Prolonged, long term use of melatonin may cause brain tumors over time.
I learned it the hard way, as I had problems sleeping at night and found mealtonin to be a wonder drug that restored my sleeping to normal. Hovever, after using it every night (3 mgs) for over 15 years I started developing symptoms of fatigue, erectile dysfunction, low libido, depresion and irritable mood, weight gain, etc. Doctros found my testosterone levels were incredibly low for my age. I started taking testosterone supplements which helped a great deal however over time they found that my prolactin levels were very high. High prolactin indicates possibilty of a brain tumor -a prolactin-secreting tumor in the pituitary called a prolactinoma. High prolactin lowers testosterone and causes the described symptoms as it interferes with the breaking down of testosterone in your system. The tumor was confirmed by a MRI and it weas surgically removed but these surgeries not always go well and I have some residual effects that I have to deal with. Melatonin estimulates secretion of prolactin. You may not notice any symptoms at all unless you get tested, these tumors a not malign. Easy way to confirm if youa re taking melatonin for a long term: have your doctor do a blood test for prolactin levels. I wish I had found out this many years ago. The tumor and the effects of the surgery have made my life miserable. I used to swear by melatonin and recommended it to everyone. Not anymore.
Prolonged, long term use of melatonin may cause brain tumors over time.
Where is the evidence to support that ridiculous statement.
Your digestive system makes 400x the amount of melatonin your pineal gland produces. Where is the evidence that is harmful?
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I learned it the hard way, as I had problems sleeping at night and found mealtonin to be a wonder drug that restored my sleeping to normal. Hovever, after using it every night (3 mgs) for over 15 years I started developing symptoms of fatigue, erectile dysfunction, low libido, depresion and irritable mood, weight gain, etc.
Sure over 15 years you get older by 15yrs.
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Doctros found my testosterone levels were incredibly low for my age.
That happens generally because as we get older our natural ability to produce hormones declines, it's called natural ageing.
If you want to raise Testosterone levels then correcting vitamin D deficiency is probably the first option you should try.
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I started taking testosterone supplements which helped a great deal however over time they found that my prolactin levels were very high. High prolactin indicates possibilty of a brain tumor -a prolactin-secreting tumor in the pituitary called a prolactinoma. High prolactin lowers testosterone and causes the described symptoms as it interferes with the breaking down of testosterone in your system. The tumor was confirmed by a MRI and it weas surgically removed but these surgeries not always go well and I have some residual effects that I have to deal with. Melatonin estimulates secretion of prolactin. You may not notice any symptoms at all unless you get tested, these tumors a not malign. Easy way to confirm if youa re taking melatonin for a long term: have your doctor do a blood test for prolactin levels. I wish I had found out this many years ago. The tumor and the effects of the surgery have made my life miserable. I used to swear by melatonin and recommended it to everyone. Not anymore.
While I'm very sorry to hear about what happened to you, and I do appreciate that the hormone melatonin will influence the production of other hormones(in the same way improving melatonin improves testosterone production (in men and oestrogen women), I see no reason why it should be harmful to retain the natural level of hormones you had when younger.
Just because your ability do produce vitamin D declines as you age isn't a good reason to be vitamin D deficient once you get past 50.
Of course whether it's vitamin d or melatonin that you are short of as you age , it's common sense, and cheaper to try to ensure the maximum production of the NATURAL hormone first before you use supplements but with the best will in the world it's sometimes impossible to lay naked in the midday sunshine nor is it always convienient not to use electric light after dusk. (We can of course use Flux on our monitors to reduce the impact of LED or bright light from reducing our natural melatonin creation.
I've had a look in PUBMED and while I can see lots of good reasons to believe everyone with cancer should use melatonin to slow progression or help with the treatment, I have found nothing that makes me think that melatonin use (or increasing natural melatonin secretion) is anything but cancer preventative.
I'm sure if there was any substance to this suggestion it would have been reported on in the literature before now.
Hovever, after using it every night (3 mgs) for over 15 years I started developing symptoms of fatigue, erectile dysfunction, low libido, depresion and irritable mood, weight gain, etc. Doctros found my testosterone levels were incredibly low for my age. I started taking testosterone supplements which helped a great deal however over time they found that my prolactin levels were very high. High prolactin indicates possibilty of a brain tumor -a prolactin-secreting tumor in the pituitary called a prolactinoma. High prolactin lowers testosterone and causes the described symptoms as it interferes with the breaking down of testosterone in your system.
So very sorry to hear about this. I would not want to hear such a thing in my life.
You might also suspect diet for some of your symptoms. Some popular plants may be providing too much phytoestrogen in your life. Soy is number one. While soy components may help in cases of prostate cancer, it may not be true for the balance of other male hormone, testosterone. Flaxseed is another high phytoestrogen plant.
A benefit for prostate cancer
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CONCLUSIONS:
The data from this study indicate that a daily diet containing four slices of a bread rich in HT soy grits favorably influences the PSA level and the free/total PSA ratio in patients with prostate cancer. This work provides some evidence to support epidemiologic studies claiming that male populations who consume high phytoestrogen diets have a reduced risk of prostate cancer development and progression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15351581
However
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On the contrary, eating very high levels of phytoestrogens may pose health risks. Studies with laboratory and farm animals, as well as wildlife eating high amounts of phytoestrogen-rich plants, have documented reproductive problems.
As for adverse health effects, the most likely risks associated with phytoestrogens deal with infertility and developmental problems. Humans have used plants for medicinal and contraceptive purposes for eons. According to modern-day analyses, many of the plants historically noted for their ability to prevent pregnancies or cause miscarriages contain phytoestrogens and other hormonally-active substances.
Diets rich in certain phytoestrogens also adversely affect the fertility of experimental and domestic animals. For instance, phytoestrogens in dry, summertime grasses reduced the number of offspring in wild populations of California quail (Leopold et al. 1976) and deer mice (Berger et al. 1977).
Phytoestrogens behave like hormones, although they are generally less potent. Like any hormone, too much or too little can alter hormone-dependent tissue functions. Taking too much of any hormone may not be good for humans or animals. Similarly, too many phytoestrogens, at the wrong time, may lead to adverse health effects. Experimental animal studies, such as those outlined, can help us define dietary levels that are safe and clarify the possible reproductive and developmental risks associated with phytoestrogens.
Originally Posted by Bostonian Prolonged, long term use of melatonin may cause brain tumors over time.
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Originally Posted by Ted_Hutchinson
Where is the evidence to support that ridiculous statement.
Notice Bostonian said melatonin MAY cause brain tumors..
How is that a ridiculous statement when he's basing this on his own personal experience and what's occuring in his body after abusing 3g of exogenous melatonin nightly over a FIFTEEN YEAR period of time?
Its my understanding that the recommended dosage is .5mg to 1mg nightly for two to six weeks.
Where are your human trials to prove melatonin's long term safety Ted? Since long term use human trials are few & far between, we don't know what adverse effects might occur from 15 years usage of the synthetichormone.
Does anyone even understand the exact mechanism of action of exogenous melatonin yet?
Oh, and we all know supplementing with any hormone can throw off other hormones in the body. In this case, melatonin could have increased Bostonian's prolactin secretions.. which would have decrease his sex drive.
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The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease
Notice Bostonian said melatonin MAY cause brain tumors..
How is that a ridiculous statement when he's basing this on his own personal experience and what's occuring in his body after abusing 3g of exogenous melatonin nightly over a FIFTEEN YEAR period of time?
Its my understanding that the recommended dosage is .5mg to 1mg nightly for two to six weeks.
Where are your human trials to prove melatonin's long term safety Ted? Since long term use human trials are few & far between, we don't know what adverse effects might occur from 15 years usage of the synthetichormone.
Does anyone even understand the exact mechanism of action of exogenous melatonin yet?
Oh, and we all know supplementing with any hormone can throw off other hormones in the body. In this case, melatonin could have increased Bostonian's prolactin secretions.. which would have decrease his sex drive.
Well if I was diagnosed with cancer i would increase not only the amount of vitamin d I take but also increase my melatonin intake as the total of the melatonin research shows melatonin is more likely to help than hinder.
In the UK more doctors are using melatonin for kids with behaviour problems. So should the long term use cause problems with increased cancer incidence this will become apparent in these children as they mature. However I'm sure you understand that UK doctors would not be doing this if there was any doubt about the safety of long term melatonin administration.
I think you should be aware that the vast majority of the worlds population are ABUSING their bodies by using light at night and are subject to light and noise pollution and think how many people are involved in shift work.
In a situation of gross melatonin deficiency we have to consider all the evidence there is very seriously and apply common sense.
Have those who are stuck on Melatonin tried Iodine? I no longer have the need to pop a Melatonin pill since I started taking Iodine. Sleep just comes to me effortlessly.
Have those who are stuck on Melatonin tried Iodine? I no longer have the need to pop a Melatonin pill since I started taking Iodine. Sleep just comes to me effortlessly.
There is a lot more to melatonin than just getting to sleep. There are good reasons why we should be making melatonin from dusk to dawn and using supplemental melatonin if that just isn't possible.
So Ted, why should I take melatonin? I sleep well without it. Are there any indicators that it should be used aside from having cancer or having sleep issues?
BTW, naturopaths and alternative docs frequently recommend 20mg of melatonin a day for cancer patients.
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Prolonged, long term use of melatonin may cause brain tumors over time.
I learned it the hard way, as I had problems sleeping at night and found mealtonin to be a wonder drug that restored my sleeping to normal. Hovever, after using it every night (3 mgs) for over 15 years I started developing symptoms of fatigue, erectile dysfunction, low libido, depresion and irritable mood, weight gain, etc. Doctros found my testosterone levels were incredibly low for my age. I started taking testosterone supplements which helped a great deal however over time they found that my prolactin levels were very high. High prolactin indicates possibilty of a brain tumor -a prolactin-secreting tumor in the pituitary called a prolactinoma. High prolactin lowers testosterone and causes the described symptoms as it interferes with the breaking down of testosterone in your system. The tumor was confirmed by a MRI and it weas surgically removed but these surgeries not always go well and I have some residual effects that I have to deal with. Melatonin estimulates secretion of prolactin. You may not notice any symptoms at all unless you get tested, these tumors a not malign. Easy way to confirm if youa re taking melatonin for a long term: have your doctor do a blood test for prolactin levels. I wish I had found out this many years ago. The tumor and the effects of the surgery have made my life miserable. I used to swear by melatonin and recommended it to everyone. Not anymore.
The above "symptoms" are not caused by melatonin. (including tumors)
I would be curious to know if you are taking a statin drug, such as crestor, and/or perhaps on a cholesterol reduced diet.
Testosterone cannot be made without cholesterol, and all the above symptoms are those of cholesterol deficiency.
If I were you, I would stop taking any statins, I would replace margerine and "canola" oils with butter and coconut oil, and would eat at least 4 eggs every day. (soft boiled or light scrambled, not fried)
Just taking replacement hormones isn't addressing the cause.
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Let Food Be Your Medicine And Medicine Be Your Food.(Hippocrates)
Jbo, do you find that your dreams are more intense, more vivid? I've always had very detailed dreams with brillant colors, and also have lucid dreams very frequently. I find that when I'm taking Melatonin, the dreams become more elaborate, which is great unless they're nightmares.
I don't take melatonin all the time, just when switching shifts. I noticed the vivid dreams with the Schiff Green Tea extract. The Schiff at Costco has Valerian, so I'm using the 5mg time release from Vitacost now. Seems I need less and sleep longer with the time release.
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I'd rather meander for the prevention than race for the cure.
In the UK more doctors are using melatonin for kids with behaviour problems. So should the long term use cause problems with increased cancer incidence this will become apparent in these children as they mature.
Yes, the outcome should be interesting.
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Originally Posted by ted
However I'm sure you understand that UK doctors would not be doing this if there was any doubt about the safety of long term melatonin administration.
LOL if you say so!
Then lucky for you that you live in the UK because according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, approximately 100,000 americans are killed yearly by our legalized drug pushers through prescribed meds.
Then lucky for you that you live in the UK because according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, approximately 100,000 americans are killed yearly by our legalized drug pushers through prescribed meds.
Yes but there is a major difference between using substances the human body naturally produces like melatonin and cholecalciferol and using substances that human DNA does not naturally produce.
I believe human DNA evolved to ensure human survival and therefore it's generally reasonable to assume that when used in amounts EQUIVALENT to those NATURALLY produced in the human body, biologically identical substances to those naturally produced will be safe for humans.
Of course the first priority should be to try to maximise natural production but it's difficult to see how modern life can replicate the circumstances exactly equivalent to those in which human DNA evolved.
Increasing urbanization makes light/noise at night difficult to avoid and most people will not be able to spend all day naked in the sunlight.
Our DNA may have evolved with the ability to produce cholecalciferol from dawn to dusk and melatonin from dusk to dawn but most people reading this will be hard put to achieve anything like the natural amounts of these anti inflammatory, antioxidant, antibiotic,antinociceptive agents hence the requirement to supplement with biologically identical equivalents.
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