my dealings with melatonin and negative side effects

[bigdrig840]

I recently have been taking melatonin 1-3 mg at night to help me sleep. And for me it created more harm than good. It basically made my mental illness 10 times worse than it should have been. It created in me mood changes, decreased blood flow, fatigue, irritability, vivid dreams, and stagnant breathing. Not to mention the possible hormonal effects that it may have had on me. It did not create any noticeable effects in my thyroid test. But it definitley messed with me hormonally.
Is there anything out there that counterracts the negative effects of melatonin? I mean the most I found was that melatonin decreases the negative effects from inderal. So I figured the reverse would also be true in that inderal could help me. As it also is a drug that helps tremors/anxiety, and people with PTSD. I also have dyspnea due to chest restriction due to scoliosis.

any and all help is much appreciated;) :)

[Arna]

No one's answered you? Perhaps because no one can figure out how melatonin could produce on-going side effects (assuming you've stopped taking it). Too high a dose can affect some people the next day (grogginess, headaches, even nausea have been mentioned). But if you quit taking it, it will very soon be gone from your system. Normally, people produce melatonin only at night and it's gone from the blood during the daytime hours.

Melatonin is a hormone, so I'd guess that by definition it affects us hormonally.

The acceptable dosage is a trial-and-error thing, as our normal levels vary 40-fold individually. Less than one mg seems to be sufficient for most people. Some people aren't affected at all by taking melatonin.

I take 1/2 mg each evening, and it makes me sleepy in one hour and 15 minutes. I have to get to bed quickly, as the effect wears off if I don't.

[bigdrig840]

yah but its effects on your body can be longer lasting. not only the psychological effects but the physical or physiological effects manifested psychologically. so right, it leaves your body. but its effects on your mental well-being can be longer lasting(as the nightmares can be so intense that it makes it hard to go to sleep for fear of these nightmares re-occuring)

it definitely affects your hormones, cuz i've talked with my doctor about it. i would hafta suggest that anyone under 35 should NOT take it, I repeat NOT take it under any circumstance. as you probably already make enough melatonin anyways, and anything more than what is needed is probably an overdose on your system, affecting you in different ways. but if you're over 35 I would consider taking it. overloads of melatonin are bad, so I'm glad that you-ARNA are taking .5 mg.

[Arna]

I think you are right about everyone producing enough melatonin (with the possible exceptions of people with Alzheimers, other dementia and physical damage to the brain - I'm thinking of some freak happening like schrapnel). How much is enough varies widely individually.

Its use is usually to affect the timing of one's sleep. That timing can be off because of external factors such as jet lag and shift work, or internal factors - one's circadian rhythms. Many people, including myself and including children, use it for the latter. I use it to keep me on, more or less, a daytime schedule as otherwise I'd be sleeping from 4 a.m. to noon. I don't know for what other purpose, if any, it might be advisable.

[bigdrig840]

i donno if i could deal with less than 8 hours of sleep, since u go to bed at 4am what time u wake up 10am? thats only like 6 hours?

[Zonulin]

Have you tried taking calcium supplements a couple of hours before bedtime? Also, some Sleepytime-type tea (several brands available -preferably organic), a soothing book, a white-sound machine might help. It must be awful not being able to get a full night's sleep, and really affects your health. :(

[bigdrig840]

my sleep is getting better, i take inderal and that really knocks down the restlessness. i def use a fan couldnt sleep without it.

[bigdrig840]

---Spam link removed---

what does this have to do with anything?

[houghchrst]

Uhm that was spam and was to be deleted but when you copied and pasted it it now is still here so your post will probably have to be deleted.

[bigdrig840]

sorry

anyways melatoniin especially with vita min b6 affects you more leading to increased nightmares etc etc