Is melatonin secure for youths? Specialists warn of overdose threat

Melatonin is a pure sleep hormone that’s made within the mind and helps us regulate our sleep timing. Though some folks could use further melatonin to assist enhance their sleep, an excessive amount of of it will probably result in an overdose. Signs of a melatonin overdose can embody headache, dizziness and irritability, based on the AASM. 

In keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the annual variety of melatonin ingestions in kids that have been reported to poison management facilities elevated by 530% between 2012 and 2021 with a complete of 260,435 ingestions reported. Melatonin was additionally probably the most often ingested substance amongst kids in 2020.

“Whereas melatonin may be helpful in treating sure sleep-wake problems, like jet lag, there’s a lot much less proof it will probably assist wholesome kids or adults go to sleep sooner,” says Dr. M. Adeel Rishi, vice chair of the AASM Public Security Committee, in a press launch. “As an alternative of turning to melatonin, dad and mom ought to work on encouraging their kids to develop good sleep habits, like setting a daily bedtime and wake time, having a bedtime routine, and limiting display time as bedtime approaches.”

As a result of melatonin is taken into account a dietary complement, it doesn’t obtain the identical oversight from the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) that over-the-counter and prescription medicines obtain. As such, melatonin content material can differ broadly amongst dietary supplements. In keeping with one research, probably the most important variability in melatonin content material was present in chewable tablets, which is the shape kids are almost certainly to make use of.

“The supply of melatonin as gummies or chewable tablets makes it extra tempting to offer to kids and extra probably for them to overdose,” says Rishi. “Mother and father ought to speak instantly with their baby’s well being care skilled earlier than giving their kids melatonin merchandise. Typically, behavioral interventions aside from remedy are profitable in addressing insomnia in kids.”

To encourage secure use of melatonin in kids and youths, the AASM recommends retaining it out of attain of kids; consulting with a pediatric well being care skilled earlier than beginning use; adhering to the advisable dosage and timing; and choosing a product with the USP Verified Mark to permit for safer use.