| Melatonin is the hormone that regulates | | | | Melatonin while others need a much |
| sleep. Produced by the Pineal Gland, | | | | higher dose. The best approach for any |
| this hormone controls the body's | | | | condition is to begin with very low |
| circadian rhythm, the internal clock | | | | doses and slowly add more until you get |
| that tells us when to fall asleep and | | | | the effect that you are seeking. |
| when to wake up. | | | | The starting dose of Melatonin in |
| Melatonin is also a very powerful | | | | children is about 0.3 mg/day or less. |
| antioxidant. In one study, melatonin was | | | | Although current research suggests that |
| 60 times more effective than Vitamin C | | | | even doses as high as 10 mg are |
| or water-soluble Vitamin E in protecting | | | | perfectly safe, it is best to proceed |
| DNA from damage. Preliminary evidence | | | | with caution. |
| suggests that it may help strengthen the | | | | In adults, 3 mg is usually a safe |
| immune system. | | | | starting dose and you can increase it or |
| There are numerous claims and theories | | | | decrease it as you see fit. |
| concerning all the things that melatonin | | | | Availability |
| may do and as a result it has become one | | | | Melatonin is readily available in most |
| of the popular life extension and life | | | | health food stores in the United States |
| enhancing supplements that are currently | | | | and it is very cheap. In Europe it is a |
| available on the market today. | | | | controlled substance. Most Europeans who |
| Uses | | | | wish to use Melatonin find it cheaper |
| The most accepted function of Melatonin | | | | and easier to have it shipped from the |
| is it role in sleep regulation. | | | | US. |
| Melatonin supplements help induce sleep | | | | Adverse Effects |
| in people with disrupted circadian | | | | Melatonin is one of the least toxic |
| rhythms. Melatonin is significantly more | | | | substances known. In one extensive |
| effective in decreasing the amount of | | | | clinical trial, a high dose of 75 |
| time required to fall asleep, increasing | | | | milligrams of melatonin per day was |
| the number of sleeping hours, and | | | | given to 1400 women in the Netherlands |
| boosting daytime alertness. | | | | for up to four years with no ill |
| Melatonin is purported to be one of | | | | effects. |
| those miracle substances that has a hand | | | | The only consistent side effect of high |
| in everything. This may be due to the | | | | doses has been drowsiness and a slower |
| fact that during the height of the | | | | reaction time. |
| antioxidant craze, Melatonin was found | | | | Other common complaints include: |
| to be a more powerful and more universal | | | | Vivid dreams or nightmares |
| antioxidant than both vitamin C and | | | | Stomach cramps |
| vitamin E. Melatonin is actively | | | | Dizziness |
| involved in regulating a numerous health | | | | Headache |
| conditions. | | | | Irritability |
| Here is a partial list: | | | | Decreased libido |
| Insomnia | | | | Breast enlargement in men |
| Osteoporosis | | | | Decreased sperm count. |
| Menopause | | | | These side effects were in healthy |
| Depression | | | | people. We don't yet understand what |
| Eating Disorders | | | | effect Melatonin will have in people |
| Breast Cancer | | | | suffering from various disorders. |
| Prostate Cancer | | | | Possible Drug Interactions |
| Cancer-related Weight | | | | Melatonin may interact or interfere with |
| Loss Sarcoidosis | | | | other drugs. |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | | | | These include: |
| Epilepsy | | | | Antidepressant Medications |
| Sunburn | | | | Antipsychotic Medications: many of these |
| Viral Encephalitis | | | | medications are now being used in |
| Heart Disease | | | | treating children with ADHD and Bipolar |
| Since a lot of evidence for many of | | | | disorder |
| these claims is rather light and since I | | | | Benzodiazepines |