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Do I Need To Taper Off Melatonin So My Body Will Learn To Pick Up The Slack?
Question: I m Caucasian female, age 71. Longterm user of melatonin (10 mg) for sleep. My dr prescribed doxepin, 10 mg. There is potential for significant interaction per web md. Do I need to taper off melatonin so My body will learn to pick up the slack, or can I just stop it cold? (I;ve used doxepin for 2 nites w 5mg melatonin and that seemed ok.
Brief Answer:
You can use both together
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Both doxepin and melatonin can cause sedation and drowsiness, which is their intended effect. However, the sedation from melatonin is typically very mild, and doxepin does not usually cause extreme sedation as well, so I would not be concerned about using these medications together. But if you did want to stop using the melatonin, you could just stop it and I wouldn't expect any issues.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Thanks.
You can use both together
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Both doxepin and melatonin can cause sedation and drowsiness, which is their intended effect. However, the sedation from melatonin is typically very mild, and doxepin does not usually cause extreme sedation as well, so I would not be concerned about using these medications together. But if you did want to stop using the melatonin, you could just stop it and I wouldn't expect any issues.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Saisudha Kotla
Thanks, Dr Branch. I wonder, tho, how my body knows to instantly start manufacturing this hormone again after I have supplied a synthetic version of melatonin for a number of yrs? I have read some suggestions that it is best to taper. Honestly, I have always been uncomfortable using it, but had no alternative, except L-tryptophan. So I was using both.
I understand that L-tryptophan and doxepin together are extremely problematic. Is that your understanding?
Thanks again in advance. And this will be the end of my questions!
I understand that L-tryptophan and doxepin together are extremely problematic. Is that your understanding?
Thanks again in advance. And this will be the end of my questions!
Brief Answer:
It would be advisable to avoid using both tryptophan and doxepin
Detailed Answer:
Yes, you are right, tryptophan and doxepin together can increase levels of serotonin, sometimes to dangerous levels, so if it is possible to not use both of them together, that would be best. I don't think you would have much trouble just stopping the melatonin, it is not a particularly habit-forming medication, and I do not believe it affects the production of natural melatonin much, but if you had any trouble after stopping it, you could always try tapering it and see if that works better.
Not a problem, please let me know if you have any other questions, I would be glad to help.
It would be advisable to avoid using both tryptophan and doxepin
Detailed Answer:
Yes, you are right, tryptophan and doxepin together can increase levels of serotonin, sometimes to dangerous levels, so if it is possible to not use both of them together, that would be best. I don't think you would have much trouble just stopping the melatonin, it is not a particularly habit-forming medication, and I do not believe it affects the production of natural melatonin much, but if you had any trouble after stopping it, you could always try tapering it and see if that works better.
Not a problem, please let me know if you have any other questions, I would be glad to help.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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