Cymbalta with Melatonin

[M4Y0U]

Hi there,

I want to know if anyone is taking Melatonin along with Cymbalta or any other SNRI? I know it is not recommended to take Melatonin along with Cymbalta but i also heard this advice can be overlook. I wanna know different opinion prior taking Melatonin with Cymbalta.

I know studies are saying it is not recommended with some anti-depressants but all they tested was SSRI and they only tested on animals.

If anyone can shed some light on this it would be greatly appreciated.

[Hensley258]

I would do more research on that first. Melotonin acts as kind of a natural sleep aid. It does this in part by effecting Serotonin.

I know what your thinking...."but Cymbalta is an SNRI not SSRI."
Unfortunatly SNRI drugs like Cymbalta and Effexor also effect Serotonin Reuptake Inhibition just the same as an SSRI.

Only difference being that they also effect Norepheneperine too.

I think it's too risky. To take Melotonin with Cymbalta could result is Serotonin syndrome. The odds are very low, but still not worth risking.

There are other sleep agents that are safer with Cymbalta.

[M4Y0U]

Hehe i don't want to be rude but have decent knowledge in drugs, chemistry and biology. Here's the real story.

Melatonin is the end product in the metabolism of L-tryptophan and is converted from serotonin by the enzyme S-adenosyl-L-methionine. After it is formed, it is metabolized hepatically by 2 cytochrome P450 enzymes, CYP1A2 and 2C19.

''converted FROM serotonin'' which clearly indicate no risk of serotonin toxicity.

The problem is with the enzyme CYP1A2 and i know Duloxetine ( Cymbalta ) is metabolized by the same enzyme. There is no clear evidence it could be a bad or good interaction other than maybe an increase in endogenous blood levels of melatonin and increased daytime drowsiness.

This is why i want to know if people used Melatonin with Cymbalta.

[Hensley258]

You may be correct, but I do know that once when I went toGNC to buy some Melotonin, it clearly stated on the bottle not to take with antidepressants.

Not MAOI but any antidepressant. So I didn't purchase it because the warning freaked me out.

Do a Google search on the topic and you may be able to find some medical studies about the two and their interaction together.

Then again you could always just give it a shot and cross your fingers. I doub't it will hurt anything, but you never know. They also say not to drink on antidepressants, but I do and I am fine.

[M4Y0U]

Oh i did search google but i found no serious studies and only one study tested on animals and it didn't include Duloxetine or any SNRI and basicly they said it could reduce the effectiveness of the anti-depressant treatment.

I just think it's like alcohol, i drink on Cymbalta on week-ends and it affected me in no way.

Here's something funny i found on wikipedia

''Even low light levels inhibit melatonin production to some extent, but over-illumination can create significant reduction in melatonin production. Since it is principally blue light that suppresses melatonin, wearing glasses that block blue light in the hours before bedtime may avoid melatonin loss. Use of blue-blocking goggles the last hours before bedtime has also been advised for people who need to adjust to an earlier bedtime, as melatonin promotes sleepiness.''

I guess they dont warn you about blue-blocking glasses on the antidepressants bottle hehe!

I do really think more studies are needed and i will give it a shot. I am certain we can rule out serotonin toxicity since melatonin production needs serotonin but then again lack of serotonin can be induced by sleep bad sleep but i guess it's only a grain of salt in the ocean if i take melantonin to have better sleep therefore can't cause serotonin syndrome. I guess the warnings about the reduced effectiveness of the antidepressant treatment are all based about that fact.

I will take a half dose tonight 1.5mg since i need to do more research on the subject but i would still like to know if someone is using Melatonin combined with antidepressants.

[mammo]

I DO WISH YOU WOULD QUIT BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR DRINKING WHILE ON THESE TYPES OF DRUGS!  YOU'RE NOT HELPING ANYONE, IT IS POOR ADVICE, AND I THOUGHT YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER.  SOME THINGS ARE BEST KEPT TO YOURSELF!