Melatonin Dosage For Children
Short-term use of melatonin in small doses appears to be safe and well-tolerated by most children. The effective dosage for children ranges from 0.05 milligrams per kilogram to 5 milligrams of melatonin. When children experience side effects from taking melatonin, theyre typically mild and may include:
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Medical professionals may recommend melatonin for children with conditions that affect their sleep, such as insomnia, autism spectrum disorder, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Several studies have shown melatonin supplements can significantly improve overall sleep times by 25 minutes to 48 minutes, on average, for children with these conditions.
However, there havent been enough studies of melatonin in children for experts to determine an official recommended dosage or any potential long-term safety risks. Since melatonin is a hormone, its possible that taking supplemental melatonin could affect other aspects of hormone development in children, but further research is needed.
If your child is having sleep problems, experts recommend consulting your doctor before giving them melatonin. Research indicates that for half of the cases where melatonin was used to treat pediatric insomnia, better sleep habits were just as effective at relieving the childs sleep problems.
Why People Take Melatonin Supplements
Melatonin available in supplement form is made synthetically in a lab and sold as holistic medicine. It can be taken as a pill or quick dissolve tablet, and is used to treat a variety of sleep disorders such as jet lag, shift work sleep disorder, and sleep deprivation.
Melatonin supplements may also be used to treat insomnia related to traumatic brain injuries, ADHD, and sleep issues in children with autism, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities.
Some people even use melatonin supplements to help improve sleep after stopping benzodiazepine use and smoking cigarettes. Some find relief using melatonin supplements when suffering from Alzheimers disease, bipolar disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and insomnia caused by beta-blocking medications.
While its important to always consult with your doctor before taking any new supplements, melatonin can generally be taken by those who have high blood pressure, Seasonal Affective Disorder , chronic fatigue, migraines, and a variety of other health conditions. Sometimes cancer patients use melatonin to help prevent some of the side effects of chemotherapy.
Symptoms Of Melatonin Overdose
Too much melatonin can have the opposite effect of its intended purpose. It can make it harder to sleep because your normal circadian rhythms will be disrupted.
An overdose can also leave you feeling groggy and sleepy during the day and give you nightmares or extremely vivid dreams at night. You can also experience:
For some people, too much melatonin can affect their blood pressure. Medications that lower blood pressure, such as calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers, may reduce your bodys natural production of melatonin.
However, taking a supplement to make up for lower melatonin levels may not always be advisable. Be sure to talk with your doctor about melatonin and any other supplements you take if youve been prescribed medications to help control your blood pressure.
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My Doctor And I Have Talked About It What Should We Consider Regarding How And When To Give Melatonin
Melatonin can be a tricky medication to dose. Effects change depending on when you give it compared to your childs usual sleep schedule. Thus, a small dose a few hours before bedtime can have more of an effect than a large dose given at bedtime. In some situations dosing may the opposite effect. This is a special case and should be addressed with your physician. A couple of rules of thumb.
- Timing: For shifting sleep schedules earlier 36 hours before current sleep onset is best. For the sleep onset effects, 30 minutes before bedtime is recommended. Remember, not every child gets sleepy with melatonin.
- Dosing: In general, I would start at a low dose and increase slowly. Recognize that melatonin, unlike other medications, is a hormone, and that lower doses are sometimes more effective than higher ones, especially if the benefit of it reduces with time.
- Good Sleep Hygiene is Critical: Melatonin is not a substitute for good sleep hygiene practices and should only be used in concert with a high quality bedtime, limitation on light exposure, and an appropriate sleep schedule.
- When possible, purchasing a USP Verified preparation;may indicate that the product is manufactured to the;requirements of the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, which could mean that the quality controllers are tighter.
My Child Is Already On Melatonin Do I Need To Freak Out
I dont think so, as there is little concrete evidence of significant harm. However, if you started melatonin on your own I beg you to discuss it with your childs physician to see if it is really necessary. If your child has been using it long-term and sleeping well, you can consider slowly reducing the dose and seeing if it is still really necessary. Try to use it as needed as opposed to nightly. Also, I would take a hard look at sleep hygiene and ensure that you are ensuring good bedtime processes such as a high quality bedtime routine and avoidance of screen time for at least an hour prior to bedtime. I would try to reduce the dose, and potentially only use it as needed as opposed to nightly.
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Is Melatonin Safe For Babies
Melatonin is not recommended for infants. Melatonin concentrations are quite low in babies three months and younger, and their circadian systems are still developing. At this time, there are no long-term studies on melatonin use in babies.
If your infant struggles to sleep, talk to your pediatrician. They can help you identify possible causes and develop a treatment plan.
How Melatonin Helps Kids Sleep
Melatonin is naturally produced in the body to guide our sleep-wake cycle. When the sun sets, darkness signals the brain to produce melatonin, telling our body its time to sleep. Melatonin levels stay elevated through the night to help keep us asleep. When the sun comes up, the light signals the brain to stop making melatonin, telling our body that its time to wake up.
Changes in routine, seasonal time changes, and screen-time before bed are some of the many things that can interrupt melatonin production and throw us off cycle. Melatonin supplements can help.
Give your child low-dose, drug-free Natrol Kids Melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime to help them fall asleep and stay sleep. Melatonin is 100% drug-free, non-habit forming and pediatrician recommended.*
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What Is The Correct Melatonin Dosage For Me
The recommended dose of melatonin is the lowest dose that can help your sleep quantity and;quality without causing side effects. While the right dose varies from one person to another, between 0.5 milligrams and 5 milligrams once daily is the typical starting dose for adults. Research indicates that taking doses of 10 milligrams or higher may cause side effects. The maximum recommended dose of melatonin is 10 milligrams.
Several factors, such as age, body weight, and sensitivity to melatonin may affect the recommended dosage. The dose also depends on the type and severity of the sleep problem. Certain drugs may also affect the way melatonin is metabolized. Speak to your physician if you are taking other medications before starting melatonin.
When using melatonin for the first time, begin at a low dose and adjust in increments of 1 milligram, depending on response. Generally, the optimum time to take melatonin is one to two hours before bedtime. There’s some evidence of tolerance with melatonin use, so it’s not recommended to increase the dose over time after reaching the lowest effective dose.
What Are Melatonins Side Effects On Kids
Potential, though mild, side effects of melatonin use in children include agitation, headache, dizziness and; drowsiness.; While it is not known for sure and more research on the long term use of melatonin in children is needed, its important to remember that melatonin is a hormone, and, as such, there is a possibility that it may affect hormonal development, including puberty and menstrual cycles.2
The Bottom Line
If your child occasionally has trouble falling asleep, instilling better sleep habits and routines might be in order. But if your child experiences significant difficulty falling asleep, melatonin might benefit, especially when its used in combination with behavioral interventions and healthy sleep practices.5
Most importantly, talk with your childs pediatrician before giving them melatonin to make sure its right for them, to understand the proper dosage, and to rule out any underlying health issues.
Continue to check back on the Nature Madeblog for the latest science-backed articles to help you take ownership of your health.
This information is only for educational purposes and is not medical advice or intended as a recommendation of any specific products. Consult your health care provider for more information.;
References
1; Mayo Clinic. Melatonin. March 30, 2018. Accessed on: September 23, 2020.
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Melatonin For Kids: Dosage Products And Safety
For most kids, some research indicates that melatonin is healthy. Scientists are also skeptical about the consequences of long-term usage, however.
To promote sleep and regulate the internal body clock, the body naturally produces melatonin at night.
To help with sleep issues, some individuals take a synthetic form. Synthetic melatonin is classified by the United States as a dietary supplement, rather than a drug.
We discuss the latest studies on the safety of melatonin and the most appropriate dosages for children in this article. We also mention some of the gummy and liquid melatonin products for children that are best tested.
What Is The Take Home Should My Child Take Melatonin
I have not met a parent who is eager to medicate their child. Such decisions are made with a lot of soul-searching, and frequently after unsuccessful attempts to address sleep problems via behavioral changes. Treatment options are limited. There are no FDA-approved insomnia medications for children except for chloral hydrate which is no longer available. Personally, I use melatonin for children commonly in my practice. It is very helpful for some children and families. I appreciate Dr. Kennaways concerns but I have seen first hand the consequences of poor sleep on children and families. I always investigate to make sure that I am not missing other causes of insomnia . My end goal is always to help a child sleep with a minimum of medications. I know that this is the goal of parents as well. Some children, especially those with autism of developmental issues, will not be able to sleep without medication. So, melatonin may be a good option for your child if:
- Behavioral changes alone have been ineffective
- Other medical causes of insomnia have been ruled out
- Your physician thinks that melatonin is a safe option for your child and is willing to follow his or her insomnia over time
By the way, heres a great article from the Chicago Tribune on alternatives to melatonin.
NOTE:
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The Effects Of Supplementing Hormones
This analogy helps to paint a better picture of what Im talking about here.
Imagine people only ever ate pizza and the only way to get pizza would be to have it delivered. The delivery man must ring a doorbell to get the pizza to you successfully.
If theres a neighborhood of 1,000 houses and only 1 pizza delivery guy, you would plaster your house with doorbells because you want that pizza.
But if theres a neighborhood of 100 houses and 1,000 pizza delivery guys, you would likely only have one or a few doorbells and you would probably hide them a little bit.;
This same thing happens with hormone levels in your body.
If theres a low amount of a certain hormone relative to how much of it the cells need, they will create more receptors to that hormone to make it as easy as possible for that hormone to access the cell.
But if theres too much of a hormone, the cells will reduce the number of receptors so theyre not over-filled with that hormone.;
Q: How Much Melatonin Should I Take To Help Me Sleep
A: Taking the sleep hormone melatonin is recommended to help induce sleep, but there is a good deal of confusion about how much to take. It is sold over the counter in a range of doses, from 1 mg to 10 mg and higher. The natural inclination is to take more melatonin if it is not effective in helping you sleep better, but this is not a good idea. ;
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy
The hormone serotonin is produced during the day and this changes to melatonin when it gets dark outside. Peak levels of melatonin are produced before 3 a.m., when it sharply decreases before natural daylight returns. ;
Research has found that taking melatonin in low doses is the most effective way to promote sleep if you are experiencing restlessness or insomnia. Recommended doses of melatonin are from 0.5 mg up to 3 mg, which are adequate to promote sleep or treat jet lag.
When melatonin is used at higher doses, it tends to increase daytime sleepiness. Other side effects of too much melatonin can include reduced focus and concentration, feeling chilled and higher prolactin levels.
If you find yourself taking higher doses of melatonin, you can decrease the dose by cutting your tablet in half or in quarters. Research indicates there are no side effects if you reduce the dose of melatonin you are taking.
Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner Ann Pressler, CNP
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Melatonin And Kids With Adhd
Attention deficit hyperactivity is commonly associated with sleep problems, just as sleep problems can cause attentional issues. As many as 70% of children with ADHD may have sleep problems. Sleep problems include difficulty falling asleep, abnormalities in sleep architecture , and daytime sleepiness. Trials of melatonin showed that it helped children with ADHD to fall asleep more quickly, although there was no evidence of improvement in attentional symptoms during the day. Side effects reported included problems with waking up at night and daytime sleepiness in some children. There is a nice review article here.
Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome And Melatonin
Delayed sleep phase syndrome is a common disorder in teens, where their natural sleep period is shifted significantly later than the schedule which their commitments mandates. Thus, teens with this disorder an unable to fall asleep by 12 AM in the morning or even later. I have seen kids who are routinely falling asleep between 45 AM. Melatonin has a clear role in this disorder, as small doses 34 hours earlier than sleep onset can be effective in managing this disorder. The reason for the delay is a marked delay in the DLMO, so melatonin dosing can move sleep periods earlier. For children with DSPS, giving a dose 46 hours prior to the current time of sleep onset, then moving it earlier every 45 days, is recommended, with low dose preparations. Of all the conditions mentioned here, this has the clearest benefit from melatonin.;Here is a terrific review article.
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How Much Melatonin Does The Body Produce
From the time the sun goes down at night and when you wake up in the morning, your adult body will produce about 6 micrograms of melatonin.
This is important to understand, because many melatonin supplements are measured in units of milligrams . Micrograms are one decimal point below that.
So, even if youre only taking a 1mg tablet of melatonin before bedtime, thats still way more melatonin than your body would naturally produce throughout the course of an entire night.
Beyond that consideration, we have no way of knowing how much of that melatonin you just took will actually get into your brain.
Unless we start biopsying peoples heads we just cant gauge if a supplement is even that effective.;
Some Top Melatonin Products For Kids
Please note that the following claims are only based on research. These products have not been tried by anyone at Medical News Today, including the writer.
Before giving melatonin to a child, it is often necessary to consult a doctor, as other therapies and interventions are better supported by studies and could be safer and more successful.
Natrol Kids Melatonin Gummies
- are suitable for children aged 4 or over
Zarbeeâs Childrenâs Sleep Liquid with Melatonin
According to the productâs website, Zarbeeâs Childrenâs Sleep Liquid with Melatonin:
- contains 1 mg of melatonin per serving
- should be taken 30â60 minutes before bedtime
- is drug-free
- is suitable for children aged 3 or over
- has a natural berry flavor
- is free from dyes, artificial flavors, and gluten
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Is Melatonin Safe For Kids
While plenty of studies shows that melatonin is safe for adults to take on a short-term basis, the safety of long-term use isnt quite clear. And not much research has been done on whether its safe for children to take. However, recently, there has been some promising research showing that short-term use of melatonin is effective and well-tolerated in treating difficulty falling asleep in children and adolescents.3;Other research shows that melatonin may be especially helpful for children with conditions that can impact their ability to fall asleep, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.4 Melatonins use in these circumstances should be discussed and carefully monitored by your childs pediatrician.4
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that melatonin should only be used after talking with your childs pediatrician and after using already established healthy sleep habits and routines that dont include medication.4
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