Taking Melatonin to Treat Lack of Sleep
An Herbal Product Used as Insomnia Treatment
Melatonin as an herbal product is mainly used for sleeping disorders associated with shift work (shift-worker disorder) and jet lag. Based on the evidence, it appears that melatonin can be modestly effective for insomnia treatment in that it decreases the time it takes to fall asleep by about 12 minutes.
Insomnia describes an ailment that has a wide range of causes. Sleep disorders can be short-term or chronic, mild or severe. There are also different types of insomnia: A person may have trouble falling asleep, another person may be able to fall asleep, but cannot stay asleep and another person wakes up too early.
Melatonin seems to be most effective for the type of insomnia which causes difficulty falling asleep.
Is Melatonin an Effective Sleeping Aid?
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the body. It is made by the pineal gland, a pea sized gland located at the base of the brain. The body has an internal clock that determines when a person should be awake or asleep. This internal clock known as the "circadian rhythm." Melatonin is part of that circadian rhythm in that it is secreted shortly before a person goes to sleep.
The production of melatonin is stimulated by darkness. So nighttime causes melatonin secretion, which signals to the brain that it’s time to go to sleep. As one can see, if a person has an irregular schedule and cannot always sleep when it’s dark, he or she could have trouble falling asleep.
Furthermore, as people get older, less melatonin is produced by the body. This could be one of the reasons why elderly people often suffer from insomnia.
In order to optimize the effects of melatonin, a person needs to keep the room as dark as possible when going to sleep.
What are the Side Effects of Melatonin?
Melatonin seems to be well tolerated overall. However, anytime a person places a substance into his or her body (even if it’s natural), there is a potential for side effects.
The following things can occur, when a person takes melatonin:
- Drowsiness during the day
- Headache
- Decreased Blood Pressure
- Decreased Body Temperature
Drowsiness is typically a result of some melatonin still remaining in the body after the person wakes up. The potential for headache is there because melatonin has been shown to constrict blood vessels in the brain, which in turn can cause headaches. A decrease in blood pressure may be possible because melatonin is believed to decrease blood flow to arms and legs.
Melatonin also appears to cause a slight decrease in body temperature. This, however, could also be related to how melatonin causes sleepiness. Studies have shown that a drop in temperature signals to the body that it’s time to sleep.
It is important not to drive or operate and machinery when feeling drowsy from melatonin, which can occur as early as 30 minutes after having taken the medication.
Melatonin has only been studied for short-term use (about two weeks). The long-term effects of melatonin are not known.
Before taking melatonin, people should first consult with their doctor. Melatonin can interfere with certain medical conditions or medications. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take melatonin. Also, melatonin should not be given to children.
Where can this Herbal Product Be Purchased?
Melatonin can be purchased as an herbal supplement in any drugstore. There are two types of products available in the US: the synthetic form and the cow-derived form. The cow-derived form is not recommended due to the potential for allergies and virus contamination. The synthetic form does not appear to have these problems associated with it.
One thing to keep in mind is that herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA. This means that manufacturers do not have to prove purity, safety or effectiveness of the product. Anyone who decides to use an herbal supplement, needs to use it with caution.
See also
Niacin and Cholesterol Treatment
Echinacea Supplements As Immune System Boosters
References:
Melatonin monograph. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Accessed October 17, 2009.
Passaro, Erasmo A. Insomnia. Emedicine. Accessed October 16, 2009.
Melatonin. Medlineplus. Accessed October 17, 2009.
A Natural Sleep Aid for A Good Night Sleep
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