a few nights and will see what happens... :-/

I asked my neuro but he had no idea - big help.. ::) So any help would be appreciated...

I really just need some sleep - well I really need a break from the CH but I am not asking for that - that wont happen. I appreciate the help alot...

Thanks
Jill

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by unsolved1 on Aug 9^th, 2005, 10:19am

12mg was the highest dose recommended to me by Dr. Rozen from MHNI (http://www.mhni.com)

UNsolved

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by LeLimey on Aug 9^th, 2005, 10:19am

Jill I don't know the answers for you myself but I hope Floridians site might be of use to you

http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Melatonin&PHPSESSID=c01746ca3cc7c8761b4622cfb0d11ef2

Let us know how you get on!!
Helen

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by marlinsfan on Aug 9^th, 2005, 10:32am

Jill, I've been taking 9 mg for a few months, and it did wonders for me. However, it took about one week before the it started to work. It cut down my attacks from 3-4 per night, to just one. I used to get them right after falling asleep, then throughout the night. After I started the melatonin, I got them at 5 am or so, and would get a 2nd attack if I went back to sleep. Pretty soon I figured it out and stayed up after the 5 am wake up call from the beast.

I read somewhere that you really need to take it at the same time every night. Remember, this helps regulate your internal clock, so you gotta be firm on the time. I have not missed a night. I take it at 10 pm, approx 30 mins before going to sleep. The only few times I've been a bit late is when I've gone to the baseball games (thus my nickname....). Going tonight, as the matter of fact.

Good luck, and PF wishes.
Jose

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by jcmquix on Aug 9^th, 2005, 11:14am

Hi Jill...

I started it about 2 months ago, with the advise from a few people here on this site...

I was told "Take Melatonin 9-12mg & Benadryl 50mg about 30 minutes before bed, take a relaxing shower."

It has helped me get through this cycle, all the other meds I was prescribed did not put a dent in the CH, but the Melatonin & Benadryl, helped me get through the night time hits, I am still taking it at night.

Now, the only other advise that I could get was from the Wal-mart Pharmasist... He said "Take 9-12mg about 30 minutes before, DO NOT EXCEED 12mg in 24 hrs".

Something about making the Seratonin levels to high in your body is harmful. I do not know anything about Seratonin levels in your body, that just what he said.

I hope this helped some...

PFDAN to You !!!
Charlie

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by E-Double on Aug 9^th, 2005, 11:33am

6-12

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by Jill on Aug 9^th, 2005, 4:18pm

Hey,

Thanks for the information! I am going to keep on the nine for tonight and see what happens. Than I will go up to twelve...hopefully I can get some sleep.

I have tried the benedryl but it didnt really help, well it did for a little while and then stopped. I didnt know that you could use benedryl and melatonin at the same time..

As far when I take the Melatonin - I do take it the same time each night and about forty-five minutes before I go to bed. I noticed that part of my problem is that I am afraid to fall asleep... I cant imagine why.

Anyways, thanks for the info and for the website (Thanks Helen), I had never seen that one before... thanks. And I will let you know how it goes.

Jill

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by kimmeesue on Aug 10^th, 2005, 11:09pm

I have been taking 12 ml since Dec. and have had only two night hits in that time. It did take some time for it to reach an appropriate blood level.
I also take Ambien for sleep.
Good luck,
Kim

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by scarmig on Aug 11^th, 2005, 9:35am

Based on what I've read here I started at 12 mg melatonin. I'm also on verpamil and cafergot.

The v and c weren't really killing my headaches, but the addition of the melatonin made everything click into place. It is odd because the melatonin doesn't seem to help me sleep, but I have had zero nighttime attacks in two weeks and only shadows during the days. Against instructions, i have used a single 3mg pill around lunch on the days when I have had shadows, and it seems to knock them out for the rest of the afternoon.

YMMV but it seems for me that the V and C and maintaining upped seratonin levels is my magic key.

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by Bob P on Aug 11^th, 2005, 10:44am

I took 9mg during my last cluster ( nice to be able to say that). It never stopped the attacks but they toned down to where 5 minutes of O2 would knock them out.

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by Jill on Aug 12^th, 2005, 12:34pm

Hey...

Just wanted to thank everyone for the help about the melatoni... and to let you know how it goes..

I conitinued on the three pills for another day or so and then last night I went to four pills which is 12mg - still no sleep.. I feel like a walking zombie and it is starting to get to me. I would think that after being chionic for three years, lack of sleep would be something I would get used to but I cant... it sucks!

I am going to try four again tonight and see what happens... it doesnt even seem to make the night hits less intense and the ones during the day are getting worse because I am so tired and I think because the 'cycle' within cycle is changing..We shall see..

So thanks for everything and I will let you know what happens... and Bob, I am so happy that your cycle has ended, that is great news..

Thanks
Jill

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by E-Double on Aug 12^th, 2005, 3:37pm

I am prety sure that it is Thomas who uses both regular and time release melatonin in combination while in cycle.

That dude turned me onto it and I will continue preaching its potential benefits ;)

Give it a shot

Wish ya luck Jill

Title: Re: Melatonin - how high?
Post by lionsound on Aug 12^th, 2005, 4:10pm

Hey Jill,

It can take the melatonin a little while to build up in your system... my doc said about a week or so. At whatever your dose turns out to be. Don't give up!

If it's not causing other problems for you..like sluggishness(yeah, hard to tell if your overtired) or mood depression then stick with it a little longer if you can.

CH or not, sleep is always an issue for me. I've taken tons of sleep meds and melatonin was the best by far.

Be well and PF and RESTED :)
-rori