Has anyone taken melatonin long term?

[Dap1948]

My GP has prescribed melatonin for my hypnagogic hallucinations and just 2 mg a night has stopped them. However she is only permitted to prescribe them for 13 weeks as there is no long term research confirming their safety. Has anyone been taking melatonin for longer with no problems?

[Juliegrace]

Art (Chartist) has posted much information on melatonin. He will probably respond with links, but you can search in the meantime.

[MBAnderson]

Dap,

I have taken it on and off throughout my life, often for years as time, with no adverse effects.

If, by long-term studies, your GP means 20 or 30 years, I don't think it practical to wait that long before taking relatively benign supplements.

The only thing that concerns me about melatonin is that I believe it often loses its effectiveness over time in most people.

[Dap1948 in reply to MBAnderson]

Thank you. By ‘long-term’, my GP meant beyond 13 weeks! I’ve read that melatonin is good for eyes as well and as I have I problems I could be helping that as well.

[ParlePark]

Been taking about a year. 6-12 mg every eve. So far no problems.

[Dap1948 in reply to ParlePark]

Thanks

[lenamm]

I've taken it for about three years. I'm a veterinarian and consider it safe longterm for cats and dogs. I've had dogs on it for up to ten years.

[Dap1948 in reply to lenamm]

Thanks

[Despe in reply to lenamm]

Lena,

My 13-year old toy poodle was hospitalized in an Emergency and Specialty Pet Hospital for Pancreatitis, Cholangiohepatitis, and Anemia (low platelet count). The Critical Care Veterinarian asked me if I wanted Prednisone or Melatonin for elevating his platelet count. I elected Melatonin and his platelet count was elevated to the point my little dog is no longer anemic!

Art, another benefit of Melatonin!!

[Despe in reply to lenamm]

PS. My precious little toy poodle in on 10 mg a day, 5mg am and 5mg pm.

[chartist]

I've been taking melatonin for years at higher than average dosing and I have gone as high as 180 mg recently and am currently experimenting in the 60 mg to 90 mg per night range. I have done 70 mg /day for 90 days with no problems. Longer term studies are not common, but there are a few. Here is a link to one longer term study (years).

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The benefits of melatonin are many, especially in health conditions that include chronically elevated oxidative stress levels as melatonin is easily the most potent antioxidant in humans by a wide margin, even compared to glutathione! Not everyone can tolerate melatonin.

Art

[Dap1948 in reply to chartist]

Well that’s nice and reassuring. If anything, we should all be taking it for it’s antioxidant quality! Many thanks

[chartist in reply to Dap1948]

It seems that as a sleep aid, not every user sees benefit, but as a highly potent antioxidant, more users see benefit. Think of how many diseases are associated with chronically elevated oxidative stress levels as well as chronically depressed total antioxidant capacity. As far as this forum, I would say that PD definitely fits the profile of depressed total antioxidant capacity and elevated oxidative stress levels! The 10 mg melatonin /PD study shows what just 10 mg of melatonin per night can do over 12 weeks of nightly use.

As another example of a common health issue that fits this profile, ""Fibromyalgia"" would be another candidate disease that should and does respond well to melatonin supplementation!

Art

[Dap1948 in reply to chartist]

That’s all interesting and reassuring. From the first night, 2 mg stopped me having hypnagogic hallucinations which is great, and the antioxidant factor is a bonus. And it’s good for eyes too apparently, reducing the susceptibility to macular degeneration!

[chartist in reply to Dap1948]

Melatonin seems to come with a grocery list of potential health benefits based on the available studies!

Art

[MBAnderson in reply to chartist]

Art, what do you think is the likelihood it loses its effectiveness over time? And, for that reason, I discontinue it periodically.

[chartist in reply to MBAnderson]

Marc,

I think the sleep aid potential can wax and wane in some people, but the profound antioxidant potential and antiinflammatory qualities will remain top notch. Although the production of small amounts of melatonin produced by the pineal gland decline with age, the body has type 1&2 receptors throughout and these will react to melatonin indefinitely. Melatonin is produced in other areas of the body such as the gut and among all the things in humans that melatonin has shown the ability to protect, the mitochondria are a very important one, so being melatonin replete will go a long way in maintaining optimal health.

Well over a decade ago, it was thought that supplementing with melatonin could potentially cause the pineal gland to stop producing melatonin, but as it turns out, this production drops with age until it is almost nil by 70 years of age. The recent melatonin/PD study clearly shows that increased melatonin intake can improve the PD symptoms in multiple ways.

Plain and simple, I can not think of any other single molecule that can so effectively protect the organs of the body as well as melatonin can and those protective features of melatonin extends well beyond those organs to other areas of the body.

Melatonin, from what I have read so far, is just a very amazing molecule! One look at its protective effects on heart, liver, kidneys, skin, lungs and eyes are impressive and when you add in its proven anticancer effects combined with its synergy with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, we are back to talking about a drug that any pharmaceutical company would be ecstatic to have! Melatonin also has clearly shown the ability to work against the two largest neurodegenerative diseases in the world, PD and AD.

Anyone who is on certain diuretics and certain antihypertensive drugs should also be aware of melatonin because some of the those drugs, through long term use, can seriously damage the kidneys and melatonin can ameliorate that potential kidney damage. The list of potential health benefits just go on and on!

Okay, it really is one of my favorite supplements and the studies just keep rolling out to prove its effectiveness!

Art

[MarionP in reply to chartist]

Gives me nightmares

[chartist in reply to MarionP]

That and vivid dreams are very common with melatonin.

Art

[MBAnderson in reply to chartist]

That's some serious doses.

[chartist in reply to MBAnderson]

I'm just a serious kind of guy! 😜😜😜

Art

[rebtar]

I'm absolutely convinced of all the benefits of melatonin, but I wanted to add my mixed experience for balance.

I started melatonin about 1 1/2 years ago for REM sleep disorder. 9-12mg per night. Worked really well, and my sleep was very good in addition to stopping the yelling in the early am that was disturbing my family.

After about a year, I began to feel really sluggish in the morning and early afternoon and somewhat depressed, it took me several months until I forgot to take it one night, to associate this with the melatonin.

Reducing the dose to around 4.5mg has helped a lot with the grogginess and low mood. I still want to take some for all the benefits, as long as I can. These side effects are not terribly unusual. So if you decide to try it, Daphne, just be aware that they are possible.

[Dap1948 in reply to rebtar]

Many thanks. I’m only taking 2 mg so should/could avoid those problems but I’ll bare them in mind.

[mannp]

I had severe insomnia. I was taking Ambien for many years. When I continued having insomnia my doctor told me to take Melatonin. I took Ambien and Melatonin 5mg sublingual for many years. I finally was able to stop the Ambien on my own. Later I stopped the Melatonin. I no longer take any sleep medication. I have had no ill effects from taking it for years. Here in California Melatonin is over the counter. No prescription required. I hope this helps. My doctor said it is safe because it is something your body produces and it is not addictive.

[park_bear]

It can cause a gassy diarrhea for some people. I am unable to tolerate it for that reason.

[RobertoOcana]

I take melatonin 500mgr - 1mg every night for insomnia, get 8-10 hr sleep, for the past 10 years. Occasionaly will take a breake for a couple days for!?!? No side effects that I know.

[asmckay]

I do think that there is a risk that taking melatonin impairs the body;s ability to recognise and make natural melatonin. You could try microdosing. I have come across people having remarkable results using microdosing , taking very tiny amount of a tincture -0.1mg, I think..It must work in a different way, promoting the body to make it sown, I suspect. Look it up. Good Luck

[Goldencbc]

I have taken 2.5 mg for about 2 years with no problems I’m aware of.