Is It Safe to Take Melatonin Every Night?

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Posted on | by mymedicplus

Source – https://www.healthline.com/

  • How it works
  • Dosages
  • Risks of nightly doses
  • Side effects
  • Multiple doses
  • Interactions
  • When to seek care
  • Bottom line

Melatonin is a hormone that your body naturally produces. It plays a role in regulating your sleep-wake cycle.

There’s also a lab-made version of melatonin that’s available as an over-the-counter supplement. Some people use melatonin supplements to help with sleep problems like jet lag and insomnia.

In this article we’ll explore how exactly melatonin works and whether it’s safe to take melatonin supplements every night.

How does melatonin work?
 

Natural melatonin is predominantly made in your pineal gland, which is located in your brain. Light exposure inhibits the production of melatonin, but darkness stimulates it.

Melatonin levels in your brain begin to increase at dusk as the sun goes down and darkness falls. They reach their peak levels in the middle of the night and start decreasing as dawn gets closer.

The action of melatonin inhibits signals in your brain that promote wakefulness. This helps encourage sleep by making you feel tired or drowsy as you get closer to bedtime.

Because of melatonin’s sleep-promoting effects, melatonin supplements are used to treat a variety of sleep problems. These can include:

  • insomnia
  • jet lag
  • shift work sleep disorder
  • delayed sleep-wake phase disorder
  • sleep problems in children with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
What’s a safe dosage?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate melatonin as a drug. Because of this, there’s limited information on the optimal, safe dosage of melatonin.

In fact, the doses of melatonin supplements that have been used in various scientific studies vary widely, from 0.1 to 10 milligrams (mg)Trusted Source. One 2017 review defines a typical dose of melatonin to be between 1 and 5 mgTrusted Source.

Melatonin typically takes 1 to 2 hours to work, so it’s often taken up to 2 hours before bedtime.

If you’re looking to try melatonin for the first time, it may be best to begin with a lower dose. Your doctor can help recommend a safe dose for you to start with.

Melatonin for children

Like melatonin for adults, there’s not much information on the optimal, safe dosage for children. Dosage may also vary depending on a child’s age. One 2016 reviewTrusted Source suggests the following age-based dosages 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime:

  • 1 mg for infants
  • 2.5 to 3 mg for older children
  • 5 mg for adolescents

Because there aren’t clear dosing guidelines regarding melatonin for children, be sure to speak to your child’s pediatrician before giving melatonin to your child.

Melatonin for older adults

The amount of melatonin your body produces decreases with age. Because of this, melatonin supplements may be helpful for older adults who are having trouble falling asleep.

Researchers are still looking into the optimal melatonin dosage for older adults. One 2016 review of sleep aids for older adults suggests a dosage of 1 to 2 mg of immediate-release melatonin 1 hour before bedtime.

What to know about dietary supplements and safety

The FDA classifies melatonin as a dietary supplement, meaning that it’s regulated less strictly than a regular drug. For dietary supplements, label claims and product safety don’t have to meet FDA approval before they’re marketed.

A 2017 studyTrusted Source of 31 different melatonin supplements found that the actual melatonin content of 71 percent of the products didn’t match the claim on the label. Additionally, 26 percent of products contained serotonin, which can be potentially harmful even in small doses.

When shopping for melatonin supplements, look for products that are “USP verified.” United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is an independent organization that works to ensure proper quality and dosing of dietary supplements.

Are there any risks involved with taking melatonin every night?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), short-term use of melatonin supplements appears to be safe for most adults and children. However, information on the effects of long-term melatonin supplements is limited.

Some studiesTrusted Source have indicated that long-term melatonin use in adults may cause mild side effects when compared to a placebo. Studies into the effects of long-term melatonin use in children remains limited.

Because melatonin levels naturally decrease at the beginning of puberty, there’s some concern that long-term melatonin use in children may delay puberty onset. However, more researchTrusted Source is needed.

What happens if you take too much melatonin?

Melatonin is generally safe. However, mild side effectsTrusted Source can sometimes occur, particularly if you take higher doses or extended-release formulations.

The side effects of melatonin can include:

  • feeling drowsy or sleepy
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • increased urination or bedwetting (children)

Some less common side effects of melatonin include:

  • irritability
  • abdominal cramps
  • mild tremors
  • feelings of depression or anxiety
  • confusion or disorientation
  • low blood pressure (hypotension)

If you experience side effects from melatonin, stop taking it and speak with your doctor. They may recommend using a lower dose or trying out an alternative medication or sleep aid.

Is it safe to take more than one dose during the night?

You may be wondering what happens if you take a dose of melatonin and find that you still can’t fall asleep. Can you take another dose?

While taking an additional dose is unlikely to cause harm, it may increase your risk for experiencing unwanted side effects.

If you find that melatonin isn’t helping you fall asleep, stop using it. Your doctor may be able to suggest different medications or strategies to help you fall asleep.

 

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