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Melatonin Pills for Children

May 17, 2011 | By Tomas Linnaeus
Melatonin Pills for Children
Photo Credit child image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com

Your body releases melatonin each night to synchronize bodily rhythms and facilitate sleep onset. Many conditions, including sleep disorders, are associated with low melatonin. Over-the-counter pills can help treat these problems by increasing this hormone. According to a 2011 review in "Current Medical Research and Opinion," melatonin rarely causes side effects. Such experiments indicate that children can safely use this supplement, but you should speak with a doctor before giving your kids melatonin.

Treats Sleep Disorders

Many children have difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep. At least 25 percent of children have sleep problems, according to results of a 2005 survey published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry." Doctors remain reluctant to prescribe medications to treat these problems, as drugs can negatively affect a developing nervous system. A 2003 study in that same journal tested whether melatonin provides a viable alternative. Children with chronic insomnia received nightly doses of either melatonin or placebo for a month. Relative to placebo, melatonin shortened the time it took for the kids to fall asleep. Taking the hormone also improved overall health without causing side effects.

Identifies Seizure Activity

Epilepsy remains undiagnosed in many children. Kids often fail to comply with the demands of daytime screening procedures, according to a 2010 report in "Neuropediatrics." Melatonin has sleep-promoting and anxiety-reducing properties that should help it facilitate compliance. A clinical trial described in a 2010 issue of the "European Journal of Paediatric Neurology" looked at melatonin's ability to screen for epilepsy. The kids received the supplemental melatonin or a conventional drug during a single testing session. Melatonin revealed more seizures than chloral hydrate. It also made the children less groggy after they completed the test. These results are beneficial for detecting epilepsy, but using melatonin for other purposes could trigger unwanted seizures and sleepiness.

Reduces Postoperative Agitation

Some surgeries require inhaled anesthetics, such as the drug sevoflurane. While effective, these medications often cause side effects like feelings of delirium and agitation. According to a 2010 review in the "AANA Journal," children are particularly susceptible to these adverse events. Melatonin reduces anxiety in animals, and this anxiolytic effect should help reduce medical agitation. An investigation published in the 2011 volume of the "Journal of Anesthesia" tested this hypothesis in children undergoing stomach procedures. The kids received the exogenous melatonin or an inert treatment immediately before the operation. Relative to placebo, melatonin reduced postoperative agitation. The hormone had a success rate and a safety profile comparable other treatments known to decrease agitation.

Synchronizes Biological Rhythms

Biological timing plays an important role in daily life. Your body, for example, releases enzymes before you eat to aid digestion. These rhythms can become disrupted, and that change reduces life quality. Children often experience such disruption because they don't have the rigid schedules associated with adulthood. According to a 2008 review in "Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease," melatonin can resynchronize biological rhythms. A study published in the 2007 edition of the "Journal of Pineal Research" evaluated this possibility in kids with rhythm disorders. The children received alternating doses of melatonin or placebo for several years. Melatonin improved performance, health and sleep relative to placebo. Side effects were comparable during melatonin and placebo intake.

References

Article reviewed by Holland Hammond Last updated on: May 17, 2011

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