Melatonin

ALTERNATIVE DOCTOR, LLC

Melatonin

Melatonin is an important hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. Since its identification in 1958, studies have shown that melatonin actually regulates many of the other hormones in the body. These hormones control our circadian rhythm, the 24-hour patterns that our bodies respond to every day. The release of melatonin is stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light, so it helps control when we sleep and when we wake. Melatonin also controls the timing and release of female reproductive hormones, affecting menstrual cycles, menarche, and menopause. Overall levels of melatonin in the body also respond to the process of aging. Children have the highest levels of nocturnal melatonin; as adults age, their nocturnal melatonin levels get lower and lower, which means they go to sleep and wake up earlier, and may suffer from disrupted sleep patterns.

Uses

	Jet lag. Melatonin is used to restore sleeping patterns and fatigue caused by cross time-zone travel.
	Insomnia. Melatonin can restore more regular sleep patterns in those who suffer from insomnia as a result of low melatonin levels (that is, older people and some children with sleep disorders that may be caused by autism, epilepsy, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy).
	Cancer. Melatonin can help prevent and treat some cancers, particularly those that are related to hormones (for example, breast cancer, prostate cancer) and non–small cell lung cancer. It also greatly increases the effectiveness and lowers the side effects of some cancer drugs (for example, interferon and interleukin 2).
	Depression. Melatonin may be beneficial in treating depression related to low melatonin levels (for example, seasonal affective disorder)
	Preliminary studies show melatonin may be useful in treating multiple sclerosis, coronary heart disease, epilepsy, and post-menopausal osteoporosis; and in preventing sudden infant death syndrome.

Dietary Sources

N/A

Other Forms

Melatonin is available as tablets, capsules, and sublingual tablets.

How to Take It

There is no official dosage range for melatonin supplements. Different people will be more sensitive or less sensitive to melatonin. For those especially sensitive to it, lower dosages may work as effectively as the standard amount, while taking the standard amount or higher dosage could cause anxiety and irritability.

To treat insomnia, one dose of 3 mg an hour before bedtime is usually effective, although dosages as low as 0.1 to 0.3 mg may improve sleep for some people. If 3 mg a night is not effective after three days, try 6 mg one hour before bedtime. An individually effective dose should produce restful sleep with no daytime irritability or fatigue. For treatment of jet lag, take 5 mg of melatonin one hour before bedtime upon arrival at your destination, and take it for the first five days. Dosages for anticancer treatment may be much higher (10 to 50 mg per day). Do not take melatonin supplements long term without consulting your health care provider.

Precautions

There are no known serious side effects to supervised melatonin use. Lack of sleep and insufficient exposure to darkness may suppress your body's natural production of melatonin. Some people may experience vivid dreams or nightmares when they take melatonin. Overuse or incorrect use of melatonin could disrupt circadian rhythms. Melatonin can cause drowsiness if taken during the day. If you experience morning drowsiness after taking melatonin at night, take less of it.

It may not be good for you to take melatonin if you have an autoimmune disorder, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, or an immune system cancer, such as lymphoma or leukemia. If you are taking melatonin for depression, make sure you do so under your health care provider's care and advice. In some cases, melatonin can actually worsen the symptoms of depression instead of making them better.

If you take corticosteroids for anti-inflammatory or immune suppressive purposes (for example, you have had a transplant), use melatonin cautiously, and always under the supervision of your health care provider. Melatonin could interfere with fertility. Do not take it if you are pregnant or nursing.

Possible Interactions

Chronic administration of beta-blockers (a class of medications used for the treatment of high blood pressure) may reduce the production of melatonin by the body. However, this effect has not been shown to affect sleep patterns (melatonin helps to regulate the body’s sleep cycles).

Melatonin may reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure medications like methoxamine and clonidine. Consult with your healthcare provider before using melatonin if you take these medications.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen may reduce the levels of melatonin in the blood. Reduced melatonin levels could alter sleep patterns; consult your health care provider before taking melatonin supplements if you are taking these medications.

Melatonin supplementation may increase the adverse side effects of methamphetamine. Talk to your health care provider before using melatonin while you are taking this medication.

Supporting Research

Atkins R. Dr. Atkin's Vita-Nutrient Solution. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. 1998.

Balch J and Balch P. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group; 1997.

Gibb JW, Bush L, Hanson GR. Exacerbation of methamphetamine-induced neurochemical deficits by melatonin. J Pharmacol and Exp Ther. 1997;283:630-635.

Lissoni, P, Vigore L, Rescaldani R, et al. Neuroimmunotherapy with low-dose subcutaneous interleukin-2 plus melatonin in AIDS patients with CD4 cell number below 200/mm3: a biological phase-II study. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 1995;9:155–158.

MacIntosh A. Melatonin: clinical monograph. Q Rev Nat Med. 1996; 47–60.

Mindell E and Hopkins V. Prescription Alternatives. New Canaan, Conn: Keats Publishing, Inc.; 1998.

Murphy P, Myers B, Badia P. NSAIDs suppress human melatonin levels. Am J Nat Med. 1997; iv: 25.

Murray, M. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin, Calif: Prima Publishing; 1996.

Petrie K, Conaglen JV, Thompson L, Chamberlain K. Effect of melatonin on jet lag after long haul flights. BMJ. 1989;298:705–707.

Rommel T, Demisch L. Influence of chronic beta-adrenoreceptor blocker treatment on melatonin secretion and sleep quality in patients with essential hypertension. J Neural Transm Gen Sect. 1994;95:39-48.

Rosenfeld, I. Dr. Rosenfeld's Guide to Alternative Medicine. New York, NY: Random House; 1996.

Tzischinsky O, Lavie P. Melatonin possesses time-dependent hypnotic effects. Sleep. 1994;17:638–645.

Weekley LB. Melatonin-induced relaxation of rat aorta: Interaction with adrenergic agonists. J Pineal Res. 1991;11:28-34.

Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ, Morabito C, Piotrovska VR, Lynch HJ. Effects of low oral doses of melatonin, given 2-4 hours before habitual bedtime, on sleep in normal young humans. Sleep. 1996;19:423–431.

Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ, Lynch HJ, et al. Sleep-inducing effects of low doses of melatonin ingested in the evening. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1995; 57:552–558.

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein