Melatonin: Usage, Side Effects, and Safety

What Is Melatonin?

Melatonin Trusted Source Merck Manual First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. View Source is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythms, which are biological patterns that operate on a 24-hour clock. Specifically, melatonin plays a vital role in the sleep-wake cycle.

For a healthy individual with a normal sleep-wake cycle, the body begins producing melatonin every evening around the time sun goes down. This causes a gradual increase in sleepiness. Melatonin production continues into the night, peaking about seven hours after sunset. This helps the person stay asleep through the night. In the morning, melatonin drops to undetectable levels, as exposure to light inhibits production of the sleep hormone. This helps a person feel alert upon waking.

Benefits of Melatonin for Sleep

For some people who have difficulty falling asleep, taking supplemental melatonin about 30 minutes Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source before bedtime may help. Supplementing naturally produced melatonin can reinforce circadian rhythms and signal to the body that it’s time to sleep. For this reason, melatonin supplements may be a good choice for individuals who:

• Have naturally low levels of melatonin Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source
• Temporarily struggle to fall asleep due to circumstances such as stress or jet lag 
• Take medications that interfere with sleep
• Are night owls but need to wake early 

It’s important to know that while melatonin supplements may help people fall asleep, they do not appear to be effective at helping them stay asleep—so if your are seeking a solution to frequent nighttime wakings or long periods of wakefulness in the night, melatonin may not be the best choice for you.

Melatonin for Sleep Disorders

Melatonin supplements are likely to benefit people with sleep disorders that affect their circadian rhythms. Supplemental melatonin may also benefit people with other types of sleep disorders, though results tend to be more variable and less impactful and prescription medications may be necessary.

• Non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder (N24SWD): People with N24SWD, most of whom are blind, have circadian rhythms that do not synchronize with the 24-hour cycle of day and night. Taking melatonin an hour before bedtime Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source can help align a person’s circadian clock with their environment, even in the absence of light and darkness.
• Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD): People with DSWPD, which mainly affects adolescents and young adults, aren’t able to fall asleep until long after conventional or desired bedtimes. While melatonin supplements aren’t a first-line treatment for DSWPD, they may help people with the disorder fall asleep earlier. Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source
• Insomnia: Melatonin is not typically prescribed as the sole treatment for insomnia, but it may be used alongside other therapies to help reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep at bedtime.
• Shift work disorder: Small doses of melatonin may help people who work rotating or night shifts fall asleep more easily during the day. However, some experts warn against taking melatonin for this purpose, as it can be difficult for shift workers to effectively time its administration or to predict its effects.

Melatonin for Kids

Research on the safety and efficacy of sleep aids for children is limited, so caregivers should not administer melatonin supplements to children unless a doctor has instructed them to do so. Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source

Supplemental melatonin may be appropriate for children and adolescents with particular sleep, behavioral, and developmental disorders.

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Children with ADHD appear to have an increased risk of circadian disruptions that cause DSWPD and insomnia, so they may be candidates for supplemental melatonin. Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Sleep problems are common in children with autism. Moreover, behavioral and sleep hygiene interventions that work for their typically developing peers may not be effective in this population. In such cases, melatonin may help children fall asleep and sleep for longer. Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source

Melatonin supplements are rarely the right choice for children under the age of 5, whose sleep problems tend to be behavioral in nature and can often be resolved by establishing healthy sleep habits and adjusting sleep environments. Additionally, melatonin should not be used to enhance sleep in children who don’t have sleep problems or to force them to go to bed earlier. 

Side Effects of Melatonin

While research suggests that short-term use of melatonin is safe for most adults, more studies are needed to confirm its long-term safety. Unlike some sleep aids, melatonin supplements are not believed to be habit-forming, and they have relatively mild side effects. Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source

That said, users may experience:

• Nausea or stomachaches
• Dizziness and headaches
• Intense dreams or nightmares
• Daytime tiredness
• Irritability
• Temporary feelings of depression

It is important not to drive or use machinery for at least four hours after taking melatonin. Melatonin supplements are fast-acting, but the effects of melatonin can last for several hours depending on the dose, the formulation, and the individual.

Possible Interactions

Before you begin taking melatonin supplements, make sure to talk to your doctor about potential interactions that could compromise your health. Melatonin supplements have the potential to interact with medications and are generally not recommended for people who:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have a bleeding disorder
• Experience depression
• Have seizures
• Are recipients of an organ transplant

Some medications—including birth control pills, certain serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and caffeine—might intensify the effects of melatonin supplements. Additionally, combining melatonin supplements with certain medications can reduce their effectiveness of the medications or produce unwanted side effects. 

How Much Melatonin Should I Take?

Over-the-counter supplements may contain as little as .2 milligrams or as much as 20 milligrams of melatonin. They also come in an array of formulations, including slow- and fast-release pills, gummies, dissolvable tablets, liquids, gels, creams, and patches. Given the variety of available options, it’s important to talk to a doctor about the best choice for you.

The ideal melatonin dosage for you will depend on the sleep problem you’re treating, as well as your personal characteristics and health history. For adults and adolescents, doctors usually recommend dosages in the 1 to 5 milligram range. Dosages for children may range from .2 milligrams to three milligrams. 

“More is not better when it comes to melatonin. Going above 2-3 mg likely won’t work any better than 1mg or less, but does increase one’s risk for side effects.”

Dr. Dustin Cotliar

Sleep Medicine Physician, MD

Research indicates that melatonin dosages below 1 milligram may work just as well as higher doses. Unless directed otherwise by a doctor, it is best to start with the lowest possible dose and to increase as needed. Experts recommend taking no more than 10 milligrams per 24 hour period.

A complicating factor is the fact that many melatonin supplements are mislabeled. Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source Recent studies have shown that the majority of melatonin products do not contain the advertised dosage of the sleep hormone. Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source Tests have revealed that some products have significantly less melatonin than stated on the label, while others have more than four times the advertised amount of melatonin.

How to Choose Melatonin Supplements

In the United States, melatonin is considered a dietary supplement, so the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not subject it to the same rigorous standards as pharmaceutical drugs. For this reason, melatonin users should exercise caution when considering their melatonin options.

To give yourself the best chance of getting a high quality product with accurate dosage of melatonin, try looking for a U.S. Pharmacopeia certification on the label (which ensures that the product has been vetted by an outside organization), asking your doctor or a pharmacist to suggest a trusted brand, or picking a low-dose option.

Alternatives to Melatonin

Melatonin isn’t the right choice for everyone. You may get the results you are looking for by cultivating healthy sleep habits, changing your sleeping environment, or addressing the root causes of your sleep difficulties.

• Practice healthy sleep hygiene: Committing to healthy sleep practices can help you sleep better. Try going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. Develop a relaxing bedtime routine. Exercise regularly, and avoid caffeine and alcohol in the evening.
• Avoid screens in the hours before bedtime: Phones, tablets, TVs, and other electronic devices with screens emit blue light, which inhibits melatonin production.
• Enhance your sleep environment: Make sure that your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Consider purchasing a more comfortable mattress or high quality sheets. 
• Address underlying health concerns: Many health problems can interfere with sleep. Treating conditions like chronic pain, sleep apnea, and acid reflux may help you get better sleep.
• Focus on your mental health: Stress, anxiety, and depression can all make it hard to sleep. Consider seeing a counselor, engaging in relaxation exercises, or asking for support from family and friends.
• Try cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I): If you have insomnia, you might try CBT-I, which is an effective insomnia treatment. CBT-I involves addressing thought patterns and behaviors that interfere with sleep with the help of a licensed mental health professional.