What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that is made naturally by the body in response to a lack of sunlight. It is the main hormone that is responsible for regulating your circadian rhythm. When melatonin rises in the evenings, it causes you to feel sleepy, which encourages you to go to bed. Melatonin reaches its peak levels in the body between 11 pm and 3 am each night.
Melatonin naturally decreases with age. Being exposed to artificial lighting can also disrupt melatonin production, which is why experts recommend that you either turn off your technology an hour or two before bed or use blue-light-blocking glasses and filters to minimize your exposure to artificial light.
What health conditions can melatonin be used to treat?
Melatonin supplementation is used to treat a wide range of health conditions, including
- Delayed sleep-wake phase sleep disorder
- Insomnia
- Jet lag
- Sleep disorders caused by dysregulation of the circadian rhythm in adults and children
- Shift work-related sleep disorders
Generally, melatonin supplements are safe to use for short-term treatment of the above health conditions. However, it can cause negative side effects, such as excess sleepiness, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. It's often more effective when used alongside other types of treatment, such as therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Speak to your doctor before taking melatonin supplements
Before you start taking a melatonin supplement, you must speak to your doctor. This type of supplement can interact with other medications, causing them to be less or more potent. Melatonin supplements can interact with:
- Anticoagulant medications
- Anticonvulsant medications
- Anti-seizure medications
- Anxiolytic drugs
- Contraceptive pills
- Hypertensive drugs
- Immunosuppressants
- Metformin