Melatonin Side Effects
The most common Melatonin side-effect is headache and/or an altered sleep pattern. Mental or mood changes may also occur as well as itching, fast heartbeat or heavy headedness. Melatonin may cause lowering of the body temperature. Vivid dream is also associated with melatonin use. Melatonin side-effects are usually temporary and can be relieved by reducing the melatonin dosage. About 8% of people taking 5 mg of melatonin or less per day will feel sleepy during the day. For a complete list of melatonin side effects pls. visit this link:http://www.melatoninfaq.com/melatonin-side-effects/ . It is very important to note that the long term side effects of Melatonin are still unknown. There is a need for more research to know what are the side effects of melatonin if it is used for a very long time.
What is Melatonin ?
Melatonin is also known as 5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine. This is a hormone that is found in all biological organisms. The level of melatonin inside an organism varies in a predefined cycle and is affected by the amount of light the body receives. Melatonin on humans is produced by the pineal gland from the amino acid Tryptophan. It helps the body know when it’s time to sleep or when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin is released at night or in the dark and sort of instructs the body that it is time to sleep.Young and middle-aged adults usually produce about 5 to 25 micrograms of melatonin per night. This level declines as a person ages and this is reported to be the reason why older persons have difficulty sleeping. Two forms of melatonin exist on the market, the natural form which comes from the pineal gland of animals and the synthetic form which is made from reacting certain chemical compounds. Natural melatonin may pose a risk to humans because it can be contaminated with animal viruses. Synthetic melatonin is safer to use because it is free from biological contaminants.
Melatonin For Sleep
Melatonin maintains the Circadian Rhythm of our body. The Circadian Rhythm is the built-in 24-Hour “clock” inside our body which plays an important role when we should wake up and when we should fall asleep. When your surrounding is dark, the body produces more melatonin; When your surrounding is bright, the production of melatonin is reduced. Without an increase in melatonin production in the evening, it will be difficult to fall asleep. Melatonin production rise when the sun goes down and appears to peak at 2:00 AM. When you are exposed to bright lights in the evening or you have very little light during daytime, the normal melatonin cycle of the body can be disrupted. Jet lag, Night Shift Work and Poor vision are some of the things that can disrupt normal melatonin cycles. Taking melatonin tablets before going to sleep can supplement the melatonin levels of the body, which makes sleeping come easily and consistently.
Uses of Melatonin – Melatonin Benefits
Although melatonin is very popular as a Sleep Remedy or Sleep Aid and as a natural treatment for Insomnia. Melatonin has other uses aside from improving sleep. Studies show that it can be used as an antioxidant, cancer protective agent, skin protective agent, contraceptive and as a treatment for Seasonal affective depression. As you can see, Melatonin is a multi-functional hormone that is produced naturally by the human body. There are other uses for melatonin which are still being studied today. We have listed the more common use of melatonin below.
1. Melatonin Sleep Aid/Melatonin as a Natural Sleeping Pills – Melatonin is a natural sleeping aid. During daytime, the blood level of melatonin is low and increases at night. Melatonin supplements that are given during the day makes anyone feel sleepy. Natural melatonin production in the brain is highest between 2am and 4am and declines as a person ages. Users of melatonin reported an increase in the vividness and frequency of their dreams.
2. Melatonin as an Antioxidant – Melatonin is an antioxidant which is both active in water and oil phase. Vitamin-C and Glutathione are only active in water phase while Vitamin E and Vitamin A are only active in oil phase.
3. Cancer protection (Possible anti-tumor properties) - Women with breast cancer have lower levels of melatonin compared to cancer free individuals. Melatonin also inhibits the growth of certain types of breast cancer cells. Preliminary experiments suggest that melatonin may enhance the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs. Men with prostate cancer also have lower levels of melatonin compared to normal individuals. One study reported that the addition of melatonin to conventional anti-cancer drugs enhanced the survivable rates of men with metastatic prostate cancer.
4. Oral contraceptive – Melatonin also plays a role in the endocrine-reproductive system and it reduces the circulation of Leutenizing Hormone. Melatonin may inhibit ovulation in women and it had been suggested for use in combination with other contraceptives. Some studies suggest that melatonin actually stimulates reproduction. It is noted that when men take high doses of melatonin, there is an associated decrease in sperm mobility and sex drive.
5. Skin protection from ultraviolet light – Topical melatonin when combined with vitamins C and E exhibits photo protective property. Melatonin can be used as a natural sunscreen.
6. Insomnia – Several studies suggest that melatonin taken by mouth before going to sleep helps a person fall asleep faster. It is best to take it 1 or 1 and a half hours before going to sleep.
7. Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder - Some studies show that people which suffers from major depression or panic disorder have low blood levels of melatonin. There are experimental studies showing that melatonin increases serotonin levels which helps reduce the symptoms of depressive illness.
8. Jet Lag and Work Shifts – Melatonin reduces the time it takes to establish normal sleep pattern and reduces the time it takes to fall asleep and reduces daytime tiredness. Working at night shifts or staying up all night upsets the biological clock of the body. This causes fatigue, dizziness and disability to have clear thinking. Using melatonin before bedtime helps restore the biological clock function and relieves those symptoms.
9. Melatonin for Alzheimer’s Disease Patients - Melatonin has some positive effects on patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It can improve their sleep and possibly slow down cognitive impairment.
Reference: The use of melatonin in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002 Apr;23 Suppl 1:20-3.
- Melatonin improved sleep and suppressed sundowning, an effect seen regardless of the concomitant medication employed to treat cognitive or behavioral signs of AD. Melatonin treatment seems to constitute a selection therapy to ameliorate sundowning and to slow evolution of cognitive impairment in AD patients.
10. Anti-Aging / Longevity – The positive effects of melatonin on deep restorative sleep could also account for a longer life span. The University of Rajasthan in India tested the influence of chronic administration of low dose melatonin against age-induced oxidative stress on the tissue of mice. The result of the study satates that Melatonin is able to reduce age-induced decline in the body’s natural antioxidant system. The study also indicates that melatonin is also acting as a free radical scavenger and an anti-aging agent.
11. Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Melatonin can improve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in patients who are suffering from sleep disturbances. The use of 3mg Melatonin for two weeks have significantly reduced abdominal pain and bloating, while also reducing the sensitivity of the rectum.
12. Migraine headache reduction – Additional research is needed to see if melatonin is effective for treating migraine. Studies show that there is a relationship between Melatonin and Headache. A research of Dr. Mario Peres, of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, in Sao Paulo, Brazil showed that there is at least 50 percent reduction in the frequency of headache after three months of Melatonin treatment (3 milligrams of melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime).
13. Dream Enhancement (Vivid Dreams) - The use of melatonin can lead to vivid, memorable and enjoyable dreams but it can also lead to vivid nightmares. Melatonin improves REM sleep. Any dose of Melatonin that is higher than 1 mg is likely to make dreams very intense. People have reported encountering nightmares on high doses ( typically 2 to 5 mg ).
14. Immune system booster – Animals research shows that melatonin can provide a short term enhancement or stimulation of the immune system. Human studies are not yet established.
15. Diabetes (Adjunct Therapy) - Melatonin used together with Zinc may improve glycemic control in patients that are not responding well to Metformin.
16. Menopause – Melatonin have been reported to have some beneficial effects in treating the symptoms associated with Menopause. However, more research is needed to support these claims.
17. Anti-Inflammatory – A limited research shows that melatonin may posses anti-inflammatory actions.
18. Anti-Anxiety – Melatonin can also be used as an anti-anxiety agent.
Age related anxiety is common in the elderly. Elders experience more anxiety compared to younger persons. An experiment conducted by C. Garzon and associates (February 2009 issue of “Aging Clinical and Experimental Research”) shows that melatonin decreased age related anxiety compared to placebo.
Surgical Anxiety – It is very common for people to experience anxiety before surgery. This is of course a problem for people needing surgical procedures. Having anxiety before an operation can delay or affect the immediate outcome of a surgical procedure. Sedatives can relieve the surgical anxiety of a person but it may have negative side effects. A study by Salah A. Ismail and colleagues April 2009 edition of “Anesthesia & Analgesia”) shows that patients who have been given melatonin experienced less anxiety and pain during an eye surgery.
Melatonin Dosage and Melatonin Overdose
The recommended dosage for melatonin is 1 mg to 5 mg. This is considered to be a safe and effective dosage. It would be a good idea to start first at the lowest melatonin dosage ( 0.3 mg ) and then gradually increase your dosage until you find the most effective dosage for you.
Melatonin Supplement
Melatonin supplements are available over the counter. It is sold as a food supplement and not as a drug. Melatonin supplements com in tablets, capsules and liquid form.
Melatonin For Children
Current research shows that short term use of Melatonin on children over 12 years of age is safe. The long term safety of Melatonin on children has not been established. Long term use of melatonin on kids is not recommended.
Melatonin For Dogs
Melatonin can also be used on dogs to help them sleep better or to have a mild sedative effect.
Melatonin Buying Guide
Tips on buying melatonin supplements. For more information about buying Melatonin, please visit the link below:
What are the precautions when using Melatonin?
If you have immune system disorder, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, stroke or depression you should consult first your doctor before taking melatonin supplements. You should limit alcohol consumption because it may aggravate some of the side effects of this medicine. Extra caution is advised when you are performing tasks that require alertness such as driving. It is not recommended to take melatonin if you are planning to have pregnancy. Melatonin is not recommended for persons under 20 years old.
Is Melatonin Safe – Melatonin Safety
Current research shows that melatonin is generally safe but the long term safety of Melatonin is not yet known.
Melatonin References:
Webb SM, Puig-Domingo M. Role of melatonin in health and disease. Clin Endocrinol . 1995;42:221-234. Cowley G. Melatonin. Newsweek . 1995;Aug 7:46. laustrat, B., Brun, J., David, M., Sassolas, G., & Chazot, G. (1992).
Melatonin and Jet Lag: Confirmatory Result Using a Simplified Protocol. Biological Psychiatry, 32,705-711. Jan, J. (1994).
The Treatment of Sleep Disorders With Melatonin. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 36, 97-107. Lino, A., Silvy, S., Condorelli, L., & Rusconi, A. (1993).
Melatonin and Jet Lag: Treatment Schedule. Biological Psychiatry, 34, 587. Zhdanova, I. (1995). Sleep – inducing effects of low doses of melatonin ingested in the evening. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 57, 552-558. Arendt J. Melatonin. Clin Endocrinol . 1988;29:205-229. Borbely AA.
Commentary on the articles by Arendt, Weaver, Mahle, et al, and Guardiola-Lemaitre. J Biol Rhythms . 1997;12:707-708.
Pharmacology and physiology of melatonin in the reduction of oxidative stress in vivo. Biol Signals Recept 2000 May-Aug; 9(3-4):160-71.
Differential growth inhibitory effect of melatonin on two endometrial cancer cell lines. J Pineal Res 2000 28(4):227-33.
Melatonin as biological response modifier in cancer patients Anticancer Res 1998 Mar-Apr;18(2B):1329-32. Melatonin deficiency: Its role in oncogenesis and age-related pathology. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine (Canada) 1990, 5/1 (22-24).
Melatonin improves sleep quality of patients with chronic schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry 2000 May;61(5):373-7.
Effect of melatonin on proliferative activity and apoptosis in colon mucosa and colon tumors induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in rats. Exp Toxicol Pathol 2000;52(1):71-6.
Influence of melatonin on proliferation and antioxidant system in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. Cancer Lett 2000; 151(2):119-25.
After over forty years of insomnia I was prescibed Melatonin. I have now taken it for about three months and have not had any benefit. In fact I think I am worse than before.
That is weird they do help alot in my opion. its just if you fight them then its not something for you.
I have suffered with ostioarthritis for a couple decades and began taking Morphine Sulfate three years ago when my arthritis finally became so severe that I had to quit work and start my Social Security disability benefit. For almost the entire time I have been out of work my sleep cycle has been terrible. I would try to go to sleep around eleven or midnight without much success. When I did go to sleep it would only last maybe an hour or so and I would wake back up. Eventually I would fall back to sleep only to wake again an hour or so later. Sometimes I would fall back asleep after that, sometimes not.
Eventually I started taking Unison which helped but didn’t fully remedy the problem. Several days ago while I was waiting for my prescriptions to be filled it was suggested that I try Melatonin. I started that night on 5mg and I’m now on my fourth night. I have been completely satisfied. It is so nice to actually experience REM sleep again!! I have noticed a more active dream experience too. So far no nightmares.
My only concern is whether or not I can take Melatonin as long as I would like too. Should I supplement another sleep remedy from time to time?
you can also use L-Tryptophan as an alternative sleep aid
Thank you.
A glass of Tart Cherry juice works well too. It is supposed to cause you body to produce extra melatonin. Works for me.
I’ve taken melatonin for about a week at 5mg pills. They didn’t really do anything for me. I tried doubling the dosage but 10mg didn’t do anything either. Should I try it again or would that be dangerous? Should I just move along and try something else?
I have just started taking Sweet Slumber which has 6mg of Melatonin. I double this and it works great. I use to take Tylenol PM (3-4) to get to sleep. Then I went to Advil PM and Motrin PM…. sometimes it would work sometimes not..Tried lots of different prescription sleep aids and none ever really did the job. This Sweet Slumber seems to do the trick so far..It has only been about a week. Directions say to take one..but one was not enough. Do you think 12mg is too much to be taking? I am 44…already been through menopause (still get hot flashes now and again). Would love if you could answer this for me.
12 mg is a bit too high.
My neurologist told me you can take up to 30 mg of melatonin @ night. You can add 5-HTP if still having problem, but take in morning or mid day as it does lift your mood. You will feel amazing!
I’ve just started taking melatonin yesterday (3mg) and it put me to sleep in just ten min. i was knocked out! 15 pills for 88 cents at walmart!!!! Not only cheap, but it WORKS!!!! I recommend this for anyone with insomnia, anxiety, or trouble relaxing at night due to depression.
I have been suffering from irregular sleep patterns for years. My typical night consisted of being able to fall asleep and then waking up between 2am and 4am, at which point my chances of falling back to sleep were uncertain. Since taking 1.5mg (I bite a 3mg pill in half) each night I have been getting 6 to 8 hours of restful sleep. For me melatonin has been extremely beneficial. Ambien and Lunesta where somewhat effective but I started to feel them building up in my bloodstream…they seemed to have a somewhat depressive effect over time. Melatonin seems to be much cleaner in the system…I feel pretty good during the day with no noticeable side affects. My belief is that it is best to take the absolute minimum amount necessary to get the sleep you require…and no more than that in order to reduce possible side affects.
I hurt my back in 2001 and had it cut 2 times in 9days in 2002 cause the dr messed up and then suffered all the way up til I lost everything in hurricane katrina in 2005 and moving my little bit of stuff I had left after fema stole my camper while my little boy was in hospital for 3days and they said I abandoned my camper. Then keep everything we accumilated again. Then I had my 3rd back surgery in jan of 2006 and had titanium rods and screws put in and did little better for bout 2yrs. Then I found out somehow I had a broken screw and rod in my back and am fixing to have to go for my 4th back surgery. I have been on pain killers for over 10yrs now and have been taking 2 benidryl everynight to help me sleep the little I have been sleeping. But know I think my kidneys or my bladder is messed up and the benidryl started causing me to run high fever everynight or I’ve elimenated it down to the benidryl. Tonight I took melitonan for first time about 8pm by 10 was very tired then my kid got up for bout 30min and then when I got back in bed the melitonan wore off so I jus tookba second 1 I hope it helps and don’t hurt me it was bout 5 and half hrs after first 1. GN every1 and goodluck to u all.
hi,i’m 21 now,when i was 19 i had alot of things happening to me that disturbed my biological clock,things like ((noises that kept waking me up more then 10 times every night,and never had a stable wake/sleep time,i used to sleep any time i liked and wake up at any time i liked)) all of these didn’t do anything to my sleep,until some noises kept waking me up more then 10 times every night for 2 weeks.after that,i have never been able to have a restful and undisturbed sleep,even now that i’m 21,i wake up 4 or 5 times during my sleep.i know that there is something wrong with my biological clock that is causing my insomnia,so here is the question. will taking melatonin help me to reset my biological clock and get my restful sleep back?and if it does,do i have to keep taking it for ever or it will treat my insomnia for good?please respond, i really need help,thank you
melatonin can help restore the normal rhythm of the biological clock.
I think I ran out of room for charactors on my comment.
Basically, I’ve only seen posative results in the use of melatonin.
I do not approve of medications used on children. Its too hard on their little bodies. However, a hormone that our body already produces and is a safe and mild solution to bring my child restful sleep, is definitely accceptable!
I just wanted to share a posative story about children with insomnia benefiting from the use of melatonin. Also, in case any parents are thinking about using this, please, ask your doctor or pediatrician first! And, my daughter has climbed up to the top shelf and eaten a handful of them. It did not hurt her. I was horrified! But she just got really crankie and took a long nap.
I heard about melatonin about 2 years ago. My, then 4 year old, daughter had begun showing signs of insomnia. I wasn’t surprised. I was more surprised she had slept so well previously, as her father and I are both insomniacs and bipolar.
Most meds work backwards on me. Its hard to explain and unless people run more tests, most people think I’m full of crazy sauce. But its true. Bipolar meds made me worse. I’m far from adhd, but I take adderall and it helps the moods of bipolarism. So, my point, I was terrified to try this with my daughter. Obviously, if she had the same reactions to medications as I do, it could’ve made her sleep less. My sister suggested melatonin after her sons doctor reccomended it to help with his insomnia at only 7 years old. So, I consulted the pediatrician and got the go ahead to try it. She now sleeps at around the same time every night. Every few weeks I don’t give it to her for about a week. I was told that nightmares could be more prominant in children who take it too consistantly.
Results?
She is very active and alert during the day. She does have trouble focusing, but were pretty sure its just the age and is not adhd. She just gets bored when she’s not interested. She falls asleep quickly. She has only had nightmares one time since taking metatonin. Which is actually an improvement. She had been scared to go to sleep before sometimes. She used to get nightmares regularly. Now, its been more than a year since I’ve heard about any nightmares. She actually wakes up wanting to share her exciting dreams of adventures she has while asleep. She also, and I hope I’m not jinxing myself or her here, but she also has not had so much as a stuffy nose since
Hi there, I’m a 39 year old male in the UK.
I have had trouble getting to sleep for most of my life, which at worst was over the last couple of years when was getting to sleep by 5/6am, by way of a heavy headache, not tiredness, even though i was up every morning at 8am for school runs and Uni, albeit like a zombie til lunchtime!
My 2 sons 14 and 9 have also suffered similarly, but to a lesser degree.
We were also very difficult to wake up, dizzy, headache, grumpy, lethargic, etc…
My Dad now shows similar signs in later life.
Now, about a year ago, my friend suggested hypnotherapy could help me, but after speaking to the hypnotherapist, who suggested to first try Melatonin, I consulted my doctor, who Prescribed me “Circadin” Melatonin for trial for 6 weeks.
Wow, to say this has been my miracle is an understatement!
I can now fall asleep in around 30 mins to 1.5 hours, even at 10pm if i want to, and actually awake naturally between 6:30-7am every morning. I can now feel wide awake and refreshed in the morning after being awake for 15-20 mins! (usually with an energy drink, which didn’t really work before discovering Melatonin).
I have NEVER felt like that in the morning before!
I actually feel I can now return to employment without getting fired for lateness!
My doctor confirmed that Melatonin is widely given to all ages including children of certain ages in the USA, and that I could extend the trial of melatonin to my sons. I did this, and as a result they actually fall sleep and awake normally now too!
After the initial trial though, my doctor said i would have to buy from a health supplement shop, so i’ve been buying the Swanson 10 mg triple strength from Health monthly.
I’ve given my Dad a bottle, but so far he’s chickened out of trying it
My Doctor said that trying it is harmless, and the only easy way to test if you are not producing enough.
I can only recommend asking your doctor about trying Melatonin to see if it works for you !
Good Luck !