Side Effects Of Melatonin: What Are The Risks
Melatonin is a hormone and dietary supplement commonly used as a sleep aid.
Although it has an outstanding safety profile, melatonins growing popularity has raised some concerns.
These concerns are mainly due to a lack of research on its long-term effects, as well as its wide-ranging effects as a hormone.
This article reviews the potential side effects of melatonin supplements.
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.
Can You Get Addicted To Take Melatonin
Melatonin is generally safe to use and adjust the cycle of body. But taking it for long period of time may have adverse effects on body. However, addiction is something that depends from person to person. Usually people do not get addicted by Melatonin. But some people feel a big need of the same because of their work and lifestyle. That may be deemed as an addiction but in literal senses Melatonin is a hormone and we are not supposed to get addicted to it by any way.
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Is It Worth The Risks
Melatonin is a powerful hormone, and works unlike other sleeping aids. Its a sleep regulator, rather than a sleep initiator. Those who are really struggling with insomnia may feel compelled to take a high dose, thinking itll have a stronger effect. However, at the wrong dose, melatonin can actually make the sleeping cycle much worse, inducing drowsiness and preventing the body self-regulating its natural sleep cycle.
Melatonin dosage comes in a wide variety of strengths, from 0.2 mg to 20.0 mg. The most commonly useful dosage falls between 0.3 and 1.0 mg. Typically, if you can find the dosage perfect for you, you can get all the benefits of melatonin whilst still minimizing the side effects. Just because its unregulated and easy to purchase doesnt mean it can be taken without consequence. Exercising caution when taking melatonin is the best way to get maximum benefits with minimum drawbacks.
Note: The content on Sleepopolis is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldnt taken as medical advice, and it shouldnt take the place of medical advice and supervision from a trained professional. If you feel you may be suffering from any sleep disorder or medical condition, please see your healthcare provider immediately. Please seek advice from a qualified medical professional before undertaking any new sleep, diet, or supplement regimen.
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Melatonin Dosage: How Much To Take
As previously mentioned, some melatonin brands might suggest a dose of 5 to 10 mg per night.
While this is the recommendation, most adults dont need more than 1 to 3 mg of melatonin per night. Its actually ideal to start with a dose of 0.3 mg. Children can also start with a low dose.
Of course, the right melatonin dosage for you may not be the right dose for another person. Finding the right amount is sometimes a matter of trial and error. But typically less is more. So rather than starting at a high dosage and working your way backwards, start low and work your way upwards.
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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.
Benefits Of Melatonin Beyond Sleep
In addition to the potential sleep-related benefits of melatonin, some preliminary studies suggest that the supplement form may be helpful for coping with other health concerns. More research is needed to say for sure. Its important to speak with your doctor about using melatonin for any of the following reasons.
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What Is It Used For
Melatonin can be used to aid in wide spectrum of sleep disorders. Its primarily used to treat insomnia, but can also be useful in helping those suffering from seasonal affective disorder, or winter depression, and those attempting to regulate their circadian cycle. It may also be useful in controlling sleep patterns for shift workers, helping reduce sleep confusion post-surgery or helping people tackle jet lag.
Melatonin is also being studied as a potential treatment in many other areas, such as a menopausal aid and as an immune system strengthener. It has an impact against free radicals, meaning it could possible have anti-aging benefits, and can be applied to the skin to protect against sunburn .
Melatonin can be prescribed by a doctor, but is also commonly available to purchase over the counter. Its fairly inexpensive and easy to find, but there are particular question marks concerning its potency and dosage.
Are There Any People Who Should Avoid Taking Melatonin
Theres limited research into the safety of using melatonin supplements during pregnancy. Also, while melatonin is a normal component of breast milk, theres little research into the effects of taking melatonin supplements while breastfeeding.
Because of this, its best to avoid taking melatonin if youre:
- pregnant
Its a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider if you notice that you:
- frequently have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night
- often feel drowsy or tired during the day
- have trouble performing your daily activities
Your doctor will work with you to discuss your sleep routine and lifestyle habits. They may also ask you to keep a sleep diary to track the amount of sleep youre getting over a period of time.
Its also possible that your doctor will perform a physical exam and order blood tests. These can help them rule out a medical condition that may be causing your sleep issues.
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How To Use Melatonin Gummies
Melatonin supplements do not all work the same way. Before choosing any melatonin products, you need to read the labels. You can ask your pharmacist for directions on taking melatonin gummies if you aren’t sure what to do.
A daily dosage of melatonin between 0.5 and 10mg is recommended. It is the best way to start a lower dose and start your work. But with time, you can increase the quantity of your dose.
You can take it after 30 minutes before going to sleep. Taking melatonin for a long period of time is not known to have long-term effects. You should consult a doctor if you find that you need melatonin every night for more than one month to rule out sleep disorders.
Sleep Disorders With Blind Children
It had often been reported that the blind children face a lot of problem in sleeping and staying asleep. This is probably because the natural light that regulates the generation of melatonin cannot be perceived by them. Oral doses of melatonin have helped in maintaining the sleep wake cycle in children.
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Side Effects Of Melatonin: 8 Groups Should Avoid Taking Melatonin
September 28, 2020//;;by;Terry Cralle//;;
Melatonin, also known as the hormone of darkness is a hormone responsible for the regulation of your sleep-wake cycle. However, promoting and regulating sleep is only one of its physiological functions.
This hormone plays an important role in bodily functions, the functions of organs like the kidney or liver, and helps regulate blood pressure and cardiovascular issues. Melatonin is also shown useful in cases of tumors and cancers, where it prevents oxidative stress to promote the growth of cancerous cells.
Now, all of this sounds rather impressive, and sure enough, because melatonin is a naturally produced hormone coming from the very brain, no one would suspect it harmful. However, melatonin supplements, on the other hand, are raising some eyebrows in the medical community.
Over the past few years, melatonin supplements have been studied concerning their possible side effects. Turns out, melatonin intake can cause a dozen of adverse effects, which can pose a long-term danger. In the following paragraphs, well take a look at the major side effects, every melatonin producing company would hide from you. So, lets get started!
Can Melatonin Help With Insomnia
People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. When symptoms last a month or longer, itâs called chronic insomnia.
According to practice guidelines from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American College of Physicians , thereâs not enough strong evidence on the effectiveness or safety of melatonin supplementation for chronic insomnia to recommend its use. The American College of Physicians guidelines strongly recommend the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia as an initial treatment for insomnia.
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Side Effects Of Melatonin In Kids
Though melatonin supplements seem safe for most children when taken for a limited period of time, less is known about long-term use. Because melatonin is a hormone, it’s possiblethough not proventhat the supplement could negatively affect growth and development, especially during puberty, according to the NIH.;
The Melatonin Side Effects You Should Know About
Yes, it could cause insomnia.
If youre like the 88 percent of women regularly not sleeping through the night , youve probably found yourself looking for alternatives to counting sheep.
Last year, the National Institutes of Health reported that 3.1 million Americans used melatonin supplements to fall asleep. Melatonin is a natural hormone secreted by your brain that helps regulate your circadian rhythm, or when your body wants to wake up and go to sleep, says Jocelyn Cheng, M.D., a neurologist at NYU Langone Health.
Studies have actually shown that melatonin can help people with sleep disorders fall asleep anywhere between 27 and 50 minutes faster.
But before you go buy out your local vitamin shop’s stock, remember: A supplement is not a regulated drug, so theres always a question as to whether youre getting what it claims to be, warns Rachel Salas, M.D., a neurologist with a focus on sleep disorders and sleep medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
One study actually found that 71 percent of melatonin supplements did not meet the claims on the label, with some listing up to five times the amount of the hormone than it actually contained. Look for supplements displaying seals from the United States Pharmacopeial Convention or NSF International so you know the manufacturers are legit.
Of course, like any drug or supplement, melatonin can come with some side effects.
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Melatonin And Eye Health
Since the bodys melatonin output tends to decline with age, older adults who take a supplement might get a measure of relief from age-related vision disorders. In a;preliminary case study,;volunteers with age-related macular degeneration who took 3 mg of melatonin per day over the course of several months seemed to experience a delay in the usual development of vision problems. Melatonin also seemed to have protective effects on the retina. More research is needed, particularly on the long-term use of melatonin that would likely be needed in such cases.;
How Long Will I Need To Take Melatonin For
You and your doctor should talk about how long you need to take melatonin before you begin treatment.
Some people taking melatonin to help with sleep may take it for up to 13 weeks to make sure a normal sleep pattern is established.
Some people may need to take melatonin for longer .
People with;attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; usually only need to take melatonin for three to four weeks to get a normal sleep pattern again.
To get the best effect from melatonin, it is best not to miss any doses.
Keep taking the melatonin until you and your doctor agree that it is no longer needed.
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How Long Does It Take For Melatonin To Wear Off
Melatonin takes between four to eight hours to wear off, but the amount of melatonin you take can cause this number to vary significantly. Generally, Buenaver suggests taking the lowest dose possible and advises starting at around one to three milligrams.;
At a lower dosage, the melatonin will wear off quicker, and youll be less likely to experience any side effects.
Factors Influencing The Melatonin Levels In Your Body:
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How To Increase Melatonin Levels Naturally
Luckily, you can increase your melatonin levels without supplementing.
A few hours before bedtime, simply dim all lights at home and avoid watching TV and using your computer or smartphone.
Too much artificial light can reduce the production of melatonin in the brain, making it harder for you to fall asleep .
You can also strengthen your sleep-wake cycle by exposing yourself to plenty of natural light during the day, especially in the morning .
Other factors that have been associated with lower natural melatonin levels include stress and shift work.
Summary Fortunately, you can increase your natural melatonin production naturally by sticking to a regular sleep schedule and avoiding artificial light late in the evening.
Side Effects Of Melatonin Interactions
- Sleepiness and drowsiness with sedative medication the interaction between;sedative medications;or depressants and melatonin can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and drowsiness. It is essential you avoid taking melatonin with medications like lorazepam, clonazepam, zolpidem, etc.
- Wakefulness with caffeine combining melatonin with caffeine may result in decreased melatonin effects. Caffeine will overpower melatonin, so instead of sleepy, one might feel more wakeful and alert.
- Increased blood sugar with diabetes medication because melatonin increases blood sugar levels, and the diabetic medication lowers it, it can completely overpower the effectiveness of diabetes medication. This can lead to some serious issues in diabetic patients, who should avoid taking melatonin with insulin, glimepiride, glipizide, rosiglitazone, etc.
- Bleeding risk with anticoagulants because melatonin slows down blood coagulation, it should be smart to avoid taking it together with medication that has the same effects. The combination of anticoagulants with melatonin may cause bleeding and bruising. Such medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, enoxaparin, heparin, diclofenac, etc.
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Not A Regular Sleep Aid
Although many see melatonin as a miracle cure for insomnia, it may actually do just the opposite, and promote insomnia over time. Taking melatonin for an extended period of time your body may acclimate and re-adjust and produce less over time which will work against you, ;says;Michael Grandner, a sleep researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
Youre better off using melatonin rarely, for example, when readjusting to jet-lag, rather than to help you sleep ;and never as a regular sleep aid.
What Are Melatonin Supplements
Melatonin supplements help regulate your sleep cycle. And interestingly, melatonin is the only hormone available in the United States without a prescription. You can purchase these supplements from grocery stores, pharmacies, and health food stores.
While people who produce enough melatonin might not have an issue with sleep, melatonin levels can change over time and for different reasons.
One belief is that melatonin levels drop with age. Also, having a circadian rhythm disorder can affect melatonin production. These are sleep disorders that interfere with the timing of sleep, such as delayed sleep phase syndrome , in which a delay in falling asleep leads to difficulty waking up.
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