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High Dose Melatonin Before CT Scan?Posted By Lady (WV) on 10/23/2023
Replied by Art (California) on 10/24/2023
While melatonin has been shown to reduce the negative effects of ionizing radiation from a CT scan, a 300 mg dose is a high dose and if you are not already taking such a high dose, it may not be such a good idea to do so all at once. In my experience some people do not tolerate melatonin even at a low dose and if such a person were to just take a 300 mg dose all of a sudden, it may not be a good or safe result. When I moved my dose up from 132 mg to 180 mg, I noticed a side effect of being dizzy and that could have resulted in a serious accident had I been driving at the time. It was only a transient effect, but it could result in a serious fall or accident.
The following article suggests that a 100 mg dose may be beneficial prior to a CT scan to reduce potential DNA damage, but I still feel that that is a very high dose for a person who does not tolerate melatonin well or has not taken it before :
Here are two relevant quotes from the article :
' Melatonin ingestion 1 and 2 h before irradiation caused a significant reduction in γH2AX foci. Results further indicate that the change in ingestion of melatonin from 1 to 2 h before exposure had no significant effect. In addition, melatonin administration showed no side effects. '
' The present study showed that melatonin will prove effective in radioprotection against ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Our results suggest ingestion of 100-mg melatonin by patients before exposure to IR in radiology. '
If you are going to do what the article describes, I highly suggest that you have someone with you that will be capable of driving you and assisting you in case you experience side effects from the high dose melatonin.
Art
Replied by Lady (WV) on 10/25/2023
Thank you so much for your reply Art. I have never taken melatonin even at small doses and honestly am terrified of such a high dose. I would like to find something I am more comfortable with to help reduce damage from a ct scan I will be having at the end of the month. Would you have any suggestions that I can look into?Replied by Art (California) on 10/25/2023
You're welcome, Lady.Some to consider are potent antioxidants at higher dose like R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA), N Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), Melatonin and Ubiquinol. Of these four, Ubiquinol is likely to be gentle to most people.
Others that can help with the ionizing radiation from a CT scan are green tea extract, ginkgo biloba, resveratrol, curcumin w/Bioperine and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE). Of these GSPE is likely to be gentle to most people.
There are others, but these have studies to support their effectiveness for this purpose. It is my opinion that melatonin is likely the most effective for this purpose and also likely synergistic with the others, but if you have fear of melatonin, it is probably better to choose another or possibly two others for potential synergy.
It may be worth considering taking whatever you choose prior to the CT scan for a while and continuing for awhile after the CT scan to optimize the potential protective effects. The effects of a CT scan are likely lasting for a period after the scan and continuing with supplementation for awhile after the CT scan should help to minimize those negative effects. Good luck!
Art
Replied by Lady (WV) on 10/26/2023
Thank you, Art. I have been looking into your suggestions and I feel I am more comfortable incorporating a few of them into my dailies. I certainly appreciate your help.
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