Melatonin is a hormone that is produced by your brain's pineal gland. It helps regulate the actions of other hormones and is important for maintaining your circadian rhythm, or your sleep patterns. Melatonin has sometimes been used on children to treat insomnia related to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Consult your physician about melatonin use for children before giving it to them.
Uses
Children's brains produce large amounts of melatonin naturally, and extra melatonin introduced to the body through supplementation may cause some side effects, including seizures, hyperactivity, agitation, behavioral changes, worsening of sleep patterns, nightmares and constipation, according to Dr. Andrew Weil. However, melatonin may be safe when used only for short periods of time. Melatonin supplementation may be an effective treatment in helping developmentally delayed children, including autistic children, with sleep problems.
Toxicity and Dosage
No clearly established recommended dose for melatonin supplements exists as some individuals appear to respond better to melatonin supplementation than others, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In children, melatonin doses should not exceed 0.3 mg per day. Higher doses, in the range of 1 to 5 mg per day, may have severe side effects in children under 15 years old, including seizures.
Research
Some research suggests that small, controlled doses of melatonin can be a safe and effective treatment of insomnia in children with ADHD. A study published in 2009 by the "Journal of Pineal Research" found that melatonin supplementation improved sleep-onset problems in 88 percent of the participants in the study. The researchers also concluded that melatonin supplementation improved behavior and mood with no apparent serious side effects. More studies into the safety and effectiveness of melatonin in children needs to be conducted.
Drug Interactions
Melatonin supplements may interfere with other drugs and medications that a child may be taking to treat other conditions. Melatonin supplements can interfere with anti-depressant medications, such as Prozac, anti-psychotic medications, blood pressure medications, beta-blockers, blood-thinning medications, some cancer drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids and immunosuppressant medications. A high intake of caffeine can suppress the natural production of melatonin in the body and can interfere with melatonin replacement therapy.
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