Melatonin is a hormone that helps to regulate your sleep and waking cycles. Melatonin is found naturally in your body but is also available synthetically, in pill form. Some people take melatonin for its calming and sleep-inducing properties. If you're taking diuretics, they can interfere with melatonin production in your body, as well as with any melatonin you take in pill form. Knowing the effects of diuretics on melatonin can help you to prevent unwanted complications.
Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland in your brain and released into your bloodstream. The hormone is usually secreted in darkness and has a calming effect, helping the body to sleep. Melatonin helps to regulate your circadian rhythms and the sleep cycle. Melatonin also has antioxidant properties, and it protects nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Melatonin is created synthetically in laboratories and is available in pill form as a supplement. It is often taken to help induce sleep and can be effective in this role, according to MedlinePlus. People use melatonin for a variety of other reasons as well, including Alzheimer’s disease, ringing in the ears, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, bone loss or osteoporosis, a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia, epilepsy, as an anti-aging agent, for menopause and for birth control.
Considerations
Melatonin is available over-the-counter and as a supplement, and is not regulated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As a result, there are no standard guidelines for melatonin dosage and ingredients. More research needs to be done on the long-term effects and drug interactions with melatonin, but the Mayo Clinic advises not to take the supplement for longer than two months. Melatonin may cause drowsiness and you should not operate heavy machinery or drive after taking melatonin. When buying melatonin, choose synthetic varieties, as melatonin from animals can contain viruses or other contaminants.
Diuretics and Melatonin
Diuretics encourage urination and are used to treat a variety of conditions, including constipation, IBD, heart disorders and edema, characterized by accumulation of fluids in the body. Some diuretics -- such as furosemide, or Lasix -- can interfere with melatonin production, reducing the effectiveness of melatonin supplements. MedlinePlus does not list diuretics as causing complications with melatonin; however, more research must be done on the matter. If you are taking a diuretic and melatonin, talk with your doctor about possible side effects.
Effects
Melatonin can produce side effects that include drowsiness, headaches, stomach pain, dizziness, daytime sleepiness, confusion, sleepwalking and nightmares. Although melatonin does not produce a diuretic effect, if you have IBS, you may experience increased stomach pain from the melatonin. If you are taking a diuretic to lower blood pressure or alleviate a heart condition, or if you have an immune disorder, do not take melatonin without your doctor's approval. Melatonin should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment, so see your doctor if you have an ongoing problem or condition.
References
- Arthritis Today: Supplement Guide: Melatonin
- MayoClinic.com: Melatonin Side Effects: What Are The Risks?
- VItamin and Herb University: Melatonin
- MayoClinic.com: Melatonin
- MedlinePlus: Melatonin
- Journal of Clinical Pharmacology: Treatment With Beta-adrenoceptor Blockers Reduces Plasma Melatonin Concentration
- PubMed Health: Furosemide
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