I have not used it. ;) Many have and are having a good degree of success avoiding the night time terrors by using it. I'd ask those who are having or have had success to do the following:

Reply to this post with your weight, gender, the level of melatonin that was effective for you, and approximately how long before bedtime you took it. If you'd rather PM me witht he info, that's great too. People are always asking what's a good dose to start with and I do  not have a good feel for melatonin dosing yet.

This will hardly qualify as a double blind with placebo effect study worthy of publishing!!! ;D...but will give me a much better comfort level when people ask.

Thank you for your support, I'll leave the light on for ya!

Joe

Good idea, Joe. I'm 5'10", weight 182, male, currently taking 15mgs nightly approximately 1 hour before bedtime. I messed around the lower doses with no effect. I also add a B super complex since I understand melatonin can deplete B6. Hope this helps! lance

I average around 250 pounds, I am currently 38 years old.  I take melatonin about 2 hours before bed, as a sleep aid I take 3-5 mgs a night for CH purposes I use 9-15 mg and I mix regular melatonin with time release melatonin, which is to say I take 3-6 of one and 6-9 of the other.

Thanks for the replies and the PM's...keep em coming.

Joe

152LB..Male...6mg(2- 3mg tabs I believe)  An hour before bed.

I generally only take during/ when I am in CH cycle.

Hi Joe,

You've been on the Forum for a long time, so you've probably seen a few posts about my 'treatment', but I figured I'd take this opportunity to share it again.  When I'm about to go into cycle, I take this:

Kudzu - 1000 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)   
Magnesium - 250 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)   
St. John's Wort - 300 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)   
Skullcap - 425 mg at bedtime   
Melatonin - 10 mg at bedtime.

I take it daily for about two weeks, then stop.  The cycle hasn't come back, yet.  It has worked for a lot of other folks, too.

It doesn't seem to matter exactly how long before bed I take the nighttime dose - I just make sure that it's late enough that I won't have a problem if any of the ingredients (particularly the melatonin or scullcap) should happen to make me drowsy.

I am Male, 53 years old, and when I started using this, I was about 215 lbs (I'm now a svelte 180  ;D).  Hmmm - maybe it's a miracle weight loss formula, too!

This month, I am celebrating three years 100% PF since starting this regimen.

FWIW

Regards,
Jim

Hi Joe,

Male, 192Lbs, 59 Yrs old.

I have been taking 10 Mg Melatonin (includes 20 Mg B6) 30 minutes before lights out for almost 2 weeks. I understand that it may take a while to be affective, but it started helping me from the first night.

I started taking 25Mg of Topomax daily 2 days prior to starting with the melatonin.

After starting the Melatonin, I have had hits at night, but amazingly I have been able to ignore them. They did not wake me all the way up.

This is only the second cycle I have ever experienced, and it started 4 weeks ago yesterday. The last and only other one was maybe 5-6 years ago, so I have very little data to work with. My last hits were a couple really minor ones three nights ago. My worst ones were during the day, and they were almost two weeks ago.

Bob

Keep this stuff coming, this is priceless info to newbies....Thanks.

Joe

Wish I could help, but I'm a 200 lb 29+ yr old who cannot use it.  Even with a small dose the next morning I'm groggy as anything and nearly nonfunctional.  I'm jealous of those of you who can use it.  Would love to be able to go to sleep instead of sitting up until I know I'm done for the night.

Jerry

165 lb. 52 yr old male - tried 9 mg nightly with no success.

Now that I see wimsey had to get to 15 mg before it would kick in, I plan on trying higher doses if the beast rears ugly head again.

Wish my BF could post this himself but for some reason, this website doesn't work on his PS3. >:( He's 38, 6 feet, weighs around 195 lbs.  10mg at night hasn't helped him sleep or eliminate the HAs, but has reduced them to the neighbourhood of K1-K3s.  Can't convince him to try more yet...

If my calculations are correct , the number of females that have supplied their info here so far = zero.

This may have to do with the fact that the gals are generally less enthused about actually publishing their weight on the internet?  :D ;D

C'mon I gave them the PM option!!!! ;)

Joe

O.K. Beejeeber, but only because you asked.   ;)

5 feet tall.  97 pounds.  I take 9mg. about an hour before I go to sleep.   Works about 75% of the time.

bejeeber wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2010 at 4:11pm:

If my calculations are correct , the number of females that have supplied their info here so far = zero.

That's because the wimmenz don't get CH. Just ask Chuck. ;)

Oh Brew...way to put a quarter in Linda!! ;D

Joe

bejeeber wrote on Aug 30^th, 2010 at 11:15pm:

165 lb. 52 yr old male - tried 9 mg nightly with no success. Now that I see wimsey had to get to 15 mg before it would kick in, I plan on trying higher doses if the beast rears ugly head again.

