![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cindy W on May 3, 2000, at 20:42:44
Does anybody have experience using melatonin to help with sleep, while taking AD's? I'm taking Effexor-XR in the morning and a tiny bit of Serzone at night to try to sleep better (I can't fall asleep or stay asleep and wake up very early and can't go back to sleep). Is it hazardous to combine melatonin with these? I don't want to detract from the effects of the Effexor-XR but sure would like to normalize my sleep again. Thanks!
Posted by Cam W. on May 3, 2000, at 22:48:23
In reply to Melatonin as sleep aid? Cam? anyone?, posted by Cindy W on May 3, 2000, at 20:42:44
Cindy - The premise behind melatonin is that the body produces it at night and therefore by taking it you are supposed to be able to reset your body clock. Weren't there a few deaths in the U.S. from people taking massive doses of it? It is illegal to buy in Canada (was pulled from the market a couple of years ago). I have no real experience with it. Sorry - Cam W.
Posted by Mark H. on May 3, 2000, at 23:38:37
In reply to Melatonin as sleep aid? Cam? anyone?, posted by Cindy W on May 3, 2000, at 20:42:44
Hi Cindy,
Melatonin makes my depression markedly worse, plus I cannot get up in the morning. My wife, on the other hand, takes half a milligram (note the dosage!!) as a sleeping aid and awakens refreshed.
Mark H.
Posted by kazoo on May 3, 2000, at 23:44:58
In reply to Re: Melatonin as sleep aid - I Dunno, posted by Cam W. on May 3, 2000, at 22:48:23
> Weren't there a few deaths in the U.S. from people taking massive doses of it? It is illegal to buy in Canada (was pulled from the market a couple of years ago). I have no real experience with it. Sorry - Cam W.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You're thinking of the tryptophan scare in the last millennium. Some people got sick from a bad batch giving
the FDA reason to GLEEFULY pull the product from the market. Strange lot those FDA people are.True, it's not available in Canada, but customs won't hassle you if you bring it across the border (or mail
it from the States).I must admit that I use it when I'm sleepless in Connecticut: 1 to 3 mgs. at night is worth a try.
"Try it, you'll like it..." (old 1970's Alka-Seltzer ad)
Greetings to Cam W.
kazoo
Posted by AndrewB on May 4, 2000, at 1:45:53
In reply to Re: Melatonin as sleep aid - Sure!, posted by kazoo on May 3, 2000, at 23:44:58
I just would like to echo what Mark said. Melatonin can worsen depression in some so it is important to use the lower doses. You can use .5mg., for some .25mg. will be enough. The sublingual tablet would be the preferred delivery mechanism I think.
Melatonin assists in the onset of sleep but will not help you keep asleep. So the early morning wakings, you will have to deal with those in another way.
I haven't read anything on this board or elsewhere that contradicts the use of melatonin with an SSRI. It seems that plenty of babblers here have used it, myself included, with no problem.
Posted by Cindy W on May 4, 2000, at 9:21:38
In reply to Re: Melatonin as sleep aid - Sure!, posted by AndrewB on May 4, 2000, at 1:45:53
> I just would like to echo what Mark said. Melatonin can worsen depression in some so it is important to use the lower doses. You can use .5mg., for some .25mg. will be enough. The sublingual tablet would be the preferred delivery mechanism I think.
>
> Melatonin assists in the onset of sleep but will not help you keep asleep. So the early morning wakings, you will have to deal with those in another way.
>
> I haven't read anything on this board or elsewhere that contradicts the use of melatonin with an SSRI. It seems that plenty of babblers here have used it, myself included, with no problem.Thanks all regarding your information about melatonin. Last night, when I couldn't sleep, I took a 2 mg sustained release pill, then took a sublingual 3 mg pill...I slept for about an hour. Then I took another sublingual pill, and slept for another two hours. Then I took a third sublingual 3 mg pill, and I slept great the rest of the night (first time in weeks and weeks!). Will try it again tonight; hope eventually I can just take one and have it work (I think I'm in the bad habit now of not sleeping and hope with "practice" my brain will let me sleep).
Posted by Cindy W on May 5, 2000, at 21:13:23
In reply to Re: Melatonin as sleep aid - Sure!, posted by Cindy W on May 4, 2000, at 9:21:38
> > I just would like to echo what Mark said. Melatonin can worsen depression in some so it is important to use the lower doses. You can use .5mg., for some .25mg. will be enough. The sublingual tablet would be the preferred delivery mechanism I think.
> >
> > Melatonin assists in the onset of sleep but will not help you keep asleep. So the early morning wakings, you will have to deal with those in another way.
> >
> > I haven't read anything on this board or elsewhere that contradicts the use of melatonin with an SSRI. It seems that plenty of babblers here have used it, myself included, with no problem.
>
> Thanks all regarding your information about melatonin. Last night, when I couldn't sleep, I took a 2 mg sustained release pill, then took a sublingual 3 mg pill...I slept for about an hour. Then I took another sublingual pill, and slept for another two hours. Then I took a third sublingual 3 mg pill, and I slept great the rest of the night (first time in weeks and weeks!). Will try it again tonight; hope eventually I can just take one and have it work (I think I'm in the bad habit now of not sleeping and hope with "practice" my brain will let me sleep).Last night, I took 3 sustained release melatonin (total of 6 mg) an hour before I wanted to go to sleep, and a couple more 3 mg sublingual tabs when I wanted to go to sleep. I slept GREAT (only woke once and took another sublingual pill). Will decrease the melatonin once my sleep normalizes. It seems to adequately counteract the Effexor-XR without "undoing" it (a small dose of serzone helped, but I still couldn't sleep). Hope this post isn't repeated twice (I had trouble posting tonight; wasn't registered, again!).
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.