Epilepsy Talk
Epilepsy and Melatonin – Yes? No? Or Maybe So? | June 7, 2019
Most of us are familiar with melatonin and it’s purpose: To help you sleep. Or at least to help you get to sleep.
In fact, melatonin is one of the most commonly used supplements in the United States. (Lots of sleepless people out there!)
Scientifically speaking, melatonin is a hormone synthesized from serotonin, the “feel good” hormone.
It’s secreted from the pineal gland (a pea-sized gland, near the center of your brain) over an exact 24-hour cycle.
This cycle is an important part of our circadian rhythm, the system that regulates numerous body functions over a twenty-four hour cycle, the most obvious of which is the sleep / wake cycle.
Around bedtime, melatonin rises, so you feel sleepy. Then the secretion of melatonin falls during the night, and by morning, levels are low.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
But we haven’t introduced the epilepsy wild card. That’s where the yes…no…and maybe so…come in.
Why all the controversy?
Because no one really wants to take up the gauntlet.
You can’t patent melatonin (remember, it’s a natural hormone), therefore BIG Pharma has nothing to gain.
As a result, clinical trials are few and far between.
But some brave souls have tried. Read the outcomes, (confusing though they may be).
YES.
It’s obvious why melatonin is important in epilepsy.
Because inadequate sleep contributes to drowsiness during the day, memory problems and intractable seizures.
The longer you go without adequate sleep, the greater your chances of increased or worsening seizures.
And epilepsy itself, or the antiepileptic drugs used to control epilepsy, may result in decreased melatonin levels, according to the results of a study published in the September 2010 issue of “Medical Science Monitor,” an international medical journal focusing on clinical and experimental research.
Here’s the good news: A pilot study was done to investigate melatonin’s effectiveness for treating sleep / wake cycle disturbances and the ability to decrease epileptic seizure frequency, with no long term side-effects.
The 10 patients were aged 9 to 32 years old and had intractable epilepsy.
Patients were randomized to receive melatonin (10 mg daily at bedtime) followed by a placebo or a placebo followed by melatonin for 3 weeks each, with a 1-week washout period in between.
Seizure frequency was monitored by daily diaries, recordings and behavior and sleep patterns were rated by caregivers.
Daytime seizures decreased significantly with melatonin compared with the placebo.
No major side-effects or seizure aggravation was documented.
The scientists concluded that melatonin could be effective and safe for decreasing daytime seizure frequency in patients with intractable epilepsy.
Moreover, melatonin could significantly reduce your dose of antiepileptic drugs, and reduce their side-effects.
And it can be a potential adjunct to antiepileptic drugs, achieving a therapeutic effect at lower concentrations, therefore limiting their dose-related toxicities.
Also, melatonin supplements can have a direct anticonvulsant effect on photosensitive epilepsy and partial epilepsy.
But without clinical trials, the actual usefulness of melatonin to treat seizures independently of its beneficial sleep effects, is unknown.
NO.
Melatonin has been reported to inhibit antiepileptic properties in clinical trials.
But, recent animal studies have demonstrated that melatonin can have the opposite effect on brain function, depending on the dose and timing of melatonin administration.
(You knew there had to be a “but.”)
In other words, while high pharmacological doses are able to decrease brain excitability and suppress seizures, smaller doses of melatonin (administered at night when melatonin levels in the brain are highest), can actually increase the excitability of neurons, making them more susceptible to seizure activity.
This process may be involved with certain forms of nocturnal epilepsy.
Thus, seizures can be a side-effect of melatonin.
And the relatively high doses of melatonin required to inhibit experimental seizures can also induce cognitive and motor impairments and decreased body temperature.
In addition, melatonin has been shown to cause EEG abnormalities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and increase seizure activity in neurologically disabled children.
The good news is that the hormone showed very low toxicity in clinical practice.
The reported adverse effects (sleep disorders, nightmares and hypotension) were rare and mild.
However, more placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trials are needed to establish the usefulness of melatonin in the adjunctive treatment of epilepsy.
MAYBE SO.
The role of melatonin in seizure disorders is controversial.
And so is the research. (That’s an understatement!)
Some researchers have suggested that melatonin may lower seizure threshold and increase the risk of seizures, particularly in children with severe neurological disorders.
But then, multiple other studies actually report reduced seizures with regular melatonin use.
So you can see why it’s (very) confusing.
Side-effects of melatonin treatments in children haven’t yet been reported.
And although test results are promising, once again, specific studies to resolve the problems of dosage, formulation, (slow or fast release) and length of treatment are necessary.
I’m sorry to sound like a broken record, but it seems like nobody really gives a hoot about melatonin, except a small number of researchers and those of us who take it.
While it’s clear that it can’t and won’t replace our AEDs, it’s sure nice to get a good night’s sleep.
And if it’s friendly to your body chemistry and meds, without side-effects, that’s good news.
But before you buy and try, speak to your doc to see if melatonin might help or harm (or have no effect) on your AEDs and seizure activity.
Just because it works for me, doesn’t mean it’s the right answer for you.
But I sure hope it can help.
Because as far as I’m concerned, it’s a dream come true!
NEWS FLASH: Melatonin — A Promising Candidate for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19
To subscribe to Epilepsy Talk and get the latest articles by email, simply go to the bottom box of the right column and click on “Follow”
Resources:
http://jcn.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/01/30/0883073811435916.abstract
http://www.livestrong.com/article/440335-melatonin-for-seizures/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21441606
http://www.livestrong.com/article/517126-epilepsy-melatonin/
http://medind.nic.in/icb/t05/i8/icbt05i8p687.pdf
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5004041_side-effects-melatonin-children.html
http://www.wellness.com/reference/herb/melatonin/dosing-and-safety
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijped/2011/892624/
34 Comments »
Leave a Reply
About the author
Epilepsy Talk 
I took but not anymore it helped at the time years ago
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Abbycat31 — June 7, 2019 @ 9:32 AM
Happily, it’s still working for me — most of the time.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 7, 2019 @ 9:35 AM
I’ve tried it at different intervals and dosages and found no relief over the past ten years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Roxanne ishmael — June 7, 2019 @ 11:17 AM
That stinks.
But sometimes it works (for me) and other times it does not work at all.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 7, 2019 @ 11:19 AM
I had exactly the situation you described above with melatonin making my nighttime seizures worse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by paleobird — June 7, 2019 @ 11:55 AM
Oh how awful.
Well, I guess that’s a resounding “NO” then.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 7, 2019 @ 3:26 PM
I have found There are a lot of things that interfere with seizure medicine .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Mary Lee Parker — June 7, 2019 @ 12:36 PM
True.
This has NOT been the case for me, but I can see how it would affect others on AEDs.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 7, 2019 @ 3:27 PM
I tried seizure medication and became a raving lunatic. I take 10 mg of melatonin and a 1/4 of a THC gummie every night before bed. This is the only thing that gets me through the night without seizures and night sweats.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Michelle's Musings — June 7, 2019 @ 3:10 PM
I never thought of adding the THC. But it makes sense. And a lot of people say that it helps them go to sleep — and stay asleep.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 7, 2019 @ 3:28 PM
Yes, it helps with sleep but I have also found that it controls my seizures too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Michelle's Musings — June 8, 2019 @ 12:01 AM
Super!
A definite win-win!
How many mgs. do you take?
And when do you take your Melatonin?
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 8, 2019 @ 8:09 AM
How much do you take? Did you notice a difference right away?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Lesley P. — June 7, 2019 @ 3:21 PM
I take 10 MG of Melatonin and it takes me about an hour for it to kick in.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 7, 2019 @ 3:29 PM
I have used Melatonin before (when I was on a different seizure med) and it really did help with the quality of my sleep. My MD was going to prescribe a sleeping med, but the Melatonin did a good job (and was less expensive). I am now taking a different AED and don’t need to use the Melatonin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Maire Archbold — June 7, 2019 @ 5:05 PM
That’s great!
It was a win-win both ways. 🙂
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 7, 2019 @ 6:35 PM
I haven’t tried Melatonin yet, but I use a Clinically studied Lavender essential oil softgel at night to help me fall asleep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by trekkie80sgirl — June 7, 2019 @ 7:18 PM
Can you give me the exact name (brand) and anything I would need to know about it? My asthma has made a grand reappearance this year, (I guess I needed another challenge) and the inhaler only helps for a couple hours. I tried diffusing lavender and it didn’t help much. I think gelcaps might be worth a try.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Marlyn — June 9, 2019 @ 8:53 PM
I take 10 mg. (2 5mg. tablets) of “Natrol Melatonin Sleep”, about an hour before I go to bed. (But, the brand doesn’t really matter.)
They come in flavors (mine is strawberry) and you let them dissolve in your mouth.
Some people recommend you let them dissolve under your tongue, but I’ve found it doesn’t make any difference for me.
Good luck. I hope it helps.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 10, 2019 @ 8:49 AM
Thanks Phyllis, but I a tually meant for the lavender pills. People with asthma shouldn’t take melatonin because it can cause the airways to become even more inflamed.😔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Marlyn — June 10, 2019 @ 11:41 AM
Sorry, the Melatonin tablets are all I know about.
Maybe you should try Amazon.
https://smile.amazon.com/Genexa-Sleepology-Homeopathic-Sleep-Aid/dp/B01FH99EFA/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=lavender+tablets+for+sleep&qid=1560182486&s=gateway&sr=8-2
https://smile.amazon.com/Natures-Way-non-drowsy-clinically-gluten-free/dp/B007TYY2JA/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=lavender+gel+caps&qid=1560182836&s=gateway&sr=8-5
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 10, 2019 @ 11:53 AM
Thanks for your help. I ordered some!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Marlyn — June 11, 2019 @ 8:24 PM
Super!
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 11, 2019 @ 9:05 PM
I also use Melatonin, with the approval of my neurologist. He has me taking 5 mg. before bed. I take it with my nightly meds and, after about 45 min to an hour, it all kicks in and off to sleep I go. It’s been a Godsend! Long ago, when diagnosed with a mengioma, while waiting on surgery, I was put on a sleeping pill (the name of it escapes me at the moment LOL), to counteract the side effects of the heavy-duty steroid they had me on. What I learned about that sleeping pill, and other meds related (even Tylenol PM), is that they cause my hands to shake the next day so i’m happy to have the melatonin without side-effects. I’d love to try THC but living in stupid Texas…it’ll be a long-time before that is ever available here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by ellen — June 9, 2019 @ 11:30 PM
The only difference between us, its that I take 10 mg. of Melatonin. And like you, about an hour before sleep.
Works like a charm.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 10, 2019 @ 8:51 AM
be careful on the Tylenol PM , even Motrin PM , can have effects . on the anti seizure meds . liver , Bile ,kidney/ bladder stones
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Cathy Flowers — April 17, 2020 @ 9:57 AM
I sleep in hotels 20 nights a month for work and melatonin has been the only safe sleep aid. My neurologist encouraged me to take it to help keep my sleep cycle stable while living in different time zones. It’s been 2 years and I’ve not personally had any negative side effects. Thank goodness. The gummies are yummy too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Jennifer — June 10, 2019 @ 8:27 AM
I’ve never tried the gummies. Thanks for the tip!
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 10, 2019 @ 8:52 AM
I haven’t tried it because I was never really convinced that it would work. Since nothing else has, and being up until the sun comes up is not great for my seizures, I’m going to give it a shot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Donna Jones — January 27, 2020 @ 11:49 AM
I know that I take 10 MG when I can’t sleep, and it literally helps a lot.
But as usual, what’s good for one isn’t necessarily good for all.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — January 27, 2020 @ 12:04 PM
i take melatonin , started off with 5 mg , after while , was waking up every 2 hrs . now taking 10 mg .. but also , using benadryl allergy tablets with Tylenol Arthritis tab .2 hrs before melatonin … wished Excedrin would come back { been on recall since last yr ,} due to labeling issues
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Cathy Flowers — April 17, 2020 @ 10:03 AM
That’s quite a cocktail, but I do admit, Benadryl has worked as a supplement for sleep, also.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 17, 2020 @ 11:04 AM
Phylis , .. the kind i was taking wasnt quite doing it .. then checked the ingredients , had diet sugar in it !!So please , read the ingredients.. went to Walmart brought one higher in dosage 10 mg tablet works wonders , noticed while taking the other one was waking up coughing .. then diarrhea, losing weight too fast ,, started on taking Elderberry tablets & the newer melatonin .. sleeping fine now
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comment by Cathy Flowers — January 12, 2021 @ 5:45 AM
Great advice Cathy. Thank you. I take Elderberry also. Didn’t know about it until my husband (who is a health & wellness writer) told me about it. And I also take the 10 mg dose of Melatonin.
LikeLike
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — January 12, 2021 @ 6:01 AM