HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Melatonin helping autoimmune conditions except RA

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/5/2015 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
I am digging into Melatonin's benefit in autoimmune conditions. Came across an interesting review www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/14/6/11742 They give references to which conditions it helps and it doesn't (RA only).

IBD studies are primarily performed in rodents and doses are pretty high 10s of mg/kg body weight. I am not too sure how those doses will affect human (just 1mg puts me to decent sleep), but its interesting concept and I am going to investigate it further.

Would love to know if anyone has already did any research.

Offnote, although they give evidence that melatonin worsening RA a bit, I am curious how it will affect IBD induced RA. Any guesses?
Posted 1/5/2015 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Here is my thread info.

Old Mike

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2629872

Posted 1/6/2015 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Those are some good links Old Mike. Will be great if you could put one or two sentence summary of your own in future. Makes it easy to read through. I came across almost all those links when I was searching on Pubmed, but don't have time to check each and every paper so wondered if anyone had researched and wanted to input some info for a quick eval.
Posted 1/6/2015 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
I take a 5mg extended release melatonin every night. I think that my sleep cycle got all messed up when I was very ill with bronchitis during my third trimester of pregnancy with my daughter (2 years ago, now), then being up several times a night with a newborn. I started taking it about 6 months ago and am sleeping better than I have in years. Seeing that it might help with UC (even though the dose I take is tiny compared to the rodent studies) is further reason to keep taking it!
Posted 1/6/2015 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've read that melatonin can be contraindicated in autoimmune, so that should still be taken into consideration that it could be an issue if taking it and having continued UC symoptoms..subjectively, of course.

I haven't tried it, but did discuss it with my GP and GI on using it (as they both suggested it) to help get my sleep patterns figured out since I'm a hard-wired night owl and have been using Gravol and Bentylol to help get me to sleep.

I've had a 1mg dosage sitting in my cupboard since last Fall....I might give it a go to be using less meds continually. While nausea is an issue with me, they do help....frustrating with my sleep, and it's all wonky again.

I might give it a try and see how it does this week since my commitments are nil.

The directions I've read online say to take it in the evening rather than right before bedtime. When do you, who use it, take it?

q
Posted 1/6/2015 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
quincy, I take it about a half an hour before I go to bed, because that's about how long it takes to kick in. I wouldn't take it any earlier than an hour before bedtime. After I take it, I really try to not mess with the iPad/iPhone, or watch TV, and read instead. That really helps me fall asleep more quickly. If it forget to take it until right at bedtime, it still works, but it (not surprisingly) takes me longer to fall asleep.

If the 1 mg dose doesn't work, I'd really look into a bit higher dosage. And I'd consider the extended release. I tried a regular formulation first, and while it did help me fall asleep, I'd have trouble getting back to sleep if I had to get up with my daughter. She'll be 2 in March, but she's not the world's best sleeper. Not terrible, for sure, and she's doing much, much better since we moved her to a "big girl" (a.ka. twin) bed a week ago.
Posted 1/6/2015 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Kick azz, I have taking 5mg every night for years now, never knew it could be helping. But I will take any victory I can.
Posted 1/7/2015 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
I take 5 mg every night and I wish it helped me sleep.
Posted 1/8/2015 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have taken 10mg at night and really helps me sleep. I have not noticed any change in the uc while on it so not sure. Have been in a mild flare while on it. I have read that people with autoimmune issues should avoid taking it, so not sure what to believe.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply