Hacker News Reader

Comment by bigcorp-slave | Hacker News Reader

On the anxiolytic side - a warning for those susceptible to such things, when I was taking melatonin it caused me horrible anxiety, something I’d never experienced before. It stopped not long after I discontinued it.

View on HN

That happened to me too. Not pleasant.

Melatonin should never be taken by those with existing or predisposition to mental health conditions.

"mental health conditions" is rather broad along with the intersection between insomnia and depression. you probably just suggested that nobody should take melatonin because you had anxiety.

NY state used to warn against it. It wasn't for nothing.

But yes, I definitely recommend people not to take hormones unless they know exactly what they are doing. Just because something is for sale over the counter, doesn't mean it's safe or good for you.

Suggesting that people with mental health conditions do not self medicate with supplements that can be particularly harmful to those with mental health conditions is entirely reasonable.

Self-medication for quality of life is broadly all you have if you don't want to be put on the hefty big guns immediately. The alternative to the big guns is being told that there's nothing wrong with you. As such, saying "don't self-medicate" is extremely unproductive and only serves to push such practices out of view.

> As such, saying "don't self-medicate" is extremely unproductive and only serves to push such practices out of view.

Sure, this is definitely a strawman you could make.

Here in reality I suggested that those struggling with MH conditions shouldn't self medicate.

And that's exactly what I was responding to. Where exactly is the strawman?

You are vastly exaggerating the risks of attempting to self medicate with something as safe as melatonin while underappreciating the potential benefits.

Nope I didn't really. Mental health is no joke.

That's now what was written:

Melatonin should never be taken... is different from recommending not to self medicate.

The previous comment can also be read as "disregard medical advice if tells you to take melatonin"

"Never" is a strong word here. Perhaps cautiously and/or with guidance of a professional? Anecdotally, I have anxiety and OCD, and melatonin has never given me problems.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com