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For anyone taking Melatonin as a sleeping aid: The dosages it is being sold at are way too high. Recent studies point to 0.3 mg being the right amount for adult
by rsp1984 8y ago
For anyone taking Melatonin as a sleeping aid: The dosages it is being sold at are way too high. Recent studies point to 0.3 mg being the right amount for adults [1].
That dosage (taken over a period of several months every day at the same time) helped me get through a period of insomnia last summer, when basically all the other medications failed or had too strong side effects.
[1] http://news.mit.edu/2001/melatonin-1017 http://news.mit.edu/2001/melatonin-1017
- kristofferR 8y agoThey do sell melatonin in correct dosages too, Sundown Naturals 300mcg is the one I use.
- russell_h 8y agoI even got a good effect from buying a bottle of these and splitting them in half.
- defertoreptar 8y agoThe only problem is that the suggest 3 mg a day to get the effects of the study.
- YinglingLight 8y ago“Many health food stores are now selling melatonin, to induce sleep and “prevent cancer.” They have taken some information out of context, and don’t realize how dangerous melatonin is. It makes the brain sluggish, causes the sex organs to shrink, and damages immunity by shrinking the thymus gland. It is the hormone of darkness and winter, and is produced in the pineal gland by any stress which increases adrenalin. Adequate sun light suppresses the formation of melatonin.” -Ray Peat, PhD
- krageon 8y ago"In general, the direct actions of melatonin on the gonads and adnexa of mammals indicate it is an important agent for maintaining optimal reproductive physiology" - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/14/4/7231 https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/14/4/7231 When I look at other papers in this space I do find some adverse responses in hamster nuts when given melatonin injections (but not when it is administered using an implant). At this point I did not want to research the other claims in the quote anymore. Instead, perhaps I can ask you: Do you know of any solid research that backs these (frankly very strong and contrary to everything else I've read) claims? If not, why did you choose to say this?
- sfsfsf6666 8y agolmao.
- ss2003 8y agoHe sure comes off as a quack.
- op00to 8y ago"sluggish" "shrink" "damages immunity". lol.
- Confusion 8y agoAnd [1] explains why this is the case. In short: patents. [1] https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/07/10/melatonin-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/07/10/melatonin-much-more-th...
- dageshi 8y agoFrom my recollection the smaller doses as you suggest were always known to be better but they were patented in the US by the institution that found them so only larger 3mg style doses can legally be sold cheaply, hence why most of what you can easily buy is 3mg+.
- Brigadirk 8y agoI found this out by chance, because my mom had 0.1mg pills and I laughingly took a few thinking they were a placebo amount.
- JimBrimble35 8y agoI recall listening to a sleep specialist on a radio show one morning (how's that for citing my sources). Apparently there are two different methodologies for administering Melatonin. One is to use a higher dose(1mg - 3mg) before sleep (~an hour) as a hypnotic. The other is to take a much lower dose, closer to the 0.3mg you suggested, roughly 4 - 6 hours before the desired bed time. The latter is used for modifying the circadian rhythm , and fixing problems with sleep wake cycles. I think the primary takeaway from that show was that people should discuss their sleep problems and treatment with a doctor that specializes in sleep. The treatments and science can be somewhat counter intuitive.
- goda90 8y agoThere was an article on this that was posted to HN last year: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17632668 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17632668
- mrzool 8y agoRecent studies? That link is from 2001.