Dosage Of Melatonin For Sleep

Who Can And Cannot Take Melatonin

Melatonin is mainly prescribed for adults aged 55 or over, to help for short-term sleep problems.

It can sometimes be used by adults under the age of 55 and by children, if a doctor recommends it.

It’s not suitable for some people. To make sure melatonin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to melatonin or any other medicines in the past
• have liver or kidney problems
• have rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or lupus, or any other autoimmune condition

What Is The Right Dosage Of Melatonin: How Much Is Too Much

Knowing how much melatonin to take is tricky, especially since some brands may recommend a dosage thats more than your body actually needs.

As you shop around, youll find that some melatonin supplements contain as much as 5 to 10 milligrams per serving.

Generally speaking, most people produce enough melatonin to sleep well. If you need a little extra to reset your sleep cycle, you probably dont need more than 3 mg. Some people sleep better with as little as 0.3 to 0.5 mg.

Melatonin needs vary from person to person. Since melatonin can have many effects on the body, like all drugs, it should be taken at the lowest dose possible, warns Dr. Jacobowitz.

With that being said, start with a low amount. If you still have problems sleeping, gradually step up your dose until you find an amount that improves sleep without causing side effects.

Less is more with melatonin to avoid sleep inertia. This is a common problem with some sleeping pills. Some people complain of a hungover or groggy feeling in the mornings due to remnants of the sleep aid remaining in their bloodstream.

This effect doesnt typically occur with melatonin, but it can happen if you take too much the night before.

Melatonin is also safe for children. And like adults, some children dont need a lot of the supplement to sleep better.

Again, start your child at a lower dose, and then gradually increase the amount of melatonin as needed. Talk to your doctor for advice on appropriate dosages.

What Are The Side Effects Of Melatonin

While side effects of melatonin are generally mild, you may experience grogginess while sleepiness before bed is desirable, taking a high melatonin dosage may cause drowsiness the next day.If you experience melatonin side effects, talk with your doctor. They may recommend to start with a lower melatonin dose until you find what works best with your body.

Read Also: Can You Take Melatonin If You Have High Blood Pressure

When To Worry And Seek Medical Assistance

You probably dont need to see a doctor for a minor overdose that causes a mild headache, nausea, or drowsiness. These symptoms may improve once you stop taking the supplement or reduce the amount you take each night.

In the case of a severe overdose or side effect like an abnormally low blood pressure see a doctor right away. You should also get medical help if you feel that the supplement interacts with your prescription medication. For example, you might take your diabetes medication as scheduled to control your blood sugar, yet your blood sugar still remains elevated.

Medical treatment will focus on stabilizing your health. So if too much melatonin causes low blood pressure, your doctor will work to get your blood pressure back to a healthy level.

To avoid complications, talk to your doctor to see whether melatonin is safe for you. If so, get dosing recommendations from your doctor to avoid problems in the future.

Additional Steps To Improve Sleep

People with sleep problems can benefit from taking steps to develop healthy sleep habits. Even if melatonin offers relief, improving your sleep routines and environment can promote better sleep quality.

• Optimize your sleep hygiene: Sleep hygiene refers to behaviors that affect sleep quality for better or worse. Guidelines for healthy sleep hygiene include going to bed and waking up at the same times each day, abstaining from caffeine and alcohol in the hours leading up to bed, and maintaining a quiet, relaxing bedroom environment that is conducive to relaxation. It may also help to invest in a better mattress and new bedding.

• Limit your screen time in the evening: Cellphones, tablets, televisions, and computers all feature screens that emit blue light, which can interfere with the circadian rhythm that guides your sleep cycle. Studies have shown that reducing your exposure to screened devices can help you fall asleep more easily.

• Schedule quick afternoon naps: Napping is an effective way for sleep-deprived people to catch up on their daily sleep allotment. However, long naps can make it more difficult for you to fall asleep at your normal bedtime. Naps that last between 10 to 20 minutes are considered ideal because they are long enough to help you feel refreshed afterward without allowing you to enter the deep sleep stages of your sleep cycle.

Recommended Reading: Does L Theanine Lower Cortisol

Understand What Melatonin Is And How It Works

Melatonin is the darkness hormone, said , a neurologist and sleep medicine clinician at Johns Hopkins University. And contrary to popular belief, it doesnt promote sleep in the same way a sleeping pill might. Its really a nighttime information hormone, he said.

The hormone, which is secreted by the brains pineal gland in the evening, serves as a signaling mechanism, said Bhanu Kolla, a professor of psychiatry and psychology, and a consultant at the Mayo Clinics Center for Sleep Medicine. It starts telling the brain that its biological night and time to sleep.

Sleep specialists often use low doses of melatonin, which is only available by prescription in many other countries, to help treat sleep-timing problems, such as jet lag or shift work disorder. Depending on when its taken, small amounts can alter the timing of peoples internal clocks. In the case of jet lag, for example, the Mayo Clinic recommends taking melatonin in the morning if you fly west and at night if you fly east to help your body adjust.