Any luck going up higher? And I did notice a while back someone posting a warning that unless the label says "melatonin" it might actually be something else?  Don't know. I've noticed no one else seems to combine melatonin with B6, or a super B complex. I started both at the same time, and I've been told melatonin can deplete B6. Maybe there's something to taking both? Blessings, and great post, Joe! lance

230lbs 53year old male. 10mg 1 hour before bed. works wonders for me.

Lets not harass the ladies.  :D

mikstudie wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2010 at 8:51am:

230lbs 53year old male. 10mg 1 hour before bed. works wonders for me. Lets not harass the ladies.  :D

Oh don't worry about Linda...she's all of 95 pounds soaking wet!!...and we're still scared to death of her.  ;D

Joe

Guiseppi wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2010 at 9:54am:

mikstudie wrote on Sep 3rd, 2010 at 8:51am: 230lbs 53year old male. 10mg 1 hour before bed. works wonders for me. Lets not harass the ladies.  :D Oh don't worry about Linda...she's all of 95 pounds soaking wet!!...and we're still scared to death of her.  ;D Joe

Joe I talked to her in a PM seems like a wonderful lady.

Joe I talked to her in a PM seems like a wonderful lady.

I'll make her blush and probably get her mad at me....but you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does more...on a day to day basis...to help total strangers with CH. [smiley=heart.gif] [smiley=hug.gif]

Joe

Guiseppi wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2010 at 10:14am:

Joe I talked to her in a PM seems like a wonderful lady. I'll make her blush and probably get her mad at me....but you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does more...on a day to day basis...to help total strangers with CH. [smiley=heart.gif] [smiley=hug.gif] Joe

:)

Aww, see what you've gone and done now?  First I was gonna rip someone a new one and then ya just HAD to go and say something nice.  Spoiled all my fun.   ;D

Linda,
Just wait, I'm sure that some other *person* will pop up with a good case of foot and mouth disease.

Yeah, I know.  Apparently BobP hasn't seen this thread.  HE was the one that started the "women don't get CH"  with Marc right on his heels.   LOL

Am thinking about giving this a try. At 38 yrs old and 140 lbs I am thinking about 10 mg 1 hour before bed. Does this sound right?

Yep Kika, it does.   I have never had the morning grogginess that others have said, but if you do then start a little bit more than an hour before bedtime.

If you do well with that...up the doseage a bit.  They can be broken in half if need be.

Just a thought for those for whom melatonin hasn't worked.  Sometimes, less is more.

Melatonin is interesting stuff.  As a sleep aid, it's well established that a very small dose works better than a larger amount.  1/2 mg will consistently work better than 5 or 10 mg.  I don't know if the same could be true for some people when using it to prevent CH.

I use 10 mg at bedtime (along with the other stuff I listed in my post above) for my own treatment, but a couple of others have said it seems to work as well with 5 mg or less.  So, if it's not working well for you at fairly high doses, it might be worth a try lowering the dose for a while and see if that helps.

Just a thought.

Regards,
Jim

Hi, i'm 5ft 7" and weigh 158lbs (11stone 4lbs)

I take 12mg of Melatonin

This is the brand i use - i have tried 2/3 others and they didnt work well for me, i think it may be because in the ingredients: it also as

• Vitamin B-6 (from Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 10mg
• Calcium (from Calcium Carbonate) 63mg

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Another girl for my stats! Thanks, glad you're getting some pain free time. :)

Joe

Guiseppi wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2010 at 10:14am:

...you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does more...on a day to day basis...to help total strangers with CH.

Agreed! I know first hand of this 95 lb. powerhouse's behind the scenes rescue operations and will never forget it!  :)

kika wrote on Sep 4^th, 2010 at 7:20pm:

Am thinking about giving this a try. At 38 yrs old and 140 lbs I am thinking about 10 mg 1 hour before bed. Does this sound right?

Well 5 mg is the highest dose the drugstore carried and it seems to work, haven't woken with a hit in 2 days, but holy CRAP  am I dragging all day!
Think I'll see if 3 mg will work too.

Does anyone else feel tired all the next day?

kika wrote on Sep 7^th, 2010 at 6:39pm:

Does anyone else feel tired all the next day?

Sometimes if beginning use, effects can kick harder, last longer.  It may not always drag so persistently.  Like a new flavored toothpaste, it tastes fresh and flavorful the first few brushings, then becomes unnnoticed. 

The "less is more" is a different thought.  I seem to be having trouble with consistency between brands to even get the sandman to visit sometimes, so don't have any usage parallels with helpful parameters.

I commented on August 30 that I was taking 10 Mg Melatonin (includes 20 Mg B6). Fortunately my cycle seems to have ended, and I stopped taking the Melatonin on a nightly basis.

I did take it a couple of times since, and noticed that those nights I had a really difficult time getting to sleep. It was almost as if the Melatonin was acting as a stimulant.

So, I sure hope that the stuff has a really long shelf life.  :)

Guiseppi wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2010 at 10:14am:

I'll make her blush and probably get her mad at me....but you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does more...on a day to day basis...to help total strangers with CH. [smiley=heart.gif] [smiley=hug.gif] Joe

AMEN to That!!  [smiley=clap2.gif]

Hubby is 48, 5'10", 190 lbs., 10-15 mg time released.  Hit & miss success.

chbob04 wrote on Sep 9^th, 2010 at 8:51pm:

I commented on August 30 that I was taking 10 Mg Melatonin (includes 20 Mg B6). Fortunately my cycle seems to have ended, and I stopped taking the Melatonin on a nightly basis. I did take it a couple of times since, and noticed that those nights I had a really difficult time getting to sleep. It was almost as if the Melatonin was acting as a stimulant.

2mg of B6 per tablet is 100% daily value, that's a thousand!


I work nights, sleep in daylight and feel the same effect a lot of times.  I usually have a boring book on hand, or ask the girl to tell me about her day.  She offers to swing a shovel.     :)

hi,

  i take it at night,  5mg before bed.  40yr old female, 5'8", 150lbs.  It helps me sleep and helps with nightime hits.  Not a miracle, but it helps

christine

kika wrote on Sep 7^th, 2010 at 6:39pm:

[quote author=43414349280 link=1283174807/25#25 date=1283642417] Does anyone else feel tired all the next day?

That's why they invented coffee.

chbob04 wrote on Sep 9^th, 2010 at 8:51pm:

I commented on August 30 that I was taking 10 Mg Melatonin (includes 20 Mg B6). Fortunately my cycle seems to have ended, and I stopped taking the Melatonin on a nightly basis. I did take it a couple of times since, and noticed that those nights I had a really difficult time getting to sleep. It was almost as if the Melatonin was acting as a stimulant. So, I sure hope that the stuff has a really long shelf life.  :)

Take the B6 in the morning.  That is probably what is keeping you up.

Agostino Leyre wrote on Sep 13^th, 2010 at 9:19am:

chbob04 wrote on Sep 9th, 2010 at 8:51pm: I commented on August 30 that I was taking 10 Mg Melatonin (includes 20 Mg B6). Fortunately my cycle seems to have ended, and I stopped taking the Melatonin on a nightly basis. I did take it a couple of times since, and noticed that those nights I had a really difficult time getting to sleep. It was almost as if the Melatonin was acting as a stimulant. So, I sure hope that the stuff has a really long shelf life.  :) Take the B6 in the morning.  That is probably what is keeping you up.

Wish I could, but the B6 and the Melatonin are in the same tablet. I am not sure how common this is, mixing Melatonin and B6 in the same dose.  :)

45 year old male,200lbs,chronic sufferer, 3-6mg every night half hour before bed, when bad cycles come 6-9 mg half hour before bed and one Indomethacin 25 mg.

Quote:

Wish I could, but the B6 and the Melatonin are in the same tablet. I am not sure how common this is, mixing Melatonin and B6 in the same dose.

The brand I use has B6 and calcium additives. On top of that, I've been taking a super B complex each morning. Maybe overkill but so far the cocktail works. I'll keep at it until it don't. Blessings. lance

chbob04 wrote on Sep 13^th, 2010 at 7:26pm:

Agostino Leyre wrote on Sep 13th, 2010 at 9:19am: chbob04 wrote on Sep 9th, 2010 at 8:51pm: I commented on August 30 that I was taking 10 Mg Melatonin (includes 20 Mg B6). Fortunately my cycle seems to have ended, and I stopped taking the Melatonin on a nightly basis. I did take it a couple of times since, and noticed that those nights I had a really difficult time getting to sleep. It was almost as if the Melatonin was acting as a stimulant. So, I sure hope that the stuff has a really long shelf life.  :) Take the B6 in the morning.  That is probably what is keeping you up. Wish I could, but the B6 and the Melatonin are in the same tablet. I am not sure how common this is, mixing Melatonin and B6 in the same dose.  :)

Not common at all.  You should be able to find a brand that doesn't have the B6 in it.  I would buy some B complex and take in the am though.

chbob04 wrote on Sep 13^th, 2010 at 7:26pm:

the B6 and the Melatonin are in the same tablet.

For some reason Rite Aid's brand has this.  I've been looking for a new brand and bought some warily searching from the label for an authentic melatonin, shortly finding what may be the B6 disturbing the desired affect. 

Along with the dissatisfaction of my previous brand, four bottles of stuff that seem useless sit because of 2 for 1 sales.

Any brands mentioned doing some sleepy good appreciated.  Insomnia can wear thin when tired but wasting free time when working nights and sleeping days.  Don't like to gamble with what's circadianly tempting for CH either.

39 year old male, 6', 200 (ish) pounds, 5mg Melatonin one hour before bedtime. No dice. Totally groggy the next day.

I was considering Jim's "treatment" as I am living tethered to my O2 tanks, but in researching St. John's Wort have read that it is not to be taken if one also uses any triptans--which I do, as it is the only way I can get any sleep these days. (Relpex gives me a solid 7 to 7.5 hours consistently.)  I would love it if I could get Melatonin alone to do the job, but it isn't these days.

I consider biting the bullet and going off Relpax, but the pain is intolerable--I needn't describe it, of course.  I would do it for sure if I had some sense that after clearing the triiptans out of my system for a few days I stood a good probability of have Jim's treatment work, but we all respond differently to these things.  Does it matter that I also take a good amount of Topamax (which used to work, but isn't now)?

thanks,

thee reptile

Quote:

Does it matter that I also take a good amount of Topamax (which used to work, but isn't now)?

You're wise to be careful of mixing Rx meds with OTC remedies. There can be interactions. If you're uncertain we've done some research which can be found on the site, but there's always room for more. As to tope used to but ain't working now-yeah, it's common for the beast to morph or for our bodies to habituate to the drug. That's why we keep alternatives around-for a fall back position.

As to the melatonin-since my hits are mostly shadow hits now, aborted quickly with Monster and O2, I've decided to reduce my daily nighttime Melatonin from 15mgs to 10mgs. I'll let all ya'll know if there's anything worth reporting. Blessings! lance

Hello,

I am completely new to this site and board but hit upon your melatonin topic right away.  I have been on a cluster since late July, my neurologist moved out of town so I am having to "train" a new doctor otherwise would have already done a predinisone burst and hopefully been done with this bout. 

Anyway, female, 41 years old, 172 lbs.  Started taking melatonin 3 nights ago, 3 mg about 30 min before bedtime and haven't been woken up with a night attack yet, of course it's only been three days...in addition, it's really helped my sleeping which has never been good anyway and I only feel slightly groggy the next morning.

Glad you checked in freeze. I take it you're one of the lucky ones and a pred burst will halt an entire cycle? That's great news...boy I'd certainly consider keeping a stockpile of pred on hand! ;)

Pred will keep the beast at bay for me but as soon as the pred stops, the beast comes back with a vengeance. Do you have access to oxygen? 6-8 minute abort times for me, many have similar abort times, been a life saver.

Welcome to the board.

Joe

The pred worked when I was young - started clusters as a teenager.  Then it quit working (but not until it apparently ruined my tendons!  I've ruptured both achilles and had numerous bouts of tendonitis in hands, wrists, elbow, shoulder and knees).  I was on numerous other therapies then got on verapamil which also worked great for a number of cycles, but now seems to be less effective.  Went back to pred two clusters ago and it worked great again.  I'll take the tendonitis over the cluster pain.

I've tried O2 in the past without success, but now I'm not sure I was doing it right.  Currently take Treximet with mixed success.

I'm really glad I found this site!

dkfreese wrote on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 10:58pm:

I've tried O2 in the past without success, but now I'm not sure I was doing it right.  Currently take Treximet with mixed success.

Read up the oxygen link on the left which has loads of great info. And if you've questions, just ask.

dkfreese wrote on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 6:40pm:

Started taking melatonin 3 nights ago, 3 mg about 30 min before bedtime and haven't been woken up with a night attack yet

I love to read stuff like this.

Well, about a week on 6-9mg Melatonin and they seem to be working on hubby 5'10" and 185lb. (I'm guessing at that- in my eyes he's 8'6", but I'm biased!) He's only had a few breakthrough kip4s, knocked out with oxygen, and (this is the miracle here!) was able to get right back to sleep!

2 points- about a month before this cycle started he started having an AWFUL time falling asleep and staying asleep, the Melatonin has helped with that. We're going to watch and see if that is a warning sign on the next cycle as well.

Couple nights ago I kept watch after he fell asleep to gauge how the Melatonin is working (could set your clock by the "wake up call" exactly 1 hour after he falls asleep). Anyway, the vein in his temple started throbbing (that is our barometer on these things- it'll get hard when one is coming on, throb when in a headache, then back to normal when they're gone) and he started thrashing a bit, but then the vein went back to normal on it's own and it was all over 10 minutes later and he never woke up.

So mark us down for a checkmark for Melatonin- it's worked great for keeping most of the night attacks and minimizing the ones that do break through