Posted by Toby on November 18, 1998, at 9:51:50
In reply to Melatonin? Toby please respond, posted by carter on November 17, 1998, at 9:47:29
In my experience with patients who have depression and have tried over the counter melatonin for sleep, about half experience worsening of their depression without any help for their sleep and the other half get improvement in their sleep. i am always concerned about herbals, not because I don't think they could work, but because their are no controls on quality in the US for herbals. you can never be sure what exactly is in an herbal pill, nor can you be sure if the miligrams printed on the label are actually in each pill, so the dosing is suspect from day to day.
I am also aware that melatonin accumulates in the body's fat stores, so that if you take it over more than a few weeks at a time, you get a large amount in your system and that could lead to depression, breast enlargement in men (not in women; sorry) and and other organ problems. If you decide to try it and you notice a worsening of your depression, stop it right away (don't take more because you feel worse) and don't take it every single night so that it won't accumulate.
poster:Toby
thread:1282
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19981101/msgs/1292.html