Are you taking too much melatonin to help you sleep? Find the answers to questions that pique your curiosity in our series, The Short Answer. Ann Pressler, CNP, fields this one. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter.
Q: How much melatonin should I take to help me sleep? Related Articles. Can Melatonin Cause Bad Dreams? What Experts Say.
According to University of Missouri Health Care neurologist Pradeep Bollu, MD, while some people respond well to 3 milligrams daily, others may need more or less. If you feel like you need more than 5 milligrams, you should talk to your doctor first before trying a higher dose.
The more melatonin you take the more likely you are to have side effects. Your doctor will also assess your overall health profile when considering the safety of a higher dose. Per the NIH, children, older adults, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with epilepsy or other seizure disorders should take either low doses of melatonin under medical advice or none at all.
Melatonin may also interfere with some medications , including immunosuppressants, oral contraceptives, and anticoagulants, to name a few. The dosage you take may also depend on your reason for taking melatonin. Its use in the treatment of some types of migraines and anxiety is still being studied, but many people find taking melatonin at different doses helps them with these other health issues.
Kohli, though she emphasizes that there is currently no consensus on using it for these issues and studies about the effectiveness are ongoing.
Though the supplement is generally not associated with dependency, habituation, or hangover symptoms, Dr. Bollu points out that melatonin is a natural hormone that fluctuates in our bodies on a daily basis anyway, meaning it may be safer than taking a prescription drug. A pharmacist or nutritionist may be able to help you find a product produced by a reputable manufacturer.
It appears to carry a low overdose risk; the National Poison Control website reports several cases where children and adults consumed extremely high doses of melatonin and had little or no side effects other than acute drowsiness. Like any other dietary supplement, melatonin may cause side effects in some people—possible side effects include:. 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. Especially in higher doses, melatonin can interact with the following medications, according to the Mayo Clinic :. Short-term studies of melatonin in children show that it is safe, including in children with autism.
Before trying melatonin, parents and caregivers should help a child adopt good sleep practices, such as:. Choosing the right melatonin dosage for children can be challenging as the drug is a supplement with no approved dosing guidelines.
When in doubt, it is best to consult a doctor. The authors of a paper on the use of melatonin in Canada noted that typical doses were 0. It is best for children to take it between 30 and 60 minutes before bedtime. They also stated that there was no evidence to support the use of melatonin in children younger than 2 years. A small study of children with autism found that a lower dose could be effective.
Just 1 mg or 3 mg of melatonin was beneficial for most children in the study. Although there is no reason to suspect that melatonin might cause long-term harm, no research has established that it is safe to use for extended periods. For this reason, parents and caregivers should use melatonin for the shortest possible period and consult a doctor before giving their child melatonin or any other supplement.
Sleep difficulties are common. While some people only experience occasional sleeplessness, others deal with chronic sleep problems. Melatonin offers a natural solution that mimics the hormone that the brain already produces. For many people, melatonin is an effective alternative to prescription medications for sleep. However, people should treat melatonin the same as any other medication and carefully watch for side effects.
Melatonin supplements for sleep are available in pharmacies, some natural health stores, and online. Learn about the types, effectiveness, and safety of sleeping pills here. Valerian root and melatonin are two natural sleep aids. This article discusses their effectiveness, dosage, side effects, interactions, and more. While more research is needed, many doctors believe that melatonin is safe for healthy kids. Learn about dosages and some of the best options here. Valerian root may have a sedative effect and reduce anxiety, making it a popular natural remedy to help with sleep and promote calmness.
People can use chamomile to help promote relaxation and a good night's sleep. Learn more about if chamomile can really promote sleep and some options…. Melatonin for sleep: What to know. Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm.
What is melatonin?
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