Introduction:
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the body. When this hormone is excessively taken through supplementation, it affects sleep-wake cycles and has other side effects. This hormone is responsible for having good sleep. This can be used to treat sleep disturbances by means of dietary supplements. If these dietary supplements are taken for long periods, melatonin overdose may develop.
What Is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced in the body by the pineal gland, which is situated in the brain. This hormone helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, also called circadian rhythm. It helps to be awake during the daytime and sleep at night.
Melatonin acts by inhibiting the master clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain. The master clock gets activated by light during the daytime, and melatonin is inhibited during the night. The brain secretes about 10 to 80 µg of melatonin every day at night times. Its release starts when darkness starts (before 2 hours of sleep). Its levels get to peak in the middle of the night.
What Is Melatonin Overdose?
Melatonin overdose may be caused by excessive intake of dietary melatonin supplements. Its overdose is difficult to explain as there is no standard safe dosage for everyone. This is because the dosage of melatonin that causes overdose varies from one to another. Some individuals are found to be more sensitive than others to the effects of melatonin. Melatonin in excess amounts may react with chemicals in the body to cause other symptoms.
Some individuals may be more sensitive to the effects of melatonin. The effects caused in some may not be the same as others. Melatonin should not be given to children unless prescribed by the doctor. This is due to the effect of seizure caused by melatonin at 1-5 milligrams among children. It may also cause other complications among young children.
According to the studies, the standard dosage of melatonin that can be given to adults is 1 to 10 mg. There is no particular dosage that can be given safely. The dosage of 30 mg or more of melatonin is considered harmful for adults.
Melatonin supplements are mainly used for sleep problems. Hence, the dosage should be low initially and can be slowly increased to achieve encouraging results. A safe melatonin dosage is considered the lowest dose at which an individual may fall asleep and does not cause any side effects. Generally, a dose between 0.2 and 5 mg is considered a safe starting dosage for adults. A safe dose is also based on body weight, age, and sensitivity to the supplement.
It may show a few adverse effects like fatigue, allergic reactions, changes in mood, cognitive performance, blood pressure, and heart rate.
What Are the Symptoms of Melatonin Overdose?
Melatonin overdose may cause the opposite effect of what it is intended to do. It can make an individual feel hard to fall asleep. This effect is due to the disruption of circadian rhythms that is responsible for the act of sleep. It may also cause sleepiness during the daytime and also cause nightmares or vivid dreams at night.
Other symptoms include
-
Nausea.
-
Feeling dizziness.
-
Headaches.
-
Anxiety or feeling of irritation.
-
Pain in joints.
-
Feeling drowsy.
-
Worsen the condition called alopecia areata (autoimmune disorder causing hair loss).
For some individuals, melatonin overdose may affect the blood pressure. Hence, before taking melatonin supplements, an individual must inform the doctor regarding the medications being taken and discuss with a doctor.
It may affect the cardiovascular, dermatologic, and central nervous system. It may also bring about depression, particularly those who are predisposed to depression and those who are already suffering.
Elderly people generally have lower levels of melatonin. Hence, they are more sensitive to the overdose of melatonin. These must be discussed with a doctor before taking melatonin supplements, and they should generally start with a very low dose of melatonin.
If melatonin is used for long periods, it may affect the reproductive system. It may inhibit the reproductive hormones.
What Are the Interactions of Medications With Melatonin?
Melatonin affects the sleep-wake cycle.
-
It should not be taken with caffeine or alcohol as they may affect sleep and cause difficulty falling asleep.
-
Since melatonin affects blood pressure, those taking medications for blood pressure must discuss it with a doctor before taking melatonin supplementation. Medications used for maintaining blood pressure may decrease the levels of melatonin hormones in the body.
-
Medications used for birth control may increase the levels of melatonin. Melatonin, along with these medications, may cause an overdose of melatonin.
-
Melatonin, when taken with immunosuppressors and blood thinners, may cause a risk of excessive bleeding.
How to Treat Melatonin Overdose?
Side effects do exist with melatonin overdose, but serious side effects are rare. Treatment of overdose depends on the severity of the symptoms.
An individual taking melatonin should consult a doctor if one experiences:
-
High blood pressure.
-
Shortness of breath.
-
Chest pain.
In an emergency, an individual should first be treated to stabilize the condition with additional medical interventions. The best treatment is to reduce or completely stop the intake of melatonin. A doctor may help these individuals with alternatives to fall asleep.
Melatonin might help fall asleep, but it cannot be tolerated well, even at lower doses. It should only be given to some. If insomnia is present, then seek help from a sleep specialist. Some lifestyle modifications like avoiding caffeine and alcohol and changing bedtime may help solve the problem. As such, there are numerous medical problems related to melatonin overdose, but it should be treated carefully.
Conclusion:
Melatonin is a hormone secreted naturally in the body and is responsible for the sleep-wake cycle. It helps to regulate the circadian rhythm. It can be taken as a supplement to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. If it is taken in low doses, it is safe and effective. If taken in excess, it may lead to melatonin overdose.
Melatonin overdose may exhibit adverse effects and long-term effects as well. Hence, it is important to know about melatonin and its overdose, symptoms, and treatment. Knowing about the condition helps identify the condition early. Early diagnosis leads to effective treatment. This, in turn, helps achieve good quality of life.
