Sleep doctor warns this ‘is the most misused supplement in the world’
Experts warn insomniacs against overusing melatonin tablets, as many people who take the supplements complain that they sleep worse than ever.
There has been a dramatic increase in the use of sleep aids, as 37 percent of Americans reported experiencing somewhat or much worse sleep in the past year, according to Sleep Foundation.
That is why scientists warn against using melatonin to cure chronic insomnia.
“I would argue that melatonin is the most abused supplement in the world,” saidDr. Michael Breus, better known as the Sleep Doctor.Melatonin is a sleep regulator, not a sleep inducer.
Melatonin is a cheap and easy to make drug that is mass produced as tablets and gummies. The supplement is marketed to people who suffer from sleep deprivation.
Sleep experts in the US are warning people who suffer from insomnia to take melatonin supplements regularly, as many people complain of increasingly poor sleep.
Dosages vary by brand, but doctors told DailyMail.com that adults should stick to five milligrams a day.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, researchers have not been able to find strong evidence about the effectiveness or safety of the supplements for chronic insomnia. Instead, they recommend using cognitive behavioral therapy as a first line treatment for insomnia.
In addition to worsening chronic insomnia, excessive use of the drug can also cause headaches, next-day drowsiness, nausea, and a drop in body temperature.
Luis F. Buenaver, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University recommends Use less than three milligrams of melatonin two hours before bedtime and do not use it if it has no effect.
‘If melatonin doesn’t help you sleep after a week or two, stop taking it.
“And if your sleep problems persist, talk to your health care provider. If melatonin seems to help, it’s safe for most people to take it at night for one to two months.
In addition to worsening chronic insomnia, excessive use of the drug can also cause headaches, next-day drowsiness, nausea, and a drop in body temperature
Earlier this year, experts raised the alarm about the sleep supplement after its use surged in the US, leading to a spike in overdoses in children.
“Then stop and see how you sleep. Make sure you also relax before bed, dim the lights, and sleep in a cool, dark, comfortable bedroom for optimal results.”
Earlier this year, experts sounded the alarm about the sleep supplement after its use skyrocketed in the US, leading to a spike in overdoses in children.
Melatonin, an over-the-counter sleep supplement, has become extremely popular in recent years. It is estimated that its use among adults has quadrupled and that more than half of parents have given it to their children.
The vitamin pills — available for $10 for a bottle of 30 pills — are said to mimic the effect of natural melatonin, a hormone the body produces in response to darkness.
The substance tells the brain it is time to sleep by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.
The graph above shows the increase in the number of children suffering from melatonin overdose
However, melatonin products, which are not regulated by the federal government, often contain much higher doses of the active ingredient than listed on their labels.
The supplement has been linked to a 500 percent increase in childhood overdoses over the past decade.
A 2022 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the number of children hospitalized after taking melatonin increased by 530 percent between 2012 and 2021.
The data also showed that two children died from an overdose of the supplement. Both children were under two years old, with the youngest being only three months old.
It is not clear what exactly happened in the body to cause the deaths, but experts suspect that cardiac arrhythmia is the most likely cause.