Warnings & Recalls for Melatonin
FDA News and Melatonin
In August of 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned the public about
unsafe melatonin products such as melatonin-laced brownies which are used to induce sleepiness. The FDA states that these products are hazardous particularly due of their appeal to children. Melatonin may be
unsafe for children and they should not use melatonin unless instructed to do so by their doctor. Melatonin
is not approved by the FDA. You should not take melatonin unless you feel that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Melatonin and Pregnancy
The effect of melatonin on the fetus if taken during pregnancy has not been thoroughly examined. If you are
pregnant or
planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the
risks and benefits of using melatonin. It is not known if melatonin may pass through breast-milk or harm a nursing baby.
Do not take melatonin unless your doctor has confirmed that you may safely use it as a treatment.
General Warnings
Be sure to let your doctor know about your
medical condition and ask your doctor if melatonin is safe for your use.Melatonin may
interact with certain medications. Tell your healthcare provider about
all treatments you are using before taking melatonin, especially:
- sedatives and depressants
- birth control pills
- caffeine and caffeine supplements
- diabetes medicines
- treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- immunosuppressants (medicines that reduce the ability of the immune system)
- anticoagulants or other drugs for blood clot reduction
- medications for blood pressure disorders (high or low blood pressure)
Melatonin Treatment and Use
Melatonin is a generic medicine commonly used for treating sleep disorders and fighting free-radical damage. Melatonin has been used for a variety of treatments ranging from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to osteoperosis. Melatonin has been shown to benefit patients by:
- preventing cancer
- increasing the function of the immune system
- acting as a calming agent which may be given before anesthesia
- treating mental disorders or memory loss
- reducing side effects of withdrawal from smoking
- protecting against sunburn or skin damage
- increasing life-span
Melatonin may treat symptoms of insomnia or difficulty sleeping caused by jet-lag, delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), and insomnia in children caused by other disorders such as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation.
Melatonin has not been examined or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and should be used with caution.
What Is Melatonin and How Does it Work?
Melatonin is a naturally occurring substance in the body produced by the pineal gland in the brain during darkness. Melatonin helps balance chemicals in the brain and induce a regular sleep cycle. When high amounts of melatonin are produced in the body, feelings of sleepiness or tiredness occur. Patients with low amounts of melatonin may have difficulty sleeping and may typically feel more awake.
How to Use Melatonin
Melatonin comes in the form of tablets to be swallowed, placed inside the cheek or under the tongue. Read all packaged instructions to properly take melatonin. Dosage amounts vary according to the medical condition of the patient and treatment type. Melatonin is typically recommended to be taken:
- as .3 to 5 mg doses to be taken before going to bed for treating insomnia or jet lag
- in one 10 mg dose to be taken in the evening to prevent cluster headaches
- in a lower dose of .3 mg for reducing symptoms of a withdrawal
- in 20 mg doses each day in the evening for cancer treatments or as a cancer prevention method
Ask your doctor which dosage and treatment is right for you. Do not use more melatonin than recommended by your doctor.
