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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 1980Monroe on July 21, 2004, at 22:15:28
Why is it warned not to take more than 3mg in less than 24hours.
Is Melatonin a hypnotic by the way, or just make you more in the mood for sleep.
Posted by Larry Hoover on July 22, 2004, at 6:36:47
In reply to question about Melatonin, posted by 1980Monroe on July 21, 2004, at 22:15:28
> Why is it warned not to take more than 3mg in less than 24hours.
>
> Is Melatonin a hypnotic by the way, or just make you more in the mood for sleep.Melatonin is a hormone, released by the pineal gland, which substantially increases your brain's ability to let go of consciousness, and permit sleep. Its release is highly correlated to the light/dark cycle (kind of like a metronome for the brain), but some psychiatric disturbances reduce the level of melatonin, resulting in insomnia and other sleep disturbances. Moreover, as melatonin is synthesized from serotonin, defects in the latter pathway will affect both of them.
I have no idea why melatonin is commonly found in 3 mg doses. That is about 10 times the normal physiological release of melatonin from the pineal gland. Maybe they once thought that melatonin is poorly absorbed (it's not), or that only a fraction of it made it all the way to the brain (melatonin is one of the most potent antioxidants ever discovered), or maybe they just do it that way because that's the way they've always done it. The problem is, too much melatonin has the same effect as too little. It does nothing.
We're accustomed to thinking that the effect of a drug is dose-dependent. The more you take, the more effect it has. Like alcohol. But not all drugs work that way, and primarily when they have hormonal targets. If the drug or hormone is too strong (from a signalling perspective), the receptor simply turns off. It's like tilting a pinball machine.
The effective dose of melatonin might be as little as 0.2 miligrams, but it might be up to 6 miligrams. There is a lot of individual variation (and may reflect a receptor-mediated defect). I use Natrol melatonin, (cheap at Walmart). I break the 3 mg tablet down to roughly 8 parts. That dose works for me. If I take a whole tablet, nothing happens. Actually, I sleep worse, because my own natural melatonin has been over-whelmed by the drug form, and the system has shut down.
Lar
Posted by traveler on July 22, 2004, at 12:59:10
In reply to Re: question about Melatonin » 1980Monroe, posted by Larry Hoover on July 22, 2004, at 6:36:47
Can you use melatonin with klonopin? Or better can you use melatonin to help you sleep while trying to stop klonopin?
thank you
Posted by Patient on August 2, 2004, at 14:54:58
In reply to Re: question about Melatonin » 1980Monroe, posted by Larry Hoover on July 22, 2004, at 6:36:47
Hi,
Thanks for responding to my post concerning the zinc dosage question as well as the other comments you made. (Humiliate ME? No way-I enjoyed the crow pie with a few of my tears to help it go down ; ) Can you tell I'm borderline personality disorder? I'm full of self mockery and am my own worst enemy.
My husband always reminds me, "Anyone can write a book." He learned this lesson whilst at college after reading a book (suggested by his professor) about pyramid power. Yes, there is still good information in the book we talked about, but it's no fun trying to pick the rotten bits out of a chub of ground beef. But then again, there is some fun in doing one's homework and checking other sources and finding the discrepencies; trying to find out the truth.
About melatonin-I have often had poor sleep after taking 3mg of this supplement. Since tablets come scored, I began taking 1.5mg-this worked better, but not what I had hoped for, which was an alternative to trazodone or lorazepam. After reading your post I began taking .75mg and it works "like a dream". I sleep soundly, but not groggily as I would on 12.5mg trazodone, and I arise at a decent hour. I alternate some nights with valerian root, and a few nights I don't take anything, but eat a light carb. snack before bedtime, such as some homemade popcorn or a WASA crispbread, followed later by some calcium, magnesium, vit. D combination supplement. Of the three, the small dose melatonin works the best.
Glad to hear your getting a bit of r and r! Thanks again for the melatonin info. Now I can tell my 73 yr. old mother to take less of this supplement. She's tried the 5mg and it made her toss and turn in bed-she was ready to toss the stuff.
Bon voyage and regards,
Patient
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 14, 2004, at 16:13:38
In reply to Re: Melatonin-the lower the dose the better-, posted by Patient on August 2, 2004, at 14:54:58
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for responding to my post concerning the zinc dosage question as well as the other comments you made. (Humiliate ME? No way-I enjoyed the crow pie with a few of my tears to help it go down ; )I'm sorry my knee-jerk reaction tended toward the jerk side of things. I'm still learning how to control myself better.
> Can you tell I'm borderline personality disorder? I'm full of self mockery and am my own worst enemy.
Perhaps your own worst enemy, but a wise friend to yourself, too.
> My husband always reminds me, "Anyone can write a book." He learned this lesson whilst at college after reading a book (suggested by his professor) about pyramid power. Yes, there is still good information in the book we talked about, but it's no fun trying to pick the rotten bits out of a chub of ground beef. But then again, there is some fun in doing one's homework and checking other sources and finding the discrepencies; trying to find out the truth.Think of it as a starting point, perhaps? I hope you'll not be too afraid to ask me questions. I really quite like receiving them.
> About melatonin-I have often had poor sleep after taking 3mg of this supplement. Since tablets come scored, I began taking 1.5mg-this worked better, but not what I had hoped for, which was an alternative to trazodone or lorazepam. After reading your post I began taking .75mg and it works "like a dream". I sleep soundly, but not groggily as I would on 12.5mg trazodone, and I arise at a decent hour. I alternate some nights with valerian root, and a few nights I don't take anything, but eat a light carb. snack before bedtime, such as some homemade popcorn or a WASA crispbread, followed later by some calcium, magnesium, vit. D combination supplement. Of the three, the small dose melatonin works the best.I'm so happy for you. Poor sleep is my biggest challenge. I use even less than that (hard to tell exactly, as I end up with lots of little bitty pieces of the tablets, but I'd estimate my dose at about .3 to .4 mg).
> Glad to hear your getting a bit of r and r!I slept so well when I was away, and then jetlag left me feeling all yucky again. :-/
>Thanks again for the melatonin info. Now I can tell my 73 yr. old mother to take less of this supplement. She's tried the 5mg and it made her toss and turn in bed-she was ready to toss the stuff.
>
> Bon voyage and regards,
>
> PatientThanks,
Lar
Posted by joebob on August 15, 2004, at 12:42:53
In reply to Re: Melatonin-the lower the dose the better- » Patient, posted by Larry Hoover on August 14, 2004, at 16:13:38
http://www.emersonecologics.com/ProductInformation.asp?BrowseBy=LIP26
this is what i use..i don't sell it
see also for cheaper prices:
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/search/query.jhtml;$sessionid$YHJGHDMOTPEDKCQUAOYCM4QKCQB00GXK?q=liquid+melatonin&intsource=main&x=12&y=19
you could also dissolve tablets in a dropper bottle and adjust dose that way
This is the end of the thread.
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