advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-01-2009, 08:03 PM #1
april1848's Avatar
april1848 april1848 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 117
15 yr Member
april1848 april1848 is offline
Member
april1848's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 117
15 yr Member
Default Melatonin?

Hi Friends,

I've been suffering from insomnia for quite awhile now. I tried melatonin a year or so ago, and it didn't help at all. Out of desperation I started it again, a few weeks ago, and its working great! I've never been able to fall asleep so quickly AND stay asleep, which was my biggest problem. I wake up now between 4:30 and 5:00 AM on weekdays, and I haven't had any grogginess at all. I love this supplement.

I went online (I know, I need to talk to my doc) to do a little research on Melatonin & MS. There were a lot of contradictions. Some sites said that anyone with an autoimmune disease should not take it, though none said why. Other sites said that Melatonin is fine for MS patients, and still others said that it's great for MS patients, that we tend to be naturally deficient in it. It also seems to have other great effects, such as strengthening bones, which is great for anyone who has taken steroids, anti-ageing, cancer prevention, and lots of other great things. I just hate all these contradictory studies!!

Does anyone here use it? Also, does anyone know of any reason I should NOT be taking it? I'm going to see my PCP on Friday and I'm going to ask him, but I'm wondering if any of you can give me some insight. I really hope I don't have to give it up, since it's working so well. I'm not taking as much Klonopin at night as I was a few weeks ago, and I haven't touched my Tylenol PM at all. I've always been scared to try sleep meds, like Ambien, because of the wacky side effects and possible addiction or dependence.

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated!
__________________
April

dx RRMS 9/07
april1848 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 06-11-2009, 10:10 AM #2
1942Linda 1942Linda is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 11
15 yr Member
1942Linda 1942Linda is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 11
15 yr Member
Exclamation

I have used Melatonin off and on over the years. cant really say if it works, but my doc said it was OK to try.

FYI, be careful with your Klonopin....it is highly addictive....i have been coming off it for two months now, while taking Ambien instead!!! I have some real sleep issues as you can see.

good luck.
1942Linda is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 06-11-2009, 05:54 PM #3
april1848's Avatar
april1848 april1848 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 117
15 yr Member
april1848 april1848 is offline
Member
april1848's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 117
15 yr Member
Default

Yes, insomnia is the worst. The melatonin is really making a difference for me, and my Klonopin bottle is getting dusty, which is great. I did talk to my doctor about it, and he said it was fine, but that I do have to follow the instructions on the bottle and take a week off once in awhile. He didn't know why they advise that, and neither do I. I'm dreading that week.

I also talked to my pharmacist, and he said the only trouble is that with any supplement you just don't know what you're getting. I wish there were regulations with supplements. I know the FDA is slow, but can't they do something? It's scary taking something when you really aren't sure what you're getting.

I"m just happy to be sleeping better. It makes such a difference!
__________________
April

dx RRMS 9/07
april1848 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 06-11-2009, 06:59 PM #4
jackD's Avatar
jackD jackD is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Maryland outside WASH DC
Posts: 258
15 yr Member
jackD jackD is offline
Member
jackD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Maryland outside WASH DC
Posts: 258
15 yr Member
Default Melatonin increases gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) Il-12

As a general rule, if MS has anything to do with the immune system!!!, a person with MS should NOT do anything to increase Gamma Interferon, Il-12, IL-1 or nitric oxide (NO).

jackD

I take some L-tryptophan, some L-theanine and if necessary a half of a 4 meg Zanaflex about 2 hours before the time I want to pass out.

1: Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2001 Mar;10(3):467-76

The immunotherapeutic potential of melatonin.

Maestroni GJ.

Center for Experimental Pathology, Istituto Cantonale di Patologia, PO Box, 6601
Locarno, Switzerland. icpcps@guest.cscs.ch

The interaction between the brain and the immune system is essential for the
adaptive response of an organism against environmental challenges. In this
context, the pineal neurohormone melatonin (MEL) plays an important role.
T-helper cells express G-protein coupled cell membrane MEL receptors and,
perhaps, MEL nuclear receptors.

Activation of MEL receptors enhances the release
of T-helper cell Type 1 (Th1) cytokines, such as gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN)
and IL-2, as well as of novel opioid cytokines. MEL has been reported also to
enhance the production of IL-1, IL-6 and IL-12 in human monocytes. These
mediators may counteract stress-induced immunodepression and other secondary
immunodeficiencies and protect mice against lethal viral encephalitis, bacterial
diseases and septic shock. Therefore, MEL has interesting immunotherapeutic
potential in both viral and bacterial infections. MEL may also influence
haemopoiesis either by stimulating haemopoietic cytokines, including opioids, or
by directly affecting specific progenitor cells such as pre-B cells, monocytes
and NK cells.

MEL may thus be used to stimulate the immune response during viral
and bacterial infections as well as to strengthen the immune reactivity as a
prophylactic procedure. In both mice and cancer patients, the haemopoietic
effect of MEL may diminish the toxicity associated with common chemotherapeutic
protocols.

Through its pro-inflammatory action, MEL may play an adverse role in
autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis patients have increased nocturnal
plasma levels of MEL and their synovial macrophages respond to MEL with an
increased production of IL-12 and nitric oxide (NO). In these patients,
inhibition of MEL synthesis or use of MEL antagonists might have a therapeutic
effect.

In other diseases such as multiple sclerosis the role of MEL is
controversial.

However, the correct therapeutic use of MEL or MEL antagonists
should be based on a complete understanding of their mechanism of action. It is
not yet clear whether MEL acts only on Th1 cells or also on T-helper Type 2
cells (Th2). This is an important point as the Th1/Th2 balance is of crucial
importance in the immune system homeostasis. Furthermore, MEL being the
endocrine messenger of darkness, its endogenous synthesis depends on the
photoperiod and shows seasonal variations. Similarly, the pharmacological
effects of MEL might also be season-dependent. No information is available
concerning this point. Therefore, studies are needed to investigate whether the
immunotherapeutic effect of MEL changes with the alternating seasons.

Publication Types:
Review
Review, Tutorial

PMID: 11227046 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
__________________
As God is my witness, I really thought turkeys could fly!
(WKRP in Cincinnati)

Last edited by jackD; 06-11-2009 at 10:09 PM.
jackD is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
april1848 (06-12-2009), dmplaura (06-11-2009)
Old 06-11-2009, 08:10 PM #5
dmplaura's Avatar
dmplaura dmplaura is offline
Magnate
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, Canada
Posts: 2,195
15 yr Member
dmplaura dmplaura is offline
Magnate
dmplaura's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, Canada
Posts: 2,195
15 yr Member
Default

I'll still sing the praises of tryptophan!
__________________
2004 to present - Trigeminal Neuralgia
2007 to present - Burning Mouth Syndrome
March 2008 - Multiple Sclerosis DX
05/2008 - Relapse
05/2008 to 02/2009 - Copaxone
10/2011 - Relapse - Optic Neuritis developed
9/2012 - Relapse - Balance issues 1 sided
8/2012 - Erythema Nodosum - diagnosed 10/2012, reaction to Topiramate (Topamax)
April 7/14 - Raynaud's Syndrome DX
dmplaura is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 06-12-2009, 03:04 PM #6
april1848's Avatar
april1848 april1848 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 117
15 yr Member
april1848 april1848 is offline
Member
april1848's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 117
15 yr Member
Default

That's a big bummer. I really need to find a safe, effective non-addictive sleep aid. I read similar thinks on the web, but then I read things that said the opposite. This disease is too confusing.
__________________
April

dx RRMS 9/07
april1848 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Melatonin and Diabetes and Sleep... mrsD Diabetes / Insulin Resistance / Metabolic Syndrome 15 03-23-2009 08:32 PM
Is Melatonin stopping headache? Peter B Headache 4 02-19-2009 10:51 PM
Melatonin/Diabetes/Sleep: mrsD Peripheral Neuropathy 0 01-06-2009 09:57 AM
Melatonin for sleep Pamster Medications & Treatments 12 05-15-2007 05:02 AM
Melatonin jjbeck Children's Health 8 09-09-2006 10:28 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:38 PM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.