Melatonin is a hormone that your body makes naturally and is responsible for several vital functions, primarily in regulating sleep cycles. People who have hyperactivity might also have sleep problems and could benefit from taking a synthetic melatonin supplement. Before taking melatonin, consult your doctor to determine the correct dosage and discuss the potential health risks or drug interactions.
Benefits
Taking melatonin supplements might also help in treating sleep problems in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Unfortunately, melatonin doesn't appear to treat any of the other symptoms related to ADHD. No widely accepted scientific evidence supports the use of melatonin for treating any medical condition, however.
Medical Research
Only two notable medical studies have been performed on the use of melatonin supplements in people with ADHD. One of the studies examined melatonin supplementation in children and adolescents with sleep problems related to ADHD, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In this study, melatonin appeared to improve sleep and treat initial insomnia in children with ADHD, according to a 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Published in the same medical journal in 2007, the second study discovered that taking melatonin helped improve sleep but failed to treat any behavioral symptoms of ADHD.
Function
The pineal gland in your brain produces melatonin, which is a natural hormone that appears to have antioxidant actions, as well as to regulate certain bodily functions and your sleep-wake cycle called the circadian rhythm, the Mayo Clinic explains. Levels of melatonin in your body fluctuate throughout the day and night, with the highest concentrations typically occurring in the evening or before you go to sleep.
Dangers
While taking melatonin, you might experience side effects like sleepwalking, nightmares, confusion, balance problems, mood swings, hallucinations, daytime drowsiness and infections, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most of these side effects are rare, however. Because melatonin is a hormone, supplementation might affect other hormones in your body. For example, taking melatonin might affect testosterone and estrogen levels in men, causing reduced sperm motility, as well as luteinizing hormone in women, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Due to these hormonal effects, you shouldn't take melatonin while you're trying to become pregnant or during pregnancy. Melatonin might cause negative interactions with certain medications as well. You should avoid taking melatonin if you're also taking antidepressant, antipsychotic, antihypertensive, anticoagulants, antiplatelet or immunosuppressant medications, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Melatonin might also interfere with chemotherapy drugs like tamoxifen and interleukin-2, steroids, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Other Uses
Melatonin is primarily used to help treat sleep problems like insomnia and jet lag. In addition to sleep problems, melatonin might also have the potential to help prevent or treat prostate and breast cancers, irritable bowel syndrome, and seizure disorders like epilepsy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Applied topically, melatonin creams, ointments or gels could possibly help in treating sunburn or hair loss or thinning in women. You might also take melatonin supplements to help ease cluster headaches, chronic indigestion, anxiety prior to surgery or seasonal affective disorder, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Other potential uses of melatonin include treating fibromyalgia and tardive dyskinesia, preventing heart disease, and helping with smoking cessation. Talk with your physician before using melatonin for any medicinal purpose.
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