Melatonin is a supplement that is often used to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders. This part of the eMedTV site covers other possible melatonin uses, explains how the hormone affects sleep patterns, and describes side effects that may occur.
Since melatonin is a supplement and not an FDA-approved drug, many people may question its effectiveness. This eMedTV page addresses the question, "Does melatonin work?" and discusses the supplement's effectiveness for various uses.
Melatonin may be useful for treating sleep disorders, fibromyalgia, and cancer. This page from the eMedTV library explores other possible benefits of melatonin and explains whether the supplement should be used in children.
Melatonin may affect your blood sugar levels. This article from the eMedTV archives lists other possible side effects that may occur with melatonin. Safety precautions and a list of those who may not be able to take the supplement are also included.
Potential side effects of melatonin include nausea or vomiting, irritability, and headaches. This eMedTV Web page lists other side effects that could occur and explains which problems need to be reported to a healthcare provider right away.
Since there is no standard dose of melatonin, dosing guidelines can be obtained from clinical studies. As this eMedTV segment explains, in these studies, dosages ranging from 0.3 to 5 mg once daily seemed to work well for most uses.
Alcohol, warfarin, and barbiturates may cause drug interactions with melatonin. This eMedTV article lists other medicines that may cause melatonin drug interactions and explains what may happen if these potentially negative interactions occur.
Weakness, speech problems, and dizziness are some of the potential effects of an overdose with melatonin. This eMedTV article lists other symptoms that may result from an overdose and describes the treatment options that are available.
As with most supplements, it is not known if melatonin is safe for use during pregnancy. This eMedTV resource contains more information on this topic, and explains how the supplement may affect other hormones in the body.
It may be a good idea to avoid melatonin while breastfeeding. As this eMedTV page explains, women who are nursing should avoid the supplement until more information is available on melatonin and breastfeeding, including any safety issues.
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