melatonin a bad thing?

[grace4et]

i occasionally take the supplement melatonin to fall asleep but ive heard in a couple of places this stuff is no good for ms and then you hear other places that its ok. a little baffled! what are some of your thoughts on it?

[Sequoia]

i occasionally take the supplement melatonin to fall asleep but ive heard in a couple of places this stuff is no good for ms and then you hear other places that its ok. a little baffled! what are some of your thoughts on it?

According to Allen C. Bowling, M.D., nationally respected MS specialist, "Melatonin has the potential to help with certain sleep issues, but may have adverse effects for people with MS. It may be reasonable for people with MS to avoid melatonin until further research is conducted. If people with MS choose to use melatonin, they should probably avoid high doses and long-term use."

Here's a link to more information from the same source:

http://www.neurologycare.net/melatonin.html

[grace4et]

According to Allen C. Bowling, M.D., nationally respected MS specialist, "Melatonin has the potential to help with certain sleep issues, but may have adverse effects for people with MS. It may be reasonable for people with MS to avoid melatonin until further research is conducted. If people with MS choose to use melatonin, they should probably avoid high doses and long-term use."

Here's a link to more information from the same source:

http://www.neurologycare.net/melatonin.html

thanks for the info

[nutritiontara]

Thanks for the link Sequoia,
The statements are quit vague, "high doses and long term use". could mean a lot of things.
"Until further research is conducted" when do you think that will be? In the meantime people need to sleep.

Melatonin:
We make melatonin when our eyes are exposed to full spectrum UV light. That means getting outside, wo sunglasses, glasses or contacts and allowing our eyes to see the full spectrum rays. You can be in the shade, have a hat on....you don't need to look up at the sun. Then at night when we close our eyes the melatonin is released.
We are cave dwellers and don't get this light and don't make melatonin and then have nothing at night to be released......
Get outside!

Large doses??? women need more than men (because of fat stores) my clinical doses are: start -men 2-4mg, women 4-6mg. Can go up to 10mg.

I have several (14?) MS patients who use melatonin as needed.
Long-term use?? I always have people evaluate their need. Get outside and make their own melatonin. Get in better health and then they don't need it, etc....
I've been taking ~5mg/night since my knee surgery. And will take myself off of it soon.

[flog8rs]

Melatonin

This confuses me greatly as I've been taking one pill at bedtime and it's made a HUGE difference in my sleeping habits. I was having a major problem being able to sleep prior to taking the Melatonin and now no problems exist. I have no side effects from it all - should I discontinue it?

[Sunflower214]

Tart Cherry

Tara,

I am looking into taking tart Cherry (which I heard stimulates Melatonin). I am glad you think it is safe for MS patients (melatonin that is).

Any thoughts on tart cherry? I am looking to take it for more energy and less pain.

Thank you,

[jojo18]

thats odd b/c my neuro told me a fgew weeks ago it can help MS. and she was one of the heads of the CCSVI study at the JNI in Buffalo.

[grace4et]

i'm about to take me some right now!(havent taken any in months!) guess its like they say...everything in moderation.