Do Melatonin Supplements Have Side Effects? What are they used for? Here’s the answer!

Melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone, is naturally produced by our pineal gland located in our brain. It is responsible for our sleep and wake cycle and other related things. Melatonin supplements are used when the natural secretion is reduced or declines on its own.

Being able to sleep well is an important aspect of everyone’s lives. We begin to feel sleepy when the melatonin secretion is more and the sleep goes away when the production is less. Many people don’t have a good production of melatonin and that’s the reason they are prescribed melatonin supplements.

Melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone, is naturally produced by our pineal gland located in our brain. It is responsible for our sleep and wake cycle and other related things. Melatonin supplements are used when the natural secretion is reduced or declines on its own.

Being able to sleep well is an important aspect of everyone’s lives. We begin to feel sleepy when the melatonin secretion is more and the sleep goes away when the production is less. Many people don’t have a good production of melatonin and that’s the reason they are prescribed melatonin supplements.

What Are Melatonin Supplements Used For?

Melatonin supplements are prescribed mostly when you can produce the hormone naturally. It is also given to ease symptoms of other health conditions. According to the doctors it’s not safe for children to take melatonin supplements because it can have side effects.

Let’s see in what conditions melatonin supplements are prescribed:

A. Sleep disorder

Melatonin supplements are prescribed to people who are suffering from some kind of sleep disorder because their melatonin levels run really low.

B. Headaches

According to researchers, melatonin supplements have been proven to provide relief to people with a headache. Especially in case of migraine and cluster headaches.

C. Cancer

Melatonin is prescribed to people who are undergoing treatment for any kind of cancer. It is especially taken while going through chemotherapy.

D. Alzheimer’s disease

Melatonin supplements are said to reduce the cognitive decline in people dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.
What are the side effects of melatonin supplements?

There are no major side effects of taking melatonin supplements. In Fact some studies show that even in children melatonin has only manageable side effects.

However, while you are taking the melatonin supplements you might have some physical side effects:

You will have dizziness because he dosage is usually high
Might have some beach ache for a while
Nausea is a common side effect of melatonin
Since it is the sleep hormone you will have drowsiness
Vomiting
Some patients also complain to stomach cramps while taking melatonin supplements
Irritability

These are some of the side effects of melatonin. All of the above are manageable and mostly do not cause much harm. Having said that, you should never take melatonin without a doctor’s prescription because unnecessary intake can cause melatonin overdose.

Some serious side effects of melatonin are:

When melatonin supplements are taken with some sleeping pills it can cause severe side effects like memory loss and it can also have a negative impact on muscle performance.
For people who find it difficult to keep their body warm, melatonin can reduce their body temperature even further. Melatonin supplements reduce body temperature.
Melatonin affects your blood. It makes your blood thinner so do not consume it without your doctor’s knowledge.
How to increase melatonin naturally to reduce the side effects for melatonin supplements?

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced by our own body. Therefore there are high chances that we will improve the level of production of melatonin in our body. By doing so we are reducing the risk of having any side effects from melatonin supplements.

Here’s how you can do it:

Decrease the use of blue light emitting devices like phone, tv and laptops, especially an hour before your bedtime.
Make sure you do not have lights other than natural entering your room at night
Expose yourself to natural light especially in the morning
Try to reduce stress
Food you can eat which have natural melatonin in them:

Tomatoes
Almonds
Walnuts
Strawberries
Banana
Milk from the cow
Oranges
Olives
Rice
Barley, etc.

These have a high content of melatonin in them and by consuming them on a regular basis you can naturally increase the level of melatonin. And when you have enough melatonin you don’t need to take supplements, hence no side effects of melatonin.

Endnote

Like I said before there are no known severe side effects of melatonin supplements. But experts do think that there is a need for more detailed research on the long-term effects of melatonin supplements and their side effects.

Melatonin supplements are safe to take but you should take care that you take them in correct doses. If you are buying the cover-of-the-counter melatonin supplement make sure the company is trustworthy and do follow the directions mentioned on the package so that you don’t have any side effects of melatonin supplement.

I hope this blog helps you get all the information on the side effects of melatonin supplements. If you’d like to reach out to a professional, you can contact us at info@calmsage.com or DM us on social media for more information. We’re always here to help you!

Thanks for reading

Take care and stay safe!

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Relax Yourself: Here’re Natural Home Remedies For Good Sleep
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The post Do Melatonin Supplements Have Side Effects? What are they used for? Here’s the answer! appeared first on Calm Sage – Your Guide to Mental and Emotional Well-being.

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