Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyaglia: Melatonin
Melatonin Is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates the
sleep/wake cycle, and promotes deep sleep. Also a potent antioxidant it is able
to cross the blood : brain barrier and attack free radicals there.
Melatonin may work in ME/CFS because it can assist you in getting to
sleep and in achieving deeper sleep. Dr. Lapp particularly uses it in chronic
fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients who are ‘phase shifted’, i.e. who can only get to sleep very late at
night. Dr. Lapp states that “For those people that stay awake all night and
sleep all day, it’s a great drug for getting you back in the swing of things
again.”
Studies Study results have been mixed. Melatonin production was
reported to be normal (twice) and increased (twice) in four studies. Several
studies suggest melatonin levels are low in FM.
Melatonin supplementation in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) was found to have no effects in one study
and positive effects in another. A recent review concluded melatonin
supplementation in FM is effective in treating pain.
Dose – Drs. Bell, Bested and Lapp recommend 1-3 mgs. before bedtime. Dr
Lapp recommends 1-3 mgs. if under 50 and 3-6 mgs. if older than 50. Dr. Lapp
does not recommend it in children younger than the upper teens. Dr. Lapp likes
to combine it with ‘light therapy’ – getting as much light as possible in the
first 3 or 4 hours of the day.
Because melatonin is a hormone Dr. Teitelbaum recommends that it only be used
in levels that the body would normally make or about 0.5 mgs. He reports that
most of his patients do well using this amount. Dr. Lapp and Dr. Teitelbaum
cautioned there is much we don’t know about melatonin. Dr. Bested believes
melatonin should only be taken under the direction of a health practitioner.
Since serotonin is needed to produce melatonin Dr. Murphee recommends trying
5-HTP first and if that doesn’t work then trying melatonin.
Side Effects – at high doses it may increase the levels of prolactin,
another hormone which Dr. Teitelbaum notes is already often found in high levels
in ME/CFS. Melatonin can also cause stomach upset.
Notes – use a reputable manufacturer. Some brands of melatonin have been
found to have little melatonin in them. The Prohealth brand was
recommended to me by a physician.
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Sleep Intro /
Sleep Hygiene /
Sleep Prescriptions / Alternative Therapies
(The
Phoenix Rising website is created by a layman. It is for informational uses
only. Please discuss any treatments
in these pages with your physician.)
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Alison Bested MD and Allan Logan ND. 2006. Hope and Help For Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Cumberland Press.
Charles Lapp, MD., 1999.
“The Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
Fibromyalgia”. ImmuneSupport.com, 07-03-2006.
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD. 2007. From Fatigued to Fantastic, Avery Publishers.