But although melatonin plays a key role in helping to regulate the daily cycle of sleep and wakefulness, taking it right before you want to fall asleep doesnt typically have the immediate sleep-inducing effect many takers seem to assume it does.

Use Melatonin Sleep Supplements Wisely And Safely

Less is more, Buenaver says. Take 1 to 3 milligrams two hours before bedtime. To ease jet lag, try taking melatonin two hours before your bedtime at your destination, starting a few days before your trip. You can also adjust your sleep-wake schedule to be in sync with your new time zone by simply staying awake when you reach your destinationdelaying sleep until your usual bedtime in the new time zone. Also, get outside for natural light exposure. Thats what I do, Buenaver says.

Recommended Reading: How To Reverse Estrogen Dominance Naturally

When To Take Melatonin

Everyone reacts differently, but in most cases, youll want to take melatonin about 30 minutes before bed because it takes about 20 to 40 minutes to work.

Its not a sedative, so its not going to knock you out, notes Dr. Roth. Melatonin is like a little dose of nighttime. It tells that melatonin system to turn on.

Can Support Better Sleep

Melatonin is often called the sleep hormone and for good reason.

Its one of the most popular sleep aids and a common natural remedy to treat issues like insomnia.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that melatonin can support better sleep.

One study in 50 people with insomnia showed that taking melatonin two hours before bed helped people fall asleep faster and enhanced overall sleep quality .

Another large analysis of 19 studies in children and adults with sleep disorders found that melatonin reduced the amount of time it took to fall asleep, increased total sleep time and improved sleep quality .

However, though melatonin is associated with fewer side effects than other sleep medications, it may be less effective .

Summary

Studies show that melatonin can lengthen total sleep time, shorten the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and enhance sleep quality in children and adults.

9 ).

This type of depression is related to changes in the seasons and occurs each year around the same time, with symptoms typically appearing in late fall to early winter.

Some research indicates that it could be linked to changes in your circadian rhythm caused by seasonal light changes .

Because melatonin plays a role in regulating circadian rhythm, low doses are often used to decrease symptoms of seasonal depression.

However, other research is still inconclusive on the effects of melatonin on seasonal depression.

16 ).

You May Like: Low Hormone Birth Control Pill

What Is The Optimal Melatonin Dosage

This is a 7-minute read

When taking melatonin, it is important to take an appropriate dosage at the right time when needed for safe and effective use. It is a common misconception that taking more melatonin will result in a deeper and more restful sleep. But the reality is, too much melatonin can lead to nighttime restlessness and daytime grogginess.

Melatonin Dose For Children

Broadly speaking, Dr. Goldman doesnt have recommendations for children when using melatonin. In most cases with teens or younger children, trouble falling asleep is a behavioral issue or it could be a sign of an underlying medical condition. In these cases, Dr. Goldman recommends working with a pediatrician or sleep medicine provider to diagnose the problem before using melatonin.

Recommended Reading: Which Hormonal Iud Is Best

How Does Melatonin Come At The Store

In the U.S., melatonin pills can be purchased without a prescription in the pharmacy, grocery, or health food store. Pill strengths range from 1 milligram to 10 mg, but you should always start with the lowest dose to judge its effects. Some experts suggest to start with 0.3 to 0.5 mg thirty minutes before bedtime, instead of the higher doses. Cut a 1-mg immediate release tablet in half to get a 0.5 mg dose if lower doses are not available dont do this with time release products. Also, don’t drink alcohol with the time-release preparation, as it can disrupt the time-release mechanism.

How Does Melatonin Help You Sleep

Your body follows a circadian rhythm in which various physical, mental and behavioral processes are carried out depending on the time of day. In reaction to daytime and natural daylight, your brain releases the hormone serotonin, which regulates your mood, appetite and memory. At night, in response to darkness, your brain switches off serotonin and starts releasing melatonin. This hormone helps calm your body down and prepare for sleep by making you feel tired or drowsy.

Once that sun goes down, your melatonin system turns back on and a couple hours later, your melatonin levels are high enough for you to be able to fall asleep, explains Dr. Roth. This is why in some places, like Ohio, our energy levels are lower during the winter because we dont have a lot of natural sunlight during the day. So, were not as energetic, and we never quite get that burst of melatonin production at night.

Recommended Reading: My Dog Ate Melatonin Gummies

What Happens If You Take Too Much Melatonin

Taking too much melatonin may make you feel ill, but it is unlikely to be fatal or cause you any permanent injuries. In experimental research studies, scientists could not find a lethal dose of melatonin. Also, very large doses have been given to pregnant rats in research studies without any increased risk of death or injury to the offspring observed. We dont know how this translates to humans, though, so pregnant people should not take melatonin without speaking to their healthcare provider .

