Melatonin

I read this article printed by the People's Pharmacy in our local newspaper that I thought might interest you.

Q-My doctor suggested I try melatonin to prolong the time I stay asleep. Does that sound reasonable?

A-The studies on melatonin are mixed. A recent double-blind study found no benefit(Complementary and Alternative Medicine,June,2010). It appears to be more useful for jet lag(Current Treatment Options in Neurology,Sept 2010).

The FDA recently approved an old drug, doxepin in a new low-dose long-acting forumulation to help people stay asleep. Initial reports are favorable(Expert Opinion on Pharmacotheapeutics, July 2009). You may wish to discuss this option with your Dr, brand-named Silenor. Be forewarned, this drug may be expensive.

Melatonin has a very short half-life. Taken at low doses at a particular time, it can help shift circadian rhythms. Taken for its sedative properties, it can help a person initiate sleep, but I would be surprised if it helped maintain sleep (other than indirectly, if it helps with the entire circadian shift).

I take half a melatonin (1.5mg) before going to sleep and then take the other half if (mostly when) I wake up in the middle of the night. I think this prevents me from staying awake in the middle of the night. Since going on CPAP, I seem to only wake up once a night, so this covers all the times I have to go to sleep.

That seems to make sense. I can take a 6mg dose about 1 hour before bed time if i feel the need. It helps bring on a natural wave of sleepiness but i don't see my sleep being prolonged.

I don't use them so much now I'm more used to wearing the mask.

This might just be my own metabolism, but the first time I took melatonin, I almost feel asleep in a chair 10 minutes later and had to struggle to my bed, where I was out for hours. Then each following night for about 3-4 weeks the effect was less and less until it was nothing. And even after a year or two, if I take it, not much happens. I don't remember the original dosage, but it was in the "moderate" range that I had read about various places, so it wasn't extreme. I've heard some people take it for years and it helps; not for me.

Hi Dori

And the latest on Melatonin is at

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-10-25- ... epdeprived

cheers

Mars