Overview

Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by the pineal gland in the brain, primarily in response to darkness. It plays a crucial role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, commonly known as the circadian rhythm.

Melatonin in supplements is usually made in a lab.

Melatonin levels increase in the evening, promoting drowsiness and preparing the body for sleep, while they decrease during daylight hours, aiding wakefulness. Due to its role in sleep regulation, melatonin supplements are often used to treat sleep disorders, such as insomnia or jet lag. However, their effectiveness varies, and usage should be approached cautiously, considering individual needs and medical advice. Additionally, melatonin's potential benefits extend beyond sleep, as it possesses antioxidant and immune-modulating properties. Nevertheless, further research is needed to fully understand its broader physiological effects and potential applications.

Uses & Effectiveness

Likely Effective for

• Difficulty falling asleep at the recommended time of day (delayed sleep phase syndrome). Melatonin taken orally appears to reduce the amount of time needed for young adults and children with this disease to fall asleep.
• Irregular 24-hour sleep-wake patterns. Children and adults who are blind tend to sleep better after ingesting melatonin at night.

Possibly Effective for

• Beta-blockers can cause insomnia, which is a sleep disorder brought on by some blood pressure medications. Melatonin oral supplementation may improve sleep quality in beta-blocker medication users.
• Cancer. Along with chemotherapy or other cancer therapies, receiving large doses of melatonin intravenously or orally from a healthcare professional may shrink tumors and increase survival rates in some cancer patients.
• After surgery, confusion and anxiousness. Melatonin is taken orally before anesthesia may help reduce anxiety and agitation in children getting the anesthetic sevoflurane during surgery.
• An uncomfortable uterine condition (endometriosis). Melatonin supplementation appears to lessen discomfort and painkiller usage in people with this illness. Additionally, it lessens discomfort during menstruation, sexual activity, and toilet trips.
• Elevated blood pressure. Melatonin in its controlled-release oral form appears to reduce blood pressure in those with high blood pressure when taken before bed. Products with an immediate release don't appear to function.
• Insomnia. Short-term oral melatonin administration appears to reduce the amount of time it takes for persons with insomnia to fall asleep, but only by 7 to 12 minutes. It's unclear whether it has an impact on how much time people spend sleeping. Additionally, it appears to be more beneficial for elderly people and people with specific health diseases.
• A jet lag. Melatonin can help with some jet lag symptoms, such as increasing alertness and lowering daytime drowsiness and fatigue. However, it might not make falling asleep faster for those who have jet lag.
• Migraine. Both adults and children can avoid migraines by taking melatonin before bed. If melatonin aids in the treatment of migraines is unclear.
• Fear of undergoing surgery. Adults who take melatonin orally or topically before surgery report some anxiety reduction. It's unclear if it benefits kids.
• Sedation before an operation. Melatonin used orally may lessen the number of sedatives required for several pediatric medical procedures.
• Sunburn. Melatonin gel applied to the skin before exposure to the sun appears to help avoid sunburn.
• Temporomandibular disorders, sometimes known as TMDs, are a set of excruciating illnesses that affect the jaw joint and muscle. Females with jaw discomfort might have pain relief after four weeks of taking melatonin orally at bedtime.
• Low blood platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Melatonin supplementation can raise low blood platelet counts linked to cancer, cancer therapy, and other conditions.

Possibly Ineffective for

• Athletic ability. Shortly before resistance training or cycling, taking melatonin orally doesn't seem to enhance performance.
• A highly sick person's involuntary weight loss (also known as cachexia or wasting syndrome). Melatonin used orally had no beneficial effects on appetite, weight, or body composition in cancer patients with wasting syndrome.
• Fatigue in cancer patients. Melatonin oral supplementation does not show to lessen fatigue in cancer patients.
• Cancer patients' pain. Melatonin oral supplementation does not show to lessen pain in cancer patients.
• Trauma (critical sickness). Melatonin administration orally doesn't appear to reduce hospital stays for patients who are in severe condition.
• Diseases (dementia) that impair thinking, such as Alzheimer's disease. Melatonin taken orally does not affect the behavior or symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or other types of memory loss. However, it could help those with these disorders feel less disoriented at night.
• Infertility is the inability to get pregnant within a year of trying. Melatonin oral supplementation doesn't appear to increase the likelihood of conception in females receiving reproductive treatments.
• (Shift work disorder) Sleep disturbance brought on by rotational or night shifts. People who work shifts don't appear to have any improvement in their sleep issues after taking melatonin orally.

Likely Ineffective for

• Withdrawal from benzodiazepine-containing medications. When persons with insomnia cease using these medications, their withdrawal symptoms are not lessened by taking melatonin orally before bedtime.
• Depression. Melatonin used orally does not appear to lessen depressive symptoms and, in some cases, may exacerbate them.

Melatonin is being investigated for several additional uses, however, there is insufficient trustworthy data to determine if these uses would be beneficial.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: When taken briefly, melatonin is probably safe for the majority of people. When used on a regular basis, melatonin could be safe. It can be used for up to two years securely. However, it can have certain negative effects, such as nausea, headaches, tiredness, and dizziness. Four to five hours after taking melatonin, avoid using machinery or driving.

When applied to the skin: Melatonin is likely safe for most adults when used short term.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: When taken temporarily, melatonin is probably safe for the majority of people. When used on a regular basis, melatonin could be safe. It can be used for up to two years securely. However, it can have certain negative effects, such as nausea, headaches, tiredness, and dizziness. Four to five hours after taking melatonin, avoid using machinery or driving.

When applied to skin: When used short-term, melatonin is probably safe for most people.

Pregnancy: Melatonin may be harmful if consumed frequently or in large doses when attempting to conceive. Melatonin could have contraceptive-like effects that make becoming pregnant more challenging. Melatonin usage during pregnancy isn't known to be safe due to a lack of sufficient, trustworthy information. It is advisable to avoid using melatonin when pregnant or attempting to get pregnant until additional information is available.

Breastfeeding: Melatonin usage while breastfeeding is not known to be safe due to a lack of sufficient, trustworthy data. Avoid usage to be on the safe side.

Children: When used orally for a brief period of time, melatonin may be safe. Up to 3 mg of melatonin daily for children and 5 mg daily for teenagers is often well tolerated. There is considerable worry that melatonin could obstruct adolescent growth. Only children who have a medical necessity should utilize melatonin. There isn't enough data to determine whether long-term oral melatonin administration is safe for children.

Bleeding disorders: In patients with bleeding issues, melatonin could exacerbate bleeding.

Depression: Depression symptoms may worsen when melatonin is used.

High blood pressure: Melatonin can cause blood pressure to rise in patients who are using specific blood pressure-lowering drugs. Don't use it.

Transplant recipients: It's common practice for transplant recipients to take immunosuppressive drugs. Melatonin may improve immunological performance. Some transplant drugs' effects may be affected by this.

Dosing

Adults have utilized melatonin most often at oral dosages of up to 8 mg per day for up to 6 months. It is often administered orally to children at dosages up to 3 mg per day for a maximum of 3 months.

Fast-release and slow-release melatonin supplements are also available. To speed up absorption, some melatonin preparations can be injected into the cheek or inserted beneath the tongue. Additionally, lotions, gargles, and gels contain melatonin. Find out from a healthcare professional what kind of product and dosage could be ideal for a certain ailment.