Who Can Take Melatonin
The following issues can benefit from taking melatonin supplements:
- Jetlag: Travelling across multiple time zones gives you jetlag and disturbs your sleep pattern.
- Shift work sleep disorder: Shift work disorder can be caused by working night shifts, rotating shifts, or even an early morning shift. This leads to sleep deprivation and the inability to fall asleep when you need to.
- Insomnia: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Delayed sleep phase disorder : You cannot fall asleep fast, so you end up staying awake beyond midnight and find it difficult waking up early in the morning when you need to.
Doctors have also recommended melatonin supplements for the following conditions:
- Sleep disorders and certain developmental and behavioral disorders in children;
Jet Lag And Shift Work
Melatonin is known to reduce jet lag, especially in eastward travel. If the time it is taken is not correct, however, it can instead delay adaptation.
Melatonin appears to have limited use against the sleep problems of people who work shift work. Tentative evidence suggests that it increases the length of time people are able to sleep.
What To Know Before You Take Melatonin
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since a version first appeared in the February 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
Kevin Loria
I’m a science journalist who writes about health for Consumer Reports. I’m interested in finding the ways that people can transform their health for the better and in calling out the systems, companies, and policies that expose patients to unnecessary harm. As a dad, I spend most of my free time trying to keep up with a toddler, but I also enjoy exploring the outdoors whenever possible. .;
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How Much Melatonin Can Children Take
Few studies;look at the use of melatonin in healthy children, including research into appropriate dose levels, so it’s challenging to come up with an exact amount.;If you’re concerned about your child or infant’s sleep habits, it’s best to speak with your pediatrician before attempting any at-home dosing.
Some kids, such as children with immune disorders or those taking immunosuppressants, should not take melatonin at all. While melatonin is generally well-tolerated in adults, further studies are needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in children.
Anatomical and physiological differences give rise to differences in the bodily absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs in children compared with adults. Many medicines, including melatonin, have only been tested for safety and efficacy in adults.
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.
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Does Melatonin Help You Go To Sleep
Although melatonin is widely used to help people sleep, it isnt a sleeping pill, nor does it cause immediate sleep.
If you take a sleeping pill, you may fall asleep within 30 minutes of ingesting the medicine. Melatonin doesnt have the same effect.
With melatonin supplements, your body gradually become sleepier until you fall asleep. It might take up to two hours from the time you take melatonin until you finally fall asleep. This is why you should take the supplement about one to two hours before bed.
When To Talk To Your Doctor About Melatonin
To ensure safe usage, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter sleep aid, including melatonin. They know your personal medical history and can best advise you on the appropriate melatonin dosage for your needs. They will also know whether melatonin might interact with any other medications you may currently be taking.
Certain health conditions and medications may increase your risk of side effects when taking melatonin. If you take any of the following medications, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking melatonin:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Shift workers
The research into melatonins potential benefits and use cases is still evolving, and its long-term effects are still unknown. For many people, melatonin offers mild improvements to sleep problems when used on a short-term basis. For others, it may cause side effects or not impact sleep at all.
If you find your sleep problems persist after trying melatonin, it may be time to talk to a doctor. They can recommend other strategies for improving your sleep, such as better sleep hygiene, changes to diet and exercise, or cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia. They can also evaluate other possible causes for your sleep problems.
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Side Effects Of Melatonin
Like any other dietary supplement, melatonin may cause side effects in some peoplepossible side effects include:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
Dr. Bollu says drowsiness can mean either excessive sleepiness at night or grogginess the next day. He also adds that interfering with your bodys natural sleep cues may carry another side effect as well.
Taking a hypnotic medication regularly, on a nightly basis, would dampen your innate drive to sleep, explains Dr. Bollu, who adds that although we dont know for certain, this could also be true for melatonin. However, some research suggests melatonin may not dampen this drive in the same way that Ambien, for example, does. When your body recognizes more melatonin in the body, it begins to slow down its own production of melatonin over time. Therefore, short-term use of a melatonin supplement is preferred.;
How Long Does It Take For Melatonin To Work
Melatonin supplements typically begin to kick in between 20 minutes and two hours after ingestion, which is why Buenaver suggests taking one to three milligrams two hours before bedtime.;
Additionally, natural melatonin levels rise around two hours before bed, so having a consistent bedtime routine can help signal to your body that its time to ramp up melatonin production.;
Melatonin can affect everyone differently, meaning theres no single right answer to how long melatonin lasts. You may need to do some trial and error to figure out when to take melatonin before bed and how much to take so you can stay asleep.;
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Does Melatonin Help With Cancer Symptoms
Studies of the effect of melatonin supplements on cancer symptoms or treatment-related side effects have been small and have had mixed results.
Keep in mind that unproven products should not be used to replace or delay conventional medical treatment for cancer. Also, some products can interfere with standard cancer treatments or have special risks for people whoâve been diagnosed with cancer. Before using any complementary health approach, including melatonin, people whoâve been diagnosed with cancer should talk with their health care providers to make sure that all aspects of their care work together.
Not All Supplements Are Created Equal
As with all supplements and vitamins, melatonin is not regulated by the FDA. Because of this, available formulations will vary in accuracy of concentration. Erland reports a review of 31 commercially available melatonin supplements found that actual content varied from -83% +478% and lot to lot variability was as much as 465%. Additionally, 26% of the samples contained serotonin as a contaminant. ;My recommendation is to purchase physician-only brands. Theyre likely to be higher quality and have higher testing standards than those that arent.
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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.
How Much Melatonin Does Your Body Produce Naturally
The production of melatonin signals to your body that its nighttime, allowing you to relax and lowering your body temperature. This helps you transition to sleep easier and promote consistent, quality sleep.4 Most people produce adequate melatonin for sleep on their own, with levels increasing at night and then diminishing in the morning, which is when the hormone cortisol increases, to promote wakefulness. But the amount of melatonin the body actually produces varies throughout your lifetime, with levels increasing and decreasing during the various stages of life.5 Further, the aging process, diet, or stress can disrupt the bodys normal production of melatonin.
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Ive Heard Melatonin Treats Cancer Is This True
Cure, treat, prevent entirely? No. There is no supportive evidence that is definitive.
Support existing therapies? YES!
The ideal dose for the supportive tumor suppression is not standardized and the type of cancer that it is best for is not agreed upon . For example, treatment in the prevention and presence of fibrocystic breasts, ovarian cysts, myomas, uterine fibromas, or endometrial thickening, 1520 mg can be administered depending on the intensity of the disease.
Several clinical studies have shown that total daily doses of 20-40mg, up to 1000 mg of melatonin administered via slow IV, are tolerated and considered useful and beneficial in cancer patients. Patients diagnosed at an initial/early stage of disease can be given 30mg of melatonin orally. Di Bella reports numerous clinical studies have shown that patients with advanced or terminal stages of cancer, who no longer respond to traditional treatments, can benefit from high doses of melatonin. These patients could consider taking upwards of 100mg melatonin daily.
BUT! It goes without saying , please DO NOT use melatonin if you have cancer or for cancer prevention before discussing it with a doctor who is familiar in its adjunctive use. Its a hormone. Its a powerful tool. It should be respected. The OncANP can be a resource for patients looking for naturopathic doctors who have post-doctoral training in oncology and who would be familiar with melatonin and its use in cancer.
Are There Side Effects
Deuster’s review looked at the reporting of adverse effects across all 35 studies, and found nothing serious. The most commonly reported side effect was drowsiness and headache.
But Scheer says there are some cases where melatonin can have adverse effects. For some people with a particular genetic variant, melatonin impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose. “It’s not harmless,” he says.
The risks of long-term use have also not been assessed. “There are no clear studies beyond six months of duration on melatonin’s use,” Scheer says.
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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.
Why People Take Artificial Melatonin
Since melatonin regulates the sleep cycle, individuals who suffer from sleep-related issues, like insomnia, may take artificial melatonin as a supplement. Similarly, travelers may use melatonin to reduce jet lag and adjust to a different time zone. Night shift workers may also take the supplement to make falling asleep during the day or at odd times easier.
When taken before bed, supplements increase the amount of melatonin in the body. This could make falling asleep or staying asleep easier. However, there is limited scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of melatonin supplements, so it isnt clear whether people experience the purported benefits or simply a placebo effect.
As shown above, outside factors like sunlight can hinder your bodys production of melatonin. Supplements can bypass those factors and help you feel more ready to sleep, even if your environment is less than ideal.
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What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Melatonin
Melatonin isnt medicine, but you can experience side effects if youre sensitive to the supplement.
The upside is that side effects of melatonin are usually mild and subside as your body adjusts.
Side effects vary, but include:
- Irritability
- Headache
Melatonin has also been known to exacerbate depressive symptoms, and should be used with caution in those suffering from depression, according to Dr. Politis.
Experiencing side effects doesnt always mean that you should stop taking melatonin. The decision to stop will depend on the severity of your side effects, and whether they improve or continue.
Of course, its all about tolerance, too. If you take melatonin and repeatedly experience cramps or diarrhea the next day, you might be sensitive and need to consider other options for better sleep, perhaps chamomile tea or lavender oil.
To reduce the likelihood of side effects, always start with a low dose of melatonin. Only increase your dose as needed.
Many brands of synthetic melatonin contain 5 to 10 milligrams per serving, which is more than what people often need to regulate their sleep cycle.
Some adults only need a little melatonin, while others need more. Children can typically get by with a lesser amount, too.
This doesnt mean that you cant take 5 or 10 mg every night, but you should discuss this with your doctor first to ensure your body can handle a larger dosage.
When Is The Best Time To Take Melatonin
There are two answers to this question depending upon the symptoms youre targeting. Normally, the brain begins to produce melatonin around 9pm. If youre looking to encourage your bodys own production of melatonin, then taking melatonin 3 hours before your bedtime in a small dose is best because exogenous melatonin given earlier than the time of its usual endogenous secretion helps to shift the circadian rhythm earlier.
Plasma levels of melatonin peak within one hour of administration. Therefore, if you want to fall asleep earlier to help re-establish a healthy bedtime , then taking melatonin 30 minutes to 1 hour before wanted sleep is recommended.
If youre wide awake in the middle of the night, taking an additional dose will not help.
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Natrol Melatonin Advanced Sleep Time Release 10 Mg 100 Tablets
- February 1 2024 Expiration Date
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Risks Of Taking Other Drugs With Melatonin
Taking melatonin in any amount can be dangerous if you are also taking certain other medications. Unfortunately, this includes medications that can also make it difficult to sleep. People who use blood pressure drugs, for example, may have a lower amount of naturally occurring melatonin. However, taking melatonin can cause blood pressure spikes, which could be incredibly dangerous.
On the other end of the spectrum, birth control pills can lead to elevated melatonin production. Taking a supplement could push your concentration into dangerous territory. Individuals using anticoagulants may see an increased risk of bleeding if they also use melatonin. Those on corticosteroids should also avoid the supplement. It also isnt wise to take melatonin in conjunction with caffeine or alcohol. Both of those substances impact circadian rhythms and natural melatonin production.
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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.