<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

First I want to say what a wonderful bunch everyone on this list is.  So
kind, so helpful.  You guys are the greatest!  I received quite a few
responses to posting my experience with melatonin which prompted me to
research a little deeper.  Much of what I include in this summary is
diaglogue.  I've quoted from the responses I've received as much as I can
while avoiding repetition.  [As usual, my obnoxious comments in brackets.]
Valerie in Tacoma
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A word of caution. Melatonin should not be used regularly by anyone under
about 45, because prior to that age there is danger that the  body's ability
to make its own melatonin will be suppressed. Over the  counter sale of
melatonin is illegal in Canada and the UK and possibly  the entire EU
because of this issue. I use melatonin, and agree that it  is useful for
sleep, but be aware that dosage is age related. The  pineal gland, where
melatonin is manufactured, calcifies with age. As  we age, less melatonin is
made in the body. So the safe dose increases with age. At 45 2.5-4 mg might
be appropriate. After 60 5mg should be  O.K. But be careful about excess
dosage. I own a health food store...  this is what we tell our customers.
Rose Anne
[I want to reiterate that Dr. Mixon, who recommends melatonin, is a hormone
expert.  I trust his judgement.  He is the head MD at the Longevity clinic
in Seattle, WA.  He recommends you start with one mg per night & increase it
by one mg. every three nights.  Keep increasing the dose just till you sleep
better & have pleasant dreams, no night mares or other side effects such as
tender breasts, drowsiness or depression.]
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From Ayn:
Saw your post on melatonin and wanted to pass along a link I found on
About.com I know you have good sense, but this was an eye-opener for me, so
please give it a quick read. If you have problems accessing it, let me know.

http://sleepdisorders.about.com/cs/melatonin/a/melatonin.htm

From Valerie:
      Thanks, Ayn. As always, anytime a dietary supplement becomes so
popular that people use it more than a prescription drug, big pharma goes
right to work to discredit it's use or ban it. That's what happened with
tryptophan. Tryptophan was found so useful in controlling depression, it was
outselling Prozac. Then something wonderful happened for big pharma: ONE
batch of contaminated tryptophan came from Japan. BAM! That's all they
needed to push the FDA to ban it. The FDA, financial bedfellows of big
pharma, gladly complied.
        So when I hear negative press about natural substances, I'm always
very suspicious. Can melatonin in physiologic doses possibly be any worse
for someone than Ambien or Lunesta, etc.?  I seriously doubt it.  ~Valerie
>From: A Gilliland:
      I'm with you, my friend.  The only two points made in that article
that I found useful for those who want to try melatonin were: 1) Don't give
it to children, and 2) it's possible that using melatonin could reduce the
amount that the body produces naturally - they just don't know enough yet.
      I worry that the FDA will ban the dietary supplements that many
celiacs depend upon for better health than they get from mainstream
pharmaceutical companies. But then, I'm just plain worried about the FDA. Do
you recall the big blowout on buying drugs from Canada? One of the claims
was that we won't know what we're getting - the drug could be contaminated.
Where do
U.S. citizens think Canada gets their drugs? For the most part, they come
from U.S. drug manufacturers. Canadian pharmacies finally had to stop
selling so many drugs to U.S. citizens because U.S. drug companies
threatened to short Canada's supply for Canadian citizens.
      The FDA and pharmaceutical companies have WAY too much power. Ayn
------------------------
I'm glad the melatonin is working for you.  There's nothing better than a
good night's sleep!
A few things to keep an eye on:  sometimes melatonin can worsen of cause
depression, and if one is predisposed to autoimmune disease, in some cases
the melatonin can cause a flare.
        My son (autistic spectrum) had used melatonin on & off over the yrs.
per pediatrician recommendation.  It worked well at first, but after a few
months of use it would not work at all, even at 6 mg./night.  Son eventually
needed a sleep study (megabucks!) ... the sleep specialist told us that (in
teens, anyway)  LESS is more;  that too high a dose leads to decreased
receptors (or was it decreased receptor sensitivity?) for melatonin in the
brain.  Our son now uses an occasional  0.5 mg dose, taken 3 hrs. before
bed, as rec. by the sleep specialist,  and this effect has not worn off.
        I realize that your situation is likely much different from my
son's, so the above info may not apply to you.  Obviously I am not against
melatonin, but I do want everyone to have a good night's sleep ... for every
night.  So, if you should run into a bump in the road,  you have this one
little anecdote to consider.  Lor

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