Melatonin is a hormone produced in your brain by the pineal gland. It helps maintain your body's circadian rhythm, a natural clock that regulates the times when you go to sleep and wake up. Your body produces less melatonin during daylight hours and more at night in darkness. Melatonin is available in supplements which, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, may be useful in helping treat several different conditions, including depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Depression
Depression is a condition in which you feel sadness, anger, loss and frustration over an extended period of time, interfering with your everyday life. It is usually ranked in degrees of severity like mild, moderate and severe. Symptoms of depression can include either trouble sleeping or excessive sleep, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem, among others. In addition to the main types of depression, more specialized forms include post-partum depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that occurs most often in the winter months, although it may occasionally occur in spring and early summer. Symptoms of SAD include loss of interest in activities, excessive sleepiness, anxiety, loss of energy and social withdrawal. According to the Mayo Clinic, among the factors that may cause SAD are disruption of your circadian rhythm or internal body clock, a drop in the serotonin levels in your body and a disruption in the balance of melatonin in your body.
Melatonin Treatment
Melatonin is most often used to treat the Seasonal Affective Disorder form of depression, as it is thought that the imbalance of melatonin in your body may be one of the causes of SAD. Melatonin is an alternative medicine which may be used in addition to light therapy, traditional antidepressants, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes such as exercise. Melatonin supplements are available as tablets, capsules and lozenges. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there is no recommended dosage of melatonin. You should consult your doctor to find out the proper dosage for yourself and the condition you are treating.
Precautions
As with other types of supplements, there are possible side efffects and other considerations when taking melatonin. It has been known to worsen symptoms of depression in some individuals. In addition, it may interact with some medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and some blood pressure medications. It may also cause side effects such as drowsiness, stomach cramps, headache and irritability.
