Problems falling asleep- Melatonin ?  
i know this has been discussed before. i would just like to hear some dosages and what other things people are taking ..
Xanax ?  

Melatonin (12-15mg). It gets you thru the REM sleep where the CH hits.

I've never had trouble falling asleep - it's just the problem of staying asleep when the demon comes visiting. The Melatonin has done the trick for years.

My neuro said it's the same ingredients that's in those sleeping pills (can't ever remember the name of them) that they advertise on TV (the one with the chipmonk and Abe Lincoln and the dreams).

Hugs BD

While high doses are used to treat CH, for sleep, the effective dose is quite low-0.3-.5mg.

This dose comes from a controlled study done in England several years ago. Take about one-hour prior to bedtime.

Bob Johnson wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2008 at 9:12am:

While high doses are used to treat CH, for sleep, the effective dose is quite low-0.3-.5mg.

sorry.. which one are we talking about ?

Sorry, to treat CH folks take from 9 to 11mg.

For sleep, use 0.5 mg.

uncle-cluster wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2008 at 9:22am:

Bob Johnson wrote on Dec 23rd, 2008 at 9:12am: While high doses are used to treat CH, for sleep, the effective dose is quite low-0.3-.5mg. sorry.. which one are we talking about ?

He's talking about the Melatonin.

Well...Xanex? The problem is, that's habit forming. You don't want something that you'll have to be weened off of for this. From experience, it didn't help me sleep, in the least. I may just be immune to it's effects or something of the like.

Another thing you could try is Skullcap. It works along with the Melatonin. Both would be better for you, and a lot safer than Xanex. You'd get a better night's sleep from the herbs.

One more thing, if you have cats, take dried catnip, put it in a tea strainer, and make tea with it. Sounds nuts, but it might help you sleep. I don't know how it works for CH, but it's a really pleasant tasting tea. Helps for an upset stomach too.

Melatonin works GREAT for me. I had some problems with sleeping for quite a long time (one of the causes was the CH), I don't even know when I had any dream for a last two years (I didn't remember any).

I've been taking 5mg of Melatonin for 7-10 days and I fall asleep pretty fast. If you want to take it just 'for sleeping', you shouldn't need biggest dose (usually people use much smaller), although it also depends on your age. Now I have 'wonderful' dreams every night and I don't feel 'sleepy' or weak next day (I felt so when I took some other medicines, eg. Topamax).

During first nights it was quite bad (I woke up during the night like 10 times), my eyes were 'crying' and I was yawning all the time, but now it's really good :) And you can sleep just as much as you want...

Moreover, I took it for the first time two or three days after my cluster headaches started again... And guess what. THEY'RE GONE! I was very pissed of because after some pain-free time my CH came back but it seems that Melatonin accidentally helped (: (when I was buying it I didn't remember posts about it on that message board).

Bob Johnson wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2008 at 12:14pm:

Sorry, to treat CH folks take from 9 to 11mg. For sleep, use 0.5 mg.

yeah be sure you don't over do it. give it a few days to work. sleeping with ch is a fun old game. along with Melatonin try to sleep sitting up. breathright strips over your nose help. keep the o2 ready to go and start huffing as soon as you wake up. don't lay there in denial until your head is fire before you decide take action.  non generic 4 way nasal spray helps, cool or ice cold moist air in the room your sleeping in helps. a commercial size chiller with a vaporizer is ideal. ;D i've gone to the extent of sleeping in a lawn chain with a sleeping bag on the front porch. best sleep i've ever gotten in cycle was on the porch in the dead of winter.  ;D

you'll catch yourself doing some crazy stuff to get some rest :D    

Melatonin works like a charm for me (Thanks Nani!)

J - that is hilarious. I slept with the windows open during a cycle in the winter and that worked, but I had a much higher heat bill than you!

I'll try the porch next time!