Hi,

I've bought some melatonin capsules as I thought I would try them to help me sleep and also because most of my CH's are happening between 2-7.00a.m.

I'm a bit concerned now though about side-effects, particularly as I suffer from depression and have read in a few places that melatonin supplements can make depression worse.  I'm not normally one to get overly concerned with side-effects, and particularly with a herbal supplement but I really, really don't want to do anything to exacerbate the depression.

Does anyone here also suffer from depression yet have taken melatonin?  What were your experiences please?

Anything that makes me drousy is a trigger. Melatonin makes me drousy. Cant take it when in an episode. But that is just my experience. It does help many with the nighttime attacks.
the bb

Of course not a doctor, however my doc over @ new england center for headaches had me on melatonin when I was taking an anti depressant....

the only side effect was pain free nights

Hi Rob,

Depression has always been a problem for me...don't know if it was
because of ch or ch a part of it...

Can say that I use melatonin and it has no effect on depression...
good or bad. It does make me feel "ooky" prior to sleep...can't describe any better.

Many achieve relief from nighttime hits when using. For me, that only occurred once...and I thought I had found the "magic bullet"...not to be. BUT, what it does do is make me groggy enough that upon awakening with a hit (sometimes 8/night), I can abort with O2...and return to sleep immediately. Part of it, and important for me, is that besides the melatonin grogginess, I have determined in my mind NOT to panic, not to get angry, not to thrash or move around...just calmly hit the O2. Must admit sometimes it means I leave the e-tank valve on cuz I just am not aware enough to turn off when I'm finished (but not on my face)...and empty a tank greets me in the morn (so have lots available).

Best,

Jon

I have suffered from depression in the past, and have taken melatonin with no problems I relate to that.  At the time, I was taking it during my cluster cycles, which didn't overlap with the depressive episodes.

Your mileage may vary - this is another thing that we don't really know a lot about.  Some researchers have raised cautionary notes about the possibility that melatonin might make depression or autoimmune conditions worse ... I think that is a hypothetical - possible, but not proven.

Here's a link to an article that goes the other way: they are speculating that melatonin might be beneficial for depression:
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In the study "The association of nocturnal serum melatonin levels with major depression in patients with acute multiple sclerosis," they found that higher night time melatonin levels were associated with milder symptoms in depressed people with MS.

In old people living in a nursing home, melatonin improved sleep but slightly increased negative affect (bad mood) but the mood changes were offset by light therapy (suggesting that disrupting circadian cycles was the cause).
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In another study in a nursing home, melatonin improved sleep and reduced depressive symptoms:
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Antidepressants increase melatonin levels:
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I would discount any of the studies on mice, rabbits, rats, etc ... those animals tend to be quite dependent on the seasons, and melatonin will change their behavior dramatically.

While not one of my major sources of medical data <bg>, the AARP magazine, Julyl/August, 09, has a table of supplemental items which can be used with a variety of common medical problems.

Melatonin, 1-3mg at bedtime, is listed as a supplement to the standard Rx meds for depression.

Would note a well controlled study out of England which showed--using for sleep--Melatonin, 1/3 mg, was superior to higher or lower doses. Since this is not a standard pill size, you might try 1/2 mg and see....

I have not noticed any affects on depression.  I have taken several sleep aids, and none work as well as melatonin.  There are no side effects for me at all.

Melatonin has had no effect on my depression, PTSD, or OCD.

ive taken 9 mg a night for about a year now and the only side effect i notice is the lack of nightime hits :)

Rob:

I tried it for the first time last week, and it let me sleep through the night . . . but the next day I had a Kip 8 in the middle of the day and I had not had one previously.  I stopped  taking Melatonin immediately.  That may or may not have been the cause, but I was not willing to try it again . . .