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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MARTY on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:18
Melatonin, plz share your experiences...
Good, bad, useless ?
Thanks,
Marty
Posted by Quintal on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:19
In reply to Melatonin, plz share your experiences, posted by MARTY on December 10, 2006, at 9:06:36
I'm taking 3-6mg melatonin at night right now. It does seem to help me fall asleep more easily. I tried it many times in the past but felt little or no benefit, but I was taking hefty doses of benzos then and I think that may overwhelmed the effect of melatonin.
I'm a night owl, so I like the idea of melatonin allegedly being able to reset the circadian rhythm. Only works for this if I feel like going to bed and actually take it on time though, which is rare.
Q
Posted by Quintal on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:20
In reply to Re: Melatonin, plz share your experiences » MARTY, posted by Quintal on December 10, 2006, at 9:41:38
Melatonin seems to work better if I empty a capsule and take the powder sublingually - lower doses can be used for this route. I start to feel weird then drowsy within ten minutes. I'm also taking melatonin in conjunction with Californian Poppy and the combo sometimes gives me hypnagogic hallucinations (I also had this with Ambien).
Q
Posted by Tom Twilight on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:20
In reply to Re: Melatonin, plz share your experiences » Quintal, posted by Quintal on December 10, 2006, at 9:46:32
I have to say that I find Melatonin very helpful for sleep.
Suprisingly so considering that its tequnically a supplement, "under the tongue" is deffinetly the way to go, just desolve aural tablets in the mouth.
ALERT-however for some people it can deffinetly worsen or even cause depression.
I *think* it might have this affect on me, which is why I won't risk taking it at the moment.
David Goldberge thinks it can cause depression in some individuals, so it isn't just my crazy theory.
Sorry for bad spelling-Tired and Dyslexic
Posted by MARTY on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:21
In reply to Re: Melatonin, plz share your experiences » Quintal, posted by Quintal on December 10, 2006, at 9:46:32
Hi Quintal,
> Melatonin seems to work better if I empty a capsule and take the powder sublingually -
Interesting! didn't know that, I will try it tonight.
Thanks!
Marty
Posted by Phillipa on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:21
In reply to Re: Melatonin, plz share your experiences » Quintal, posted by MARTY on December 10, 2006, at 11:32:14
Marty did it work? Love Phillipa
Posted by MARTY on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:21
In reply to Melatonin-Does it worsen Depression?, posted by Tom Twilight on December 10, 2006, at 10:03:43
Hi Tom,
> ALERT-however for some people it can deffinetly worsen or even cause depression.
I read about this and will be very cautious. Do you know how long it usually takes for those individuals to become depressed ?
Thanks,
Marty
Posted by linkadge on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:21
In reply to Re: Melatonin-Does it worsen Depression? » Tom Twilight, posted by MARTY on December 10, 2006, at 11:35:10
Melatonin has anticonvulsant properties. Some people get the side effect of depression, but for other people it can help depression.
Melatonin has antidepressant effects in mice.
It increases the sensitivity of 5-ht1a receptors, which may potentiate antidepressants. It may also lead to hyperserotonergic effects like shivvering from SSRI's etc.
Linkadge
Posted by MARTY on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:22
In reply to Re: Melatonin-Does it worsen Depression?, posted by linkadge on December 10, 2006, at 12:10:09
Hi Link, how are you ?What do you know about Melatonin in regard to sexual side effects ? It doesn't seem very clear in the literature.
I wouldn't want more sexual side effects ..
Marty
Posted by Tomatheus on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:22
In reply to Melatonin-Does it worsen Depression?, posted by Tom Twilight on December 10, 2006, at 10:03:43
Tom,
In my case, melatonin did cause a worsening of my depressive symptoms. When I take it at night, I usually oversleep and feel depressed and sometimes panicky the next day -- sort of similar to a hangover effect. Not all depressives have this response to melatonin, though.
See:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060817/msgs/693817.html
Tomatheus
Posted by linkadge on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:22
In reply to Re: Melatonin-Does it worsen Depression? » Tom Twilight, posted by Tomatheus on December 10, 2006, at 17:38:17
I personally wouldn't expect melatonin to cause any sexual side effects. It is possable I suppose for any side effect to occur, but I havn't heard of sexual side effects from melatonin.
As a side note, melatonin can block the antidepressant effects of some antidepressants. This may be related to its effects on sleep achetecture. Anyhow, this would be slightly different from melatonin induced depression.
Linkadge
Posted by Quintal on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:22
In reply to Re: Melatonin-Does it worsen Depression?, posted by linkadge on December 10, 2006, at 17:47:46
>I personally wouldn't expect melatonin to cause any sexual side effects.
I second that - I've never had any sexual side effects from melatonin and I'm very sensitive to that problem.
Q
Posted by Quintal on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:22
In reply to Melatonin, plz share your experiences, posted by MARTY on December 10, 2006, at 9:06:36
Hi again, I just remembered, although melatonin is a powerful antioxidant when taken alone, it can become a pro-oxidant if taken in combo with some other antioxidants like vitamin C. I used to take a slow release vitamin C tablet but I changed to IR after discovering this.
Also, melatonin works best when taken with calcium - can't remember why now but I'm sure there are plenty of theories about this in the archives. Maybe taking it with warm milk (if you can tolerate it) may help if you have no calcium supps lying around?
Q
Posted by MARTY on December 11, 2006, at 0:31:22
In reply to Re: Melatonin-Does it worsen Depression?, posted by linkadge on December 10, 2006, at 17:47:46
Hi Link,> As a side note, melatonin can block the antidepressant effects of some antidepressants.
Which one do you think could be subject to this ? Any paper's backing that ?
Thanks,
Marty
Posted by sregan on December 11, 2006, at 14:53:22
In reply to Re: Melatonin-Does it worsen Depression?, posted by linkadge on December 10, 2006, at 17:47:46
My experience with Melatonin has been very positive. I recently read that Melatonin can interfere with a host of hormonal activity. I don't have the link to that one.
It is important to "work up" to your optimal dose. So many people I've recommended it to have taken the typical 3mg (or 1mg) pill/capsule then said they were drowsy upon awakening, then never trying it again after I specifically told them to take less. Break the pill, open the capsule. I can take 1/10th of 1mg and get right to sleep. A full 1mg will knock me out cold.
But if you need it and you take it you'll know it's for you right away.
Posted by dessbee on December 13, 2006, at 15:16:05
In reply to Melatonin, plz share your experiences, posted by MARTY on December 10, 2006, at 9:06:36
I would not recommend melatonin for insomnia. As I understand it people with SAD have high melatonin levels due to lack of light inhibition of melatonin release during daylight.
5-htp supplement can cause fatigue even at low doses, most likely due to melatonin (50% conversion rate from 5-htp)
This is the end of the thread.
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