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I recall reading that something happens to the body at night which causes inflammation to increase during the night and it is correlated to your body's own melatonin. I took 5 mg of Melatonin every night for the past 5 years. My PMR started 1 month ago and I stopped the Melatonin immediately when I read this. I don't think the Melatonin caused the PMR, I just am cautious that it could make it worse.
Replies to "I recall reading that something happens to the body at night which causes inflammation to increase..."
I have Giant Cell Arteritis and ordered melatonin to help me sleep as the high dosage of prednisone I was on made sleep difficult. All melatonin bottles have warnings not to take if you have an autoimmune disorder, which both PMR and GCA are. I'm glad I read that before taking the melatonin. If I recall correctly, melatonin stimulates the immune system, but as both PMR and GCA are autoimmune disorders - with genetic markers -we want to calm down ou immune systems (with Prednisone), not overstimulate them. I had success sleeping better with lemon balm tea, and now that I'm on a lower dose of prednisone, 4 mg, I sleep fine. All the best, Teri
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Welcome @abbeyc, What you mentioned about Melatonin and inflammation is interesting. I haven't seen that and would love to read it if you can remember where you saw the article. From what I've read, Melatonin possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
"Melatonin has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory effects, among a number of actions. Melatonin reduces tissue destruction during inflammatory reactions by a number of means. Thus melatonin, by virtue of its ability to directly scavenge toxic free radicals, reduces macromolecular damage in all organs."
-- Melatonin and its relation to the immune system and inflammation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11268363/
Are you currently taking prednisone for your PMR?