Posted by Jackie Naiditch on March 08, 1999 at 18:56:21:
I've been looking at some very recent research on clusters reported in the journal Lancet last July. It states: "Melatonin is a marker of the circadian system and a blunted nocturnal peak melatonin concentration and complete loss of circadian rhythm have been reported in patients who have cluster headache."
Now, I've been taking 3 mg Melatonin at the suggestion of my doctor, to help my sleep. This is in addition to the 160 mg Verapamil that I've been taking for several weeks. It seems that since I added the Melatonin about 2 weeks ago, my clusters have been even more reduced--to barely nothing. Now, I know there are so many variables. For instance, maybe the Verapamil kicked in even more after the first several weeks. Or maybe my clusters are diminishing in intensity of their own accord. But, I've been in this "episode" since August, and this is the best I've felt in a long time. I'm almost afraid to write this, because I'm afraid "the beast" will hear (how's that for superstition?). But, I just wanted to mention this, for whatever it's worth.
Jackie