Anti-depressants & Melatonin
Marie, Donna M (dmmarie)
I found this info while reading the Ladies Home Journal, July 1996, in my
doctor's office yesterday. (podiatrist!!)
WHY MELATONIN AND ANTIDEPRESSANTS DON'T MIX
Many of us, wooed by the promise of a cure for jet lag, insomnia or
depression, have been taking regular doses of melatonin, the hormone
produced by the brain that is responsible for our wake/sleep cycle. Because
the hormone is regarded as a supplement and not as a drug, many people think
of it as harmless. Yet when it is taken with certain antidepressants (the
serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, like Prozac; or the monoamine
oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs,like Nardil), a potentially dangerous
interaction could occur. Melatonin and these antidepressants stimulate the
effects of the chemical serotonin, low levels of which have been associated
with depression. Taken together, these substances could cause what's known
as serotonin syndrome. This toxic reaction occurs when serotonin is
overactive in the body. It can cause a stroke or heart attack. Symptoms of
the syndrome include confusion, restlessness, sweating, shivering and
tremors as well as a lack of coordination, increased blood pressure, high
fever, diarrhea and convulsions. So before you take melatonin, review the
medications you're taking with your doctor.
---Mary Jackson-Leavitt, Pharm.D.
Comments?
When I told my doctor I was going to take melatonin and asked about the
interaction with the Serzone he prescribed, he said he didn't know anything
about melatonin!! I am going to mail him this article and then call and
hopefully he will find out enough to discuss it.
Donna
Randy Burgess
On Wed, 19 Jun 1996, Marie, Donna M (dmmarie) quoted from an article:
> Melatonin and these antidepressants stimulate the
> effects of the chemical serotonin, low levels of which have been associated
> with depression. Taken together, these substances could cause what's known
> as serotonin syndrome.
I've taken Prozac and melatonin simultaneously with no problems
whatsoever, and I've frequently heard of other folks doing so safely.
Plus I've read a fair amount about seratonin syndrome in the medical
journals, and melatonin is *never* a substance described as capable of
producing a dangerous interaction with SSRIs, MAOIs, etc. Also, from what
I've read about melatonin, it doesn't necessarily stimulate seratonin
production or prevente sertonin re-uptake, etc. Unless this article cited
case histories or research, I would be inclined to take it with a real big
grain of salt.
As a separate issue, some folks find that melatonin makes them
depressed, especially at higher doses. But that has nothing to do with
seratonin syndrome.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Randy Burgess gh...@netaxis.com
freelance writer,
tech writer, ghostwriter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
cheryl
In article <Pine.GSO.3.93.960620...@davinci.netaxis.com>,
Randy Burgess <gh...@davinci.netaxis.com> wrote:
*As a separate issue, some folks find that melatonin makes them
*depressed, especially at higher doses. But that has nothing to do with
*seratonin syndrome.
Randy - what is a high dosage? TIA ..... Cheryl
--
cb...@arizona.edu
cheryl bach
university of arizona
***all my relations***
Randy Burgess
On Fri, 21 Jun 1996, cheryl wrote:
> *As a separate issue, some folks find that melatonin makes them
> *depressed, especially at higher doses.
>
> Randy - what is a high dosage? TIA ..... Cheryl
I guess that varies--the dose available in stores is usually 2 m.g. or 3
m.g., and some folks use up to 9 m.g. . . . but this is all very loose and
anecdotal.
James D. Milton
"Marie, Donna M (dmmarie)" <dmm...@PBSRV04.ISP.PACBELL.COM> wrote:
>I found this info while reading the Ladies Home Journal, July 1996, in my
>doctor's office yesterday. (podiatrist!!)
>WHY MELATONIN AND ANTIDEPRESSANTS DON'T MIX
> Many of us, wooed by the promise of a cure for jet lag, insomnia or
>depression, have been taking regular doses of melatonin, the hormone
>produced by the brain that is responsible for our wake/sleep cycle. Because
>the hormone is regarded as a supplement and not as a drug, many people think
>of it as harmless. Yet when it is taken with certain antidepressants (the
>serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, like Prozac; or the monoamine
>oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs,like Nardil), a potentially dangerous
>interaction could occur. Melatonin and these antidepressants stimulate the
>effects of the chemical serotonin, low levels of which have been associated
>with depression. Taken together, these substances could cause what's known
>as serotonin syndrome. This toxic reaction occurs when serotonin is
>overactive in the body. It can cause a stroke or heart attack. Symptoms of
>the syndrome include confusion, restlessness, sweating, shivering and
>tremors as well as a lack of coordination, increased blood pressure, high
>fever, diarrhea and convulsions. So before you take melatonin, review the
>medications you're taking with your doctor.
> ---Mary Jackson-Leavitt, Pharm.D.
>Comments?
>When I told my doctor I was going to take melatonin and asked about the
>interaction with the Serzone he prescribed, he said he didn't know anything
>about melatonin!! I am going to mail him this article and then call and
>hopefully he will find out enough to discuss it.
>Donna
Did anyone find out anything definitive on this issue? I take Effexor which
supposedly potentiates neurotransmitter activity in the CNS by increasing
seretonin and norepinephrine levels. I have recently started taking
Melatonin as a sleep aid and have been increasing it slowly. I find I have
no problem falling asleep (but I usually didn't anyway) -- but I wake up
2-4 hours later and even taking more Melatonin doesn't get me back to
sleep. Does anyone know its biological half life? To be on the safe side,
I'm going to stop taking it. Thanks for sending your response by personal
e-mail as well as posting to the FMily.
Blessings from,
James
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