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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by c on September 3, 2001, at 12:23:06
Anyone ever take melatonin for help sleeping? I wake up a lot at night? c
Posted by Kathleen6674 on September 3, 2001, at 13:57:49
In reply to melatonin, posted by c on September 3, 2001, at 12:23:06
> Anyone ever take melatonin for help sleeping? I wake up a lot at night? c
Yeah, I take it sometimes. It works for me, except sometimes it causes really, really bizarre dreams. Also, it tends to make me sleep a bit too much - I'd sleep for 12 hours if I didn't set an alarm.
Posted by SalArmy4me on September 3, 2001, at 14:14:21
In reply to melatonin, posted by c on September 3, 2001, at 12:23:06
Kayumov, Leonid PhD, ABSM. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study of the Effect of Exogenous Melatonin on Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. Psychosomatic Medicine. 63(1):40-48, January 2001:
"In conclusion, melatonin was an effective treatment for patients with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DLSP, a fancy way of saying 'insomnia'), as confirmed by both objective and subjective measures. No adverse effects of melatonin were noted during the 4 weeks of treatment. The “phase-advanced” sleep during melatonin treatment significantly decreased {sleep latency} compared with placebo but did not alter sleep architecture from that of phase-delayed sleep."
I could e-mail you any study about melatonin in existence if you like....
> Anyone ever take melatonin for help sleeping? I wake up a lot at night? c
Posted by dove on September 3, 2001, at 16:02:23
In reply to Re: melatonin » c, posted by SalArmy4me on September 3, 2001, at 14:14:21
If you do a search through the P-babble archives you will find a *good* amount of info and personal experiences regarding Melatonin.
I've posted quite a few messages about Melatonin. My personal recommendations regarding Melatonin are as follows:
1) Form: Sublingual tabs, melt under your tongue--no swallowing.
2) Potency: individual tabs anywhere from 0.5 - 2 mgs.
3) Go slow and low. Try to find the smallest dosage that works for you.
4) Timing: If initially, you can't fall asleep, then take the Melatonin right before bed or within the last 20 minutes. If the problem is night-time waking, take the sublingual then, in the middle of the night.
5) There is a huge difference in individual effectiveness between the various forms of Melatonin. Some people get headaches from any form, others just from the swallow tabs. Some people find the Melatonin swallow form leaves them with the dreaded "hang-over" effect in the a.m.
There have been *a lot* of P-babble board discussions regarding Melatonin, and the archives will hold more scientific or hard evidence that might answer some your questions.
dove
Posted by polly on September 4, 2001, at 22:21:16
In reply to Re: melatonin » c, posted by SalArmy4me on September 3, 2001, at 14:14:21
> Kayumov, Leonid PhD, ABSM. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study of the Effect of Exogenous Melatonin on Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. Psychosomatic Medicine. 63(1):40-48, January 2001:
>
> "In conclusion, melatonin was an effective treatment for patients with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DLSP, a fancy way of saying 'insomnia'), as confirmed by both objective and subjective measures. No adverse effects of melatonin were noted during the 4 weeks of treatment. The “phase-advanced” sleep during melatonin treatment significantly decreased {sleep latency} compared with placebo but did not alter sleep architecture from that of phase-delayed sleep."
>
> I could e-mail you any study about melatonin in existence if you like....
>
>
> > Anyone ever take melatonin for help sleeping? I wake up a lot at night? cIs there any linkage with melatonin and depression?
I had heard that some folks experienced depressive episodes after taking this med??
Posted by SalArmy4me on September 4, 2001, at 22:46:15
In reply to Re: melatonin, posted by polly on September 4, 2001, at 22:21:16
I've never heard of that. I couldn't find any evidence of that in all the medical journals.
Posted by polly on September 4, 2001, at 23:13:26
In reply to Re: melatonin » polly, posted by SalArmy4me on September 4, 2001, at 22:46:15
> I've never heard of that. I couldn't find any evidence of that in all the medical journals.
Thanks. That's what I needed to hear. I once felt extremely "low"
the morning after I had taken a 3mg tab.
Posted by SLS on September 4, 2001, at 23:54:08
In reply to Re: melatonin, posted by polly on September 4, 2001, at 22:21:16
> Is there any linkage with melatonin and depression?
> I had heard that some folks experienced depressive episodes after taking this med??
Yes. Melatonin can be depressogenic (causing depression). I think this might be particularly true if it is taken too late at night.
- Scott
Posted by JohnL on September 5, 2001, at 4:24:34
In reply to melatonin, posted by c on September 3, 2001, at 12:23:06
> Anyone ever take melatonin for help sleeping? I wake up a lot at night? c
I never found melatonin to be helpful at all for me. It just didn't seem to do anything.
John
Posted by pellmell on September 5, 2001, at 12:59:54
In reply to Re: melatonin, posted by polly on September 4, 2001, at 23:13:26
> > > I've never heard of that. I couldn't find any evidence of that in all the medical journals.
>
> Thanks. That's what I needed to hear. I once felt extremely "low"
> the morning after I had taken a 3mg tab.Heh...a large part of the purpose of this board is to share experiences that aren't (yet) in the medical literature. :) I too am still learning to trust what my senses tell me over what medical literature tells me is "supposed to" happen, though, so I sympathise.
Taking a 3mg melatonin tab at night causes me to feel more depressed and irritable the entire next day. Needless to say, I don't take it anymore because of that. Someone in another thread mentioned something about the tincture and sublingual versions causing less of a hangover effect; maybe those forms would also be less depressogenic.
-pm
Posted by Zo on September 5, 2001, at 20:42:24
In reply to Re: melatonin » polly, posted by SalArmy4me on September 4, 2001, at 22:46:15
Posted by fluffykitty on September 6, 2001, at 14:46:27
In reply to Re: melatonin » polly, posted by pellmell on September 5, 2001, at 12:59:54
> Taking a 3mg melatonin tab at night causes me to feel more depressed and irritable the entire
3mg is a very high dose. Thats more for jet lag.
As someone said before, try taking the lowest possible dose to have a good effect. I take a 2 or 2.5 mg tablet and break it into quarters and take the 1/4. Thats about .5 mg. Works good for me! (when I use it)
Posted by dove on September 6, 2001, at 19:56:39
In reply to Re: melatonin, posted by fluffykitty on September 6, 2001, at 14:46:27
I just want to reiterate that the Melatonin tabs that must be swallowed do not work the same (for me or anyone else I know personally) as the sublingual (melt under tongue) Melatonin.
And 3 mgs. would undoubtedly leave you feeling low, morose, depressed, and all those other negative adjectives.
I take the sublingual about 3-4 times a week; usually after I've really messed up my sleep (i.e. Reading a Sharyn McCrumb or Stuart Woods into the wee hours of the morning.), and only 0.5 to 1 mg total.
And the sublingual supposedly clears your body at a much faster rate, although I don't have the evidence to back-up this claim. All I want to say is that is has truly been a life-saver for me, who has suffered from insomnia since I was four or five :o)
dove
Posted by SLS on September 6, 2001, at 21:59:52
In reply to Re: melatonin, posted by dove on September 6, 2001, at 19:56:39
> I just want to reiterate that the Melatonin tabs that must be swallowed do not work the same (for me or anyone else I know personally) as the sublingual (melt under tongue) Melatonin.
>
> And 3 mgs. would undoubtedly leave you feeling low, morose, depressed, and all those other negative adjectives.
>
> I take the sublingual about 3-4 times a week; usually after I've really messed up my sleep (i.e. Reading a Sharyn McCrumb or Stuart Woods into the wee hours of the morning.), and only 0.5 to 1 mg total.
>
> And the sublingual supposedly clears your body at a much faster rate, although I don't have the evidence to back-up this claim. All I want to say is that is has truly been a life-saver for me, who has suffered from insomnia since I was four or five :o)
>
> dove
Hi Dove.The method by which you take melatonin more closely mimics the body's normal rhythm. The rate at which the pineal gland secretes melatonin sort of spikes around 2:00am and falls off gradually thereafter. My guess is that your way might promote better sleep architecture, less depression, and feeling more refreshed the next morning. What do you think? Do you feel any more rested the morning after taking melatonin?
- Scott
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