Melatonin Side Effects

"Life force may be the least understood force on this Earth."

What You Should Know

Like any other drug, melatonin side effects are something you should know if you decide to take the drug. I know that I discuss using melatonin to help with sleep problems but just because it's natural does not mean it is not dangerous.

This page discusses the side effects of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone created by the body (more specifically the pineal gland) to control the sleep-wake cycle and also helps control the release of female reproductive hormones, which determines the timing of your period and the onset of menopause.

Melatonin level in the body rises as the evening approaches. Melatonin production is somewhat affected by the amount of sunlight you take in. Some graveyard shift employees have sleep issues due to their melatonin levels.

Most over the counter melatonin supplements are synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan (which is found in turkey meat).

What the research says about Melatonin

• Insomnia - Research conducted on older adults found that taking melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime will decrease the amount of time required to fall asleep. These are all short term studies. There are limited amount of research pertaining to the long term effect of melatonin or how it compares to other insomnia medication.
• Jet Lag - Research studies found that taking melatonin on the day of travel and continued for several days will help reduce the time required to re-establish a normal sleep pattern in a new location. The studies indicate that the best effects seem to occur when traveling eastward and when crossing more than four time zones. However, these studies can not accurately assess the symptoms of jet lag so these studies are flawed.
• Sleeping Faster - Other studies indicate that healthy people taking melatonin before bedtime will feel sleepy and fall asleep faster. However it is unknown whether is will help people stay asleep.
• Anti-oxidant - Melatonin has been described as a great anti-oxidant, even better than blueberries. Anti-oxidants are needed to stabilize free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are "excited" and tend to release large amounts of energy which can cause damage to other cells. Melatonin, unlike other anti-oxidants, can penetrate any cell in any part of the body. Most importantly, melatonin can penetrate the mitochondria which is the cell's power plant that produces energy. Melatonin appears to protect the mitochondria from free radical damage.

Melatonin Side Effects

• One melatonin side effect found that it acts as a contraceptive in high doses. So if you are trying to get pregnant you might want to avoid taking melatonin for any reason.
• According to the Mayo Clinic website, some melatonin side effects can include daytime sleepiness, dizziness, headaches and abdominal discomfort. To prevent daytime sleepiness, do not take it during the day.
• Other research suggests that melatonin reacts with certain drugs. You need to consult with your doctor if you choose to take this hormone.

In my personal experience with melatonin I have not experienced any of the melatonin side effects listed except for better sleep.

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