Higher doses of melatonin can cause some minor adverse reactions, such as :

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call 911 and seek emergency help:

• Trouble breathing
• Sudden chest pain
• Blood pressure thats over 180/120 mmHg

These arent typically signs of a reaction to or drug interaction related to melatonin. They are serious signs of a medical emergency, though, and shouldnt be ignored.

If you think you may have overdosed on melatonin or any other substance, contact Poison Control either by phone or online. This is a free, confidential service that is available 24/7.

What Medications And Substances Does Melatonin Interact With

Melatonin may interact with several different types of medications, including:

• Blood-thinning medications. Taking melatonin with blood-thinning medication may increase your risk for bleeding.
• Epilepsy medications . Melatonin may make these medications less effective.
• Immunosuppressants. Melatonin can potentially interfere with immunosuppressive drugs.
• Diabetes medications. Melatonin use can affect blood sugar levels.
• Blood pressure medications. Blood pressure may get worse when melatonin is taken with these medications.
• Contraceptive drugs.Birth control pills may increase the risk of side effects from melatonin.

Because melatonin supplements can make you tired and drowsy, avoid mixing them with:

• other sleep aids

You May Like: Is Melatonin Good For Sleep

Why Do Some People Need Extra Support To Sleep

Imagine youre traveling across the country, spanning a time zone or two along the way. It could wreak havoc on your sleep . Or what if you occasionally work the night shift, throwing your sleep/wake cycle completely off balance? But even something as common as stress might make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep sometimes. Taking a melatonin supplement may help in these instances.3 Practicing sleep hygiene tips for better sleep, such as reducing screen time at night, and going to bed at the same time each night may also help. Some people cant relax their mind as they wind down for the night.

What Is Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural hormone that is produced by the pineal gland in the brain and then released into the bloodstream. Darkness prompts the pineal gland to start producing melatonin while light causes that production to stop. As a result, melatonin helps regulate the circadian rhythm and synchronize the sleep-wake cycle with night and day. In doing so, it facilitates a transition to sleep and promotes consistent, quality rest.

Melatonin created within the body is known as endogenous melatonin, but the hormone can also be produced externally. Exogenous melatonin is normally made synthetically in a laboratory and, as a dietary supplement, is often sold as a pill, capsule, chewable, liquid, or patch.

You May Like: How Can I Get More Estrogen

How To Take It

For sleep problems in adults, the usual dose is one 2mg tablet. Take the tablet 1 to 2 hours before bedtime. This is because the medicine takes a couple of hours to start working.

Take melatonin after food.

• you get tightness in the chest or throat
• you have trouble breathing or talking
• your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of melatonin. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

Can Melatonin Cure Insomnia

Melatonin doesnt cure insomnia per se, but it does treat sleeplessness in some people. The supplement can be taken multiple nights in a row, but it shouldnt be used long term. Further research is needed to determine the effects of long-term use.

If you have difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep, take melatonin for a couple of nights or weeks, and then stop taking the supplement for a few days to see if your sleep improves. If not, see a sleep specialist to rule out a disorder. Rather than develop a habit of relying on melatonin, get to the root of the problem.

Keep in mind that chronic issues with sleep might not be an inability to produce melatonin naturally, but rather the result of poor sleep hygiene.

Remember, melatonin is triggered by darkness. For your body to release this hormone, you need to be in a dimly lit environment.

Whether you realize it or not, several habits can impact melatonin production, and sleeping in less than complete darkness is one factor that contributes to sleep problems, says Carolyn Dean, MD, a sleep expert and author of 365 Ways to Boost Your Brain Power: Tips, Exercise, Advice.

Also, keeping electronic devices next to your bed, like a cellphone and computer, might create problems, as the electromagnetic fields that they emit can hurt your sleep, continues Dr. Dean.

Making a few minor changes can improve your sleep hygiene and help put an end to insomnia without the use of melatonin supplements. Heres what you can do:

Also Check: What To Do If Melatonin Doesn’t Work

What Are The Appropriate Doses Of Melatonin In Elderly People

Melatonin does not have a standard dosage that fits all. But when it comes to older people, the best results showed dosages from 2 to 3 mg taken 30 minutes before bedtime. These quantities do not cause overdose symptoms or side effects, significantly improve the quality of sleep, and help maintain alertness during the next day, according to Happysleepyhead.com.

Doctors usually recommend starting with the smallest dosage and gradually increasing it. Thus, you can better understand how much melatonin has the most pronounced effect.

Quick note: A large dose does not necessarily mean falling asleep faster. In many cases, smaller doses will be digested quicker .

May Support Eye Health

Healthy indole-derived melatonin levels may support eye health.

Thats because this hormone has powerful antioxidant effects that may lower your risk of eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration .

Indeed, a review concluded that melatonin supplements may reduce AMD by neutralizing free radicals and decreasing inflammation .

Read Also: Cab You Overdose On Melatonin