Melatonin stopped working
Question:
I started taking melatonin about four months ago after years of insomnia in which I would awaken around 3 or 4 AM, having had about 4 hrs of fitful sleep. II slept like a baby for the first time in years. Recently it stopped working altogether .Was taking about 3 mg. then upped it to 5mg. Am getting the melatonin from the same mfr, same outlet. Having heard about melatonin shortages, I’m wondering if the recent pills could have less than the stated 1mg or maybe none. Has anyone else experienced the melatonin ceasing to work? Would appreciate advice. THANX! A cynical consumer. –
Response:
I’ve had a similar experience as had my neighbor. I wonder if there isn’t a point at which the need is no longer for melatonin but something else. I used to notice the same results with tryptophan. The initial results I had with melatonin were so fine that I really am sorry it doesn’t work much now for me. Hmmm. DN – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this.For many years I had been an insomniac, awakening at around 3:30 A.M. after maybe 4 hrs. of fitful sleep, then feeling tired all day long. In Sept. I started taking 3 mg. and finally settled on 9mg. It worked beautifully….I slept like a baby for the first time in years and awoke refreshed. Recently it stopped working completely and I’m back to my sleepless ways. I’ve been buying the same sublingual 3mg pills by the same mfr. and from the same outlet. Having heard about melatonin shortages, I’m wondering if I could be getting pills with no melatonin or with a reduced amount. Would appriciate hearing from anyone with similar experience. A cynical consumer. Thanx! :}
Response:
Ahem… Research by Regelson et al indicate that chronic melatonin use in rats does lead to a measureable increase in lifespan. Mind you people are not rats (well…) but if this is applicable to humans, it shoots to hell your speculation about "melatonin shortening life". Actually, considering the proven effects of tobacco and alcohol to shorten life, I’d focus on them if you really wanted to help save lives.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(William R. Noack) writes: You got it buddy! As much as I adore alternative medicine, this latest darling child is being abused. All of you are afraid of second hand hormones in your milk, yet take Melatonin! Melatonin is not designed for chronic use any more than steroids are. It will indeed lose its effectiveness, and may well cause depression or insomnia worse that you had without it. The body does not readily accept hormone replacements or additions. There are many examples of hormone abuse in terms of atheletes and anabolic steroids. They paid a heavy price. Melatonin is for occasional use, travel etc NOT for daily use–consider it as you would any "sleeping pill". In other words, you are saying, "You have no right to life extension. Die, die, die!" To borrow a line from Khrushchev, we (melatonin users) will bury you. I’m sure we’ll have the last laugh.
I think what Leigh was saying, was that melatonin was meant for occasional, not chronic (ab)use. As with synthetic steriods, supplementation of natural hormones are not necessarily safe. Her possible unspoken point could be that you may actually be *shortening* your life span. And who was it that discovered the fountain of youth in Florida? Ponce de Melatonin?
Response:
You got it buddy! As much as I adore alternative medicine, this latest darling child is being abused. All of you are afraid of second hand hormones in your milk, yet take Melatonin! Melatonin is not designed for chronic use any more than steroids are. It will indeed lose its effectiveness, and may well cause depression or insomnia worse that you had without it. The body does not readily accept hormone replacements or additions. There are many examples of hormone abuse in terms of atheletes and anabolic steroids. They paid a heavy price. Melatonin is for occasional use, travel etc NOT for daily use–consider it as you would any "sleeping pill".
In other words, you are saying, "You have no right to life extension. Die, die, die!" To borrow a line from Khrushchev, we (melatonin users) will bury you. I’m sure we’ll have the last laugh.
Response:
You got it buddy! As much as I adore alternative medicine, this latest darling child is being abused. All of you are afraid of second hand hormones in your milk, yet take Melatonin! Melatonin is not designed for chronic use any more than steroids are. It will indeed lose its effectiveness, and may well cause depression or insomnia worse that you had without it. The body does not readily accept hormone replacements or additions. There are many examples of hormone abuse in terms of atheletes and anabolic steroids. They paid a heavy price. Melatonin is for occasional use, travel etc NOT for daily use–consider it as you would any "sleeping pill".
Response:
My experience was this: I started taking melatonin about 4 months ago. Started with sublingual, then tablets. Dosage always 2 1/2 to 3 mg. a night. Vivid dream, slept like a baby. It gradually seemed to lose efffectiveness. Then I started taking KAL sustained release (time release.) I was back to initial reaction of vivid dreams, sleeping like a baby. Then after a few months it gradually seemed to lose its effectiveness. So I’ve switched back to my original bottle of KAL sublingual, and I’m back to my original vivid dreams and sleeping like a baby. I have been using the same bottles of melatonin, so I wouldn’t suspect diminished quality or non-existenet melatonin. (For once, I do not suspect a conspiracy here.) Rather it seems to be a natural process of the body getting used to a particular type and dosage of melatonin. Those pills which two months ago stopped being effective are effective once again after I’ve taken a break in dosage and type. Whether the life extension properties of melatonin and its properties as an immune booster are likewise affected by the apparent cyclical sleep enhancing effectiveness is a good question. Any comments on my experiences would be appreciated.
Response:
I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced this.For many years I had been an insomniac, awakening at around 3:30 A.M. after maybe 4 hrs. of fitful sleep, then feeling tired all day long. In Sept. I started taking 3 mg. and finally settled on 9mg. It worked beautifully….I slept like a baby for the first time in years and awoke refreshed. Recently it stopped working completely and I’m back to my sleepless ways. I’ve been buying the same sublingual 3mg pills by the same mfr. and from the same outlet. Having heard about melatonin shortages, I’m wondering if I could be getting pills with no melatonin or with a reduced amount. Would appriciate hearing from anyone with similar experience. A cynical consumer. Thanx! :}
