Posted by Larry Hoover on September 3, 2016, at 15:52:02
In reply to melatonin?, posted by Christ_empowered on July 26, 2016, at 10:37:14
> I read that one small study used 10mgs of melatonin per night in a group of people/patients with TD. Over time, the AIMS scores fell a good bit. Some studies with melatonin have come up with negative results, but I think some of those studies used lower doses.
>
> So, my online vitamin place had melatonin on super sale. #100, 5mgs time release tabs for not very much...plus an additional bottle of the same for 50% off. I went for it.
>
> I'm thinking the melatonin could help me sleep and maybe further reduce my TD risk. That's the main reason I take all these b-vitamins, antioxidants, etc...EPS and TD. I've been on Abilify for 6, 7 years now, usually at 30mgs, and I don't have any EPS, no TD, etc. etc. etc.
>
> Anyway...do any of y'all take melatonin? My concern would be an increase in depression or...something, I dunno. I don't know much about melatonin.
>
> If you know anything about the antioxidant properties of melatonin...do you think the 5mgs nightly would be sufficient? Or should I go for the 10mgs used in that small study?
>
> Thanks.I'm not around often any more, but I'll pitch in when I can.
Melatonin dosing as a sleep aid should be thought of completely independently of its use as an antioxidant. It happens to be a powerful antioxidant, but as a neurotransmitter, dosing is a very sensitive and individual thing.
The dose response curve for melatonin is an inverted-U. A good example of that is the normal curve, but with steep sides and a flatter top.
The somniferent effect of exogenous melatonin will only be seen if the dose falls in a narrow range. Too much is as ineffective as too little. The challenge for users is that your effective dose (the peak of the U-curve) is probably different than mine. To find the effective dose, you should gradually increase from a very small amount, until you find your sweet spot.
Liquid melatonin is perfect for that, because the dose is proportional to the volume of the liquid. My personal sweet spot is between 0.60 and 0.75 mg, taken 20 minutes prior to going to bed. I know people who take 10 mg, about 15 times what works for me.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:1090875
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20160521/msgs/1091675.html