![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 Quintal on September 24, 2008, at 18:15:55
I think this is a very new addition but there has been no fanfare to announce it. It's a new sustained release melatonin tablet available on prescription for the first time. When I was in hospital in January the pharmacist told a nurse that melatonin was in the process of licensed, but I thought it would be one of those distant pipe dreams like with agomelatine and others. I'm sure it wasn't in the BNF when I looked a few months ago.
http://www.bnf.org/bnf/bnf/56/200928.htm#this
http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/news/health/2008/06/12/drug_launched_to_help_insomniacsI would ask for it, except it's licensed to treat adults over the age of 55 and doctors might be wary of prescribing it to anyone younger. I'm already using about 6mg melatonin at night and it helps quite a bit, but I think my pdoc is getting a little cynical and jaded about my unusual med requests.
Q
Posted by linkadge on September 24, 2008, at 19:00:35
In reply to Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet, posted by Quintal on September 24, 2008, at 18:15:55
Um.?
I can get time released melatonin at my local health food store. Its $7.99 for 60 3mg tabs.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2008, at 20:13:31
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet, posted by linkadge on September 24, 2008, at 19:00:35
Link does it work? Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on September 24, 2008, at 20:43:14
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet, posted by linkadge on September 24, 2008, at 19:00:35
So the point of getting it on prescription is? Well, for me it would be for free instead of having to pay out of pocket! From a different point of view, it shows the inroads that the 'natural' and nutritional approaches are making into mainstream medicine. I remember not so long ago reading an advert for Rozerem where the manufacturer claimed there was no scientific evidence that melatonin was of any benefit in treating insomnia. It feels good to me to have that sort of Big Pharma propoganda balanced out by having a melatonin product on prescription as a clinically proven sleep aid. Thanks link.
Q
Posted by Bob on September 24, 2008, at 20:59:59
In reply to Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet, posted by Quintal on September 24, 2008, at 18:15:55
So is that the main use for melatonin, as a sleep aid? There's also that Valdoxane med supposedly in the pipeline that acts at the melatonin receptors and is supposed to be an effective antidepressant.
Posted by linkadge on September 24, 2008, at 21:53:18
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet » linkadge, posted by Quintal on September 24, 2008, at 20:43:14
At the health food store price I am not too worried.
Regardlessn, I also don't need the FDA to tell me that something is effective.
I've been taking melatonin off and on for years now.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on September 24, 2008, at 21:54:57
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet » Quintal, posted by Bob on September 24, 2008, at 20:59:59
The efficacy voldoxan is more than its melatonin receptor agonism. It is a 5-ht2b/c antagonist. This may confer antidepressant anxiolytic effects.
Linkadge
Posted by Bob on September 24, 2008, at 22:20:07
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet, posted by linkadge on September 24, 2008, at 21:54:57
> The efficacy voldoxan is more than its melatonin receptor agonism. It is a 5-ht2b/c antagonist. This may confer antidepressant anxiolytic effects.
>
> Linkadge
The interesting thing is the rumors that Voldoxan is more effective than the SSRI's. It seems like the melatonin actions might have something to do with that? Maybe melatonin in combination with the serotonin action?- Bob
Posted by Quintal on September 25, 2008, at 9:27:37
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet » linkadge, posted by Bob on September 24, 2008, at 22:20:07
I don't know whether the FDA has approved melatonin - it's a different regulatory body in the UK. Melatonin isn't used as an antidepressant, in fact there are report of it being depressiogenic. As linkadge says, the antidepressant effect of agomelatine probably isn't related to its melatonin agonism, although it may improve sleep quality/duration and this might indirectly improve mood.
Q
Posted by Bob on September 25, 2008, at 12:29:59
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet, posted by Quintal on September 25, 2008, at 9:27:37
> I don't know whether the FDA has approved melatonin - it's a different regulatory body in the UK. Melatonin isn't used as an antidepressant, in fact there are report of it being depressiogenic. As linkadge says, the antidepressant effect of agomelatine probably isn't related to its melatonin agonism, although it may improve sleep quality/duration and this might indirectly improve mood.
>
> Q
Huh. The literature for the drug seems to make a big deal about its novel action on the melatonin receptors and downplays the serotonergic properties.
Posted by Quintal on September 25, 2008, at 14:03:13
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet » Quintal, posted by Bob on September 25, 2008, at 12:29:59
I think it depends on the type of depression. Melatonin has been used to treat seasonal affcetive disorder and other mood disorders where there is a disturbance in circadian rhythm, but some people find it makes their depresion worse. I'm no expert, but I think melatonin agonists usually just cause sleepiness and aren't particularly antidepressant in themselves - Rozerem isn't licensed as an antidepressant, but who knows, it might make some depressives who suffer from insomnia feel better. Poor sleep is a common symptom of depression, so a drugs that improve sleep will improve scores on clinical scales of depression.
Q
Posted by Marty on September 25, 2008, at 15:45:17
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet » linkadge, posted by Bob on September 24, 2008, at 22:20:07
> The interesting thing is the rumors that Voldoxan is more effective than the SSRI's. It seems like the melatonin actions might have something to do with that? Maybe melatonin in combination with the serotonin action?
---
Hi Bob,The 5-HT 2b/2c receptors antagonistic action of Agomelatine doesn't 'increase' synaptic serotonin like SSRI. In fact, this action reinforces frontocortical adrenergic and dopaminergic transmission. Isn't fascinating ? :)
/\/\arty
Posted by linkadge on September 25, 2008, at 20:38:02
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet » Bob, posted by Quintal on September 25, 2008, at 14:03:13
Melatonin is a powerful anxioxidant. It has sleep regulating effects and HPA axis regulating effects. It also increases the neuroprotective protein BCL-2 in hippocampal tissue.
Melatonin has antidepressant effects in the chronic mild stress model of depression in rats.
It can reverse the AD effect of SSRI's, but I would hesitate to call it depressogenic.
Linkadge
Posted by Quintal on September 26, 2008, at 8:13:39
In reply to Re: Circadin - Lundbeck launches new melatnonin tablet, posted by linkadge on September 25, 2008, at 20:38:02
Linkadge, I don't this to be another "I say black, you say white" type of thread. If anyone has any postive input about the original topic however, I'd be pleased to continue it here or start another thread to discuss it.
Q
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.