Can Melatonin Help Kids Fall Asleep
If your child is struggling to fall asleep at night or get sufficient sleep, melatonin supplements are a possible short-term strategy for helping them achieve quality sleep. Research on the use of melatonin in children is limited. However, studies of select groups of children provide promising evidence of melatonins effectiveness in initiating sleep.
Skip Melatonin For Sleep If
Do not use melatonin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have an autoimmune disorder, a seizure disorder or depression. Talk to your health care provider if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Melatonin supplements may also raise blood-sugar levels and increase blood pressure levels in people taking some hypertension medications.
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletter
One of the best things you can do to protect and improve your health is to stay informed. Your Health is a FREE e-newsletter that serves as your smart, simple connection to the world-class expertise of Johns Hopkins.
When To Worry And Seek Medical Assistance
You probably dont need to see a doctor for a minor overdose that causes a mild headache, nausea, or drowsiness. These symptoms may improve once you stop taking the supplement or reduce the amount you take each night.
In the case of a severe overdose or side effect like an abnormally low blood pressure see a doctor right away. You should also get medical help if you feel that the supplement interacts with your prescription medication. For example, you might take your diabetes medication as scheduled to control your blood sugar, yet your blood sugar still remains elevated.
Medical treatment will focus on stabilizing your health. So if too much melatonin causes low blood pressure, your doctor will work to get your blood pressure back to a healthy level.
To avoid complications, talk to your doctor to see whether melatonin is safe for you. If so, get dosing recommendations from your doctor to avoid problems in the future.
Recommended Reading: Can Having Your Tubes Tied Cause Hormonal Imbalance
Does Melatonin Cause Bad Or Vivid Dreams
In general, you might have more vivid dreams if youre anxious or stressed. Certain sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and taking medications such as beta blockers and antihistamines, can also lead to an increase in vivid dreams and/or nightmares.
However, according to Dr. Drerup, its unclear if taking extra melatonin before going to bed causes bad or vivid dreams. Theres no conclusive evidence as to how exactly your dreams are affected by taking melatonin supplements, she says.
What Are Melatonin Supplements
The brain normally makes only a very small amount of melatoninaround 0.2 milligrams, Brandon Peters-Mathews, MD, a sleep medicine specialist at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, tells Health. For some people, that might not be enough to help them get the rest they need. So melatonin supplements, which typically contain higher doses than the amount your body naturally releases, can be useful to treat sleep disorders and insomnia.
Supplemental melatonin allows us to get drowsy and ready for sleep,” says Dr. Malow. “In addition, melatonin can be calming and help us turn our brains off.”
Research backs this up, showing that melatonin can reduce the time it takes for people with delayed sleep phase wake disorder to fall asleep. Another study, published in Journal of Physiology-Paris, found that melatonin might also help reset the bodys sleep-wake cycle. Other small studies suggest that supplementary melatonin can ease anxiety and jet lag.
Melatonin is a prescription medication in Europe, but in the US it qualifies as a dietary supplement, meaning its available over the counter without a prescription at drugstores and health-nutrition retail outlets. Not all brands of melatonin are the same, though, and its important to read the label and make sure you are getting pure melatonin and not melatonin mixed with other substances, warns Dr. Malow.
RELATED: The Best Sleep Supplements Worth Trying
Don’t Miss: Does Melatonin Cancel Out Birth Control Shot
Precautions Before Taking Melatonin
- Do you have an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or lupus?
- Do you have problems with the way your kidney or liver works?
- Do you have epilepsy, high blood pressure or diabetes?
- Do you have depression?
- Are you pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
- Are you breastfeeding?
If so, its important that you tell your doctor before you start melatonin. Sometimes a medicine isnt suitable for a person with certain conditions, or it can only be used with extra care.
What Do I Do If Im Experiencing Symptoms Of A Melatonin Overdose
Compared with most other sleep aids, melatonin clears the body quickly, and its effects are short-lasting. If you are experiencing unwanted symptoms after taking melatonin, you can most likely just wait it out as your body processes the drug. However, when in doubt, its always a good idea to seek professional advice. Dont hesitate to contact your doctor or local poison control for guidance on managing worrisome symptoms or determining whether you need medical care.
Read Also: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Low Testosterone
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.
What Is A Safe Melatonin Dose
According to Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, melatonin is very safe if taken in normal doses, which is anything between 0.5 mg and 5 mg.
A 0.5 mg dose may be all thats needed for sleep-cycle regulation, and should be taken three to five hours before bed, he says. For people who want to take melatonin just before bed, a 5 mg dose is appropriate. Some people report headaches or stomach problems at higher doses, but those side-effects are uncommon, he says.
Still, there are other concerns. Melatonin has an incredible safety record, no doubt about it, says Dr. Mark Moyad, the Jenkins/Pomkempner director of preventive and alternative medicine at the University of Michigan. But its a hormone, and you dont want to mess around with hormones until you know what theyre doing.
