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http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Cant sleep http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1287796344 Message started by Pat_Ohio on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 9:12pm

Title: Cant sleep
Post by Pat_Ohio on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 9:12pm

I started my fall cycle about 3 weeks ago. This time seems to be a bit shorter than normal but hey, what's normal...?
Anyways, I was in the hospital a few weeks back and since then I have had a really hard time sleeping. I can sleep for a few hours at a time but once I get up tp pee or something, I'm up for the evening... The less I sleep the more shadows I get and we all know where that goes.

Any suggestions? I tired melotonin and that worked for a couple nights but it dont seem to work anymore.

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by Brew on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 9:27pm

How much melatonin?

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by Pat_Ohio on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 11:21pm

18mcg

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by bejeeber on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 11:32pm

For general sleep needs - not related to CH - I've found various herb (valerian and stuff) and mineral (magnesium) supplements to be very effective.

This'd be one of 'em:
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Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by Brew on Oct 22^nd, 2010 at 11:36pm

18 micrograms? You ain't even close to what CH'ers need.

Start at 6 milligrams. Go up by 3 milligram increments if needed. You can go pretty high - 15-18mg if necessary.

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by bejeeber on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 2:16am

I was thinkin' "18 mcg" was probably a typo and was actually meant as 18 mg....? Melatonin doesn't even come in a dose as small as 18 mcg does it?

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by Brew on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 9:27am

I kind of wondered that myself. 18mcg would 18/1000 of a milligram.

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by Pat_Ohio on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 4:32pm

Ok sorry make that 900mcg I have a CVS brand bottle of melatonin that has 120 tablest of 300mcg each. I take 3 a night and still cant sleep...

What I'm hearing y'all say is that I need to be taking quite a bit more...
I'll be stopping by CVS to get a higher dose pill... Start at 6mg you say? Will do!

Thanks guys... And Gals...

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by Brew on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 4:35pm

Pat_Ohio wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 4:32pm:

Most melatonin comes in tablets sizes of either 3mg or 5mg. I'd get the 3mg (milligram, not microgram) size and start by taking two of them about 45 min. before bed.

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by Bob_Johnson on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 4:39pm

We have some confusion over function here.

The high doses mentioned is when you are using melatonin to control CH.

Paradox: An excellent study out of England, when using it for SLEEP, the most effective dose was 2/3mg. (Higher and lower doses were less effective.) Now since the pill doesn't come in thirds, I use 3/4mg for sleep with good results.

Title: Re: Cant sleep
Post by Pat_Ohio on Oct 23^rd, 2010 at 6:48pm

Good call Bob.

I have not used Melatonin for my CHs. I was using it to help me sleep sine I have had such a difficult time since getting out of the hospital, where I was diagnosed with CHs. I am only experiencing light shadows now. However, the less I sleep the worse they get and I'm tryng to keep from going off the deepend.

So, if I understand correctly, I should try somewhere between 3/4 and 2 mg to get to sleep.

For the record, I am taking very little medication now, whcih is great. I am down to a motrin 800mg and a vicodin 5/325mg in a day. That is much better than the previous weeks, and of course I am feeling much better too...

Thanks again and sorry for the confusion...