Hi there.

After investigating and experimenting during my past three cycles, I believe I may have found the best way to use melatonin as a preventative for nocturnal hits.

I've tried different doses and methods until I found what clearly works for me. Here are my conclusions:

A. Combine regular melatonin with slow-release melatonin. For me, 2mg slow release + 3-6mg regular melatonin proved more effective than similar doses (5-8mg) and even higher doses of regular/slow release alone.

B. Start with small doses than gradually go up. I believe the slow release form help maintain m' blood concentration through the night. The regular form increases blood melatonin quickly, but than it slowly declines and that alone may trigger an attack (not the concentration at a certain point but the decline process itself). So you may need smaller doses than what you nay have gotten used to and it's better to start with 2mg+3mg or 2mg+5mg, than up the doses.

C. Remember to take the slow release m' at list 2 hours before going to sleep. The SR stays in your system longer, which might make you sleepy during the morning. Taking it some 8-9 hours before your waking hour will usually solve the problem.

D. Split the regular m' to two doses. I take half an hour before sleep and the other half some 15-30 minutes before sleep. I believe it gets better results.

E. Experiment. Basically, if the m' works properly, you should wake up just fine. If you find it more difficult to wake up in the morning, this probably means you should use a smaller dose or take it earlier. We know everyone's different.

Also, during the course of a cycle you may need to up the dose a little and than decrease it when the cycle approaches it's end.

F. Try getting some sunlight in the morning. The sun will not only help you in the manufacturing of D vitamin, but also in converting the excess melatonin into serotonin, which will make you less tired and more energized and may help prevent some daily hits as well.

Hope you'll find it helpful.

I've had good results taking 10mg of controlled release and 5mg of regular Melatonin right before bed in the past but it's been ineffective for my nighttime hits in this cycle.  I tried following your recommendation by taking the 10mg controlled release melatonin a couple of hours before bedtime but it still hasn't made a dent.

Should I increase my dosage?  How much melatonin is too much?

I typicall do 10mg of extended and 5 immidiate iirc, at one point I was taking 30mg of extended when I wasn't sleeping well.
my effective dose is 15mg with 20mg being better but I didn't notice a huge difference in any doses higher than that.
$.02

When shopping for melatonin, other than the obvious mg dosage, how can you tell what is extended release and immediate release? Just browsing my pharmacy's website and not seeing anything obvious on the labels. Is there something in the ingredients I need to be looking for?

Melatonin ... Read Todd Rozen!!!

Combining standard and slow release apparently provides a more "normal" sleep meaning less grog or bizarre dreams as some have. It doesn't seem to matter with regard to prophylaxis.

Best,

E

I've read many times on the prescribed Melatonin not being very affective in night time CH relief. The one that seems to give the best overall result is euro vital 5mg. From Biovea.

Hoppy.