People with existing medical problems should discuss melatonin with their doctor before using it. While some research has found that melatonin may help treat hyperglycemia in people with diabetes, for example, other studies have shown that, in diabetes patients who carry certain genetic traits, melatonin may interfere with glucose regulation. Its these sorts of contradictory findings that give experts pause when it comes to issuing melatonin a full-throated endorsement.
Don’t Miss: Nugenix Estro-regulator Reviews
When Melatonin Can And Can’t Help
Some people with certain kinds of sleep disorders may get some relief from melatonin, research suggests, but theres less evidence for its use with more common forms of insomnia, according to the NIHs National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
A 2013 meta-analysis found that on average, people with insomnia fell asleep about 7 minutes faster with melatonin than with a placebo. While most melatonin side effects are mild, CRs survey showed that people may be taking it in unsafe ways, for example, driving too soon after taking it or taking it long term when theres little data indicating that longer than three months is safe.
Because of the lack of evidence, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends clinicians not use melatonin as a treatment for insomnia.
But that doesnt mean it cant help anyone.
About 5 to 10 percent of people may feel sleepy after taking melatonin, says Alcibiades Rodriguez, MD, the medical director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center-Sleep Center at New York University.
Usually the people that get more benefit are the elderly, maybe 70 or older, and young patients, he says. Thats because older patients and young children are less likely to produce sufficient melatonin on their own, though its important to consult a medical professional before giving a child melatonin. Theres still little research on melatonin in kids and some concern about how it might affect development, especially around puberty.
Melatonin Side Effects In Children
The most common melatonin side effect in children is morning drowsiness. Other common side effects in children include:
- Bedwetting
- Possible increased risk for seizures in children with severe neurological disorders.
Dietary melatonin supplements can still have drug interactions or health risks if you have certain medical conditions, upcoming surgery, or other health concerns.
Also Check: Cat Ate Melatonin
Is Melatonin Safe For Children
In addition to issues mentioned above, there are some things to consider regarding melatoninâs safety in children.
Melatonin supplements appear to be safe for most children for short-term use, but there arenât many studies on children and melatonin. Also, thereâs little information on the long-term effects of melatonin use in children. Because melatonin is a hormone, itâs possible that melatonin supplements could affect hormonal development, including puberty, menstrual cycles, and overproduction of the hormone prolactin, but we donât know for sure.
Possible melatonin supplement side effects reported in children have usually been mild and have included:
- Drowsiness
- Increased bedwetting or urination in the evening
- Headache
- Agitation.
Melatonin Is Not A Sleep Hormone
While healthy levels of melatonin are key for optimal health, more melatonin doesnt necessarily translate to better sleep. Why?
Insomnia is not caused by melatonin deficiency, and melatonin is not a sleep hormone. Actually, melatonin has very little to do with falling asleep. Melatonin is produced in the presence of darkness and it just happens to correlate with sleep cycles.
Emily from Butter Believer has done her research on melatonin and heres what she found:
In spite of all the hype, very little scientific research has been done on melatonin supplements. And in fact, the limited evidence to support it as a sleep aid has indicated that it may only be useful in remedying jet lag and may help to induce sleep in the elderlyand again, these studies are often biased and paid for by the industry itself. They also were found to have used healthy sleepers as subjects, not people who have insomnia. And the results were very inconsistent.
There simple is no solid scientific evidence to support melatonins effectiveness for treating insomnia in young and middle-aged adults. NONE! And there have been several studies which actually concluded that melatonin definitively does not significantly improve total sleep time, nor reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. It has therefore been proven completely ineffective in treating insomnia.
Read Also: Does Tubal Ligation Cause Early Menopause
Is Melatonin Safe To Take Every Night
Americans arent sleeping well. Roughly 80% of U.S. adults say they struggle to fall asleep at least one night a week, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey. And research has found that sleep problems are also on the rise among adolescents.
While the causes of Americas sleep woes are up for debate, theres little disagreement about Americas favorite remedy: Melatonin, the countrys most-used sleep aid.
Is It Ok To Take Melatonin Every Night
It is safe to take melatonin supplements every night, but only for the short term. This is because less information is available about its long-term safety. Administering melatonin in children also needs caution. Kindly contact your healthcare provider or pediatrician for more advice.
Taking the recommended dose of melatonin may increase your blood melatonin levels up to 20 times more than normal and give you side effects that include:
It will be safer to use melatonin for a short time. Consult your doctor if you wish to continue taking it in the long term.
You can try shifting from melatonin supplements to other options like meditation, muscle relaxation, biofeedback therapy, and more for your sleep issues.
If you find yourself getting addicted to melatonin supplements or suffer from any of its side effects, you need to reach out to your doctor.
Don’t Miss: Can I Take Unisom And Melatonin
What Is The Proper Melatonin Dosage
Typically, adults can take between 0.5 milligram to 5 milligrams of melatonin safely. Like any other supplement or drug, it is important to talk to your doctor first. If you choose to try melatonin, start with the lowest dose possible and slightly increase it if needed. It is best to avoid dosages over 10 milligrams, as you may experience unpleasant side effects such as headache and fatigue.
It should also be noted that melatonin is considered a supplement in the United States, and is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Without strict regulations or guidelines, the amount of melatonin that a supplement contains may differ from the label. Inaccurate labeling of melatonin supplements is common.
If you are concerned about the potential side effects of melatonin, there are other over the counter sleep aids to consider. Diphenhydramine and doxylamine are two popular antihistamines that are also used to aid sleep. Herbs like valerian have also been shown to help promote sleep.
Finding the sleep aid that works for you may take time. Ensuring that you are engaging in healthy sleep hygiene practices may also help you get better sleep.
- Was this article helpful?
Dangerous Interactions Could Occur
The supplement could also interfere with other important medications, including blood thinners, diabetes drugs, immune system-suppressing drugs, anti-seizure drugs and some contraceptives. If you’re taking any type of medication, it’s important to talk to your HCP before taking melatonin or any other dietary supplements.
Also Check: Does Nugenix Have An Estrogen Blocker
Are There Dangers To Melatonin Supplements
Quite a few recent investigations and articles are now pointing to the dangers of melatonin supplementation.
Especially for children whose pineal glands and overall bodies and minds are still growing.
Prominent nutritionists are calling to halt the promotion of melatonin and instead encourage individuals to naturally improve their sleeping routines and improve nutrition.
Improving nutrition through supplementation of natural raw materials that help the body operate better seem to make better sense.
What To Look For
The government doesn’t monitor how companies make food supplements or their quality. So the dose you buy may not be what the label says.
A 2017 study analyzed 31 melatonin supplements. The levels of melatonin ranged from 83% lower to 478% higher than what the product labels said.
Also, in some cases different bottles of the same product varied drastically. That’s why it’s a good idea to buy a brand that has been certified by a consumer lab or the US Pharmacopeial Convention.
You May Like: Does Blue Cross Cover Testosterone Injections
Melatonin Could Help Kids With Adhd And Autism
Kids with attention disorders and autism commonly develop sleep problems that can be helped with melatonin. Additionally, medication used to treat ADHD can lead to difficulty falling asleep. That was the case for Jackie Botman,* whose son has ADHD. The eight-year-olds medication was keeping him up until 9:30 or laterhe was wired and couldnt settle down. He was resistant to calming down and having quiet time. He became chronically tired, says Botman, who lives in Toronto. Now her son takes a 5 mg dose of melatonin when hes brushing his teeth, then gets into bed and falls asleep in a reasonable amount of time.
Although Cummings agrees that melatonin can help kids with ADHD or autism, he says the downside is that theres a high relapse rate: Once you take your kid off melatonin, they are almost guaranteed to go back to having difficulty sleeping. It sets up a situation where those kids, to function well in life and in school, may need to use the melatonin on a longer-term basis, says Cummings.
What Is Melatonin Exactly
Melatonin, aka the “hormone of darkness,” is made by your body in the pineal gland just above the center of the brain. This hormone helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle of your internal clock. Melatonin gets released when the sun goes down,Beth Malow, MD, a professor in the department of neurology and pediatrics and director of the sleep disorders division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells Health.It makes us drowsyabout two hours after melatonin starts getting released, we are ready to go to sleep. In the morning when the sun comes up again , melatonin levels fall, cueing your internal clock that it’s time to wake.
Read Also: Does Kaiser Cover Hormone Replacement Therapy
What Happens To Expired Medication
A 2001 study from the American Medical Association found that out of 122 drug products, 88 percent of drugs were still potent around 66 months after its inscribed expiration date.
However, the AMA did not recommend people use these results as an excuse to continue taking drugs and supplements even after its expiration date because certain factors in the medicines storage could affect its actual shelf life. In short, its much safer to just follow the inscribed expiration date.
Regardless of the manufacturers inscribed expiration date, once a medicine reaches its expiration date, it starts to lose its potency. If one tablet of paracetamol has enough active substances to reduce fever and body pain effectively, it wont do the same job after it expires. When it comes to supplements, a capsule of vitamin C wont have the same potency to give you the number of vitamins you need for the day.
Why Melatonin Supplements Are Bad For You
- Post category:Turkey Sleep Science
If you search for sleep supplements or sleep aids the first product you might come across is usually melatonin.
Thats because melatonin has been around for a long time, and has a reputation for being pretty reasonably safe.
But if you look around and start asking some questions , youll quickly start to wonder if melatonin supplements really do what they are supposed to do.
Recommended Reading: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone