Posted by Caedmon on June 4, 2006, at 17:54:28
In reply to Re: Reverse SAD?, Weather, Meds - me too!, posted by SLS on June 4, 2006, at 14:35:19
> > > I would love suggestions for overcoming summertime SAD.
> >
> > You might look into manipulating your circadian rhythm by taking melatonin during the day rather than at night. You will need to experiment. Try taking it either in the morning or in the afternoon to see which is best. Of course, there is the potential for you to make things worse with one of these choices. I would try the afternoon first. It might be worth a try.
>
> You might even try taking it in the early morning hours if the other two times don't work. Maybe 4:00am. That would effectively extend the natural period of melatonin exposure. Maybe you need to have your cycle retarded rather than advanced.
>
> If you decide to experiment, please let us know what the results are.
>
>
> - Scott
I had wondered about melatonin. Thanks for the info.Hopefully my new antidepressant, Parnate, could be helpful. Either in terms of just being an antidepressant, or from increasing melatonin:
Murphy DL, Tamarkin L, Sunderland T, Garrick NA, Cohen RM (1986): Human plasma melatonin is elevated during treatment with the monoamine oxidase inhibitors clorgyline and tranylcypromine but not deprenyl. Psychiatry Res 17:119-127
Also, my understanding is that Summer SAD is correlated with bipolar, which I do have (the II variant), so perhaps there is a mood stabilizer (or two) that might help. I'll probably be evaluating something new this summer anyway, right now I'm looking at trying Lamictal again.
Either way I'll definitely let you all know the results! Today it has gotten to 92 here in Salt Lake City (33 Celsius). :-( It's going to be a long summer.
- Chris
poster:Caedmon
thread:55983
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060604/msgs/652888.html