Melatonin is a hormone that is secreted by the brain to help you sleep. The Mayo Clinic reports that the hormone is suppressed during daylight hours and increases production in darkness to preserve the body's traditional sleep/wake cycle. The hormone is readily available over-the-counter and has been shown to be useful in treating some sleep disorders including insomnia and jet lag according to the Society of Light Therapy and Biological Rhythms. In general the experts at that website report that healthy people produce 5 to 25 mcg per day, a number that decreases as people age. Melatonin is also used to treat some cancers, although the Mayo Clinic reports the results of any studies for that use as inconclusive. Discuss side effects with your physician before using melatonin to treat any sleep disorder, especially in children where little research on safety has been done.
Purity
Look for melatonin made from synthetic materials and not made from animal hormones. Physician Brent A. Bauer at the Mayo Clinic warns that supplements made from animal parts may also contain viruses and diseases, while synthetic hormones don't run that risk.
Major Side Effects
Drug interaction and daytime sleepiness are two major dangers of melatonin that must be discussed with your physician. Melatonin may change the efficacy of birth control pills, anti-coagulants (such as warfarin), diabetes medications and immunosuppressants, according to Dr. Bauer.
Nightmares and sleepwalking are also cited as uncomfortable side effects of taking melatonin.
In addition, the hormone may cause sleepiness at inappropriate times and should not be used by people who drive for a living or who operate dangerous machinery.
Glaucoma
Conflicting reports about the danger of using melatonin when you have glaucoma suggest only using it under the strict supervision of a health care professional. Melatonin sometimes appears to raise the interocular pressure of the eye causing glaucoma and other eye disorders. In some conflicting preliminary studies referenced by an article at Wellness.com, melatonin may actually reduce that pressure.
Long-Term Use
The long-term use of melatonin has not been studied, but many health care professionals suggest it only be used for short-term relief from sleep problems. An article at Talkaboutsleep.com reports most professionals recommending its use for two or fewer weeks as a treatment for a short-term problem, such as jet lag or occasional insomnia due to anxiety. Deeper sleep problems need to be assessed by a sleep expert or lab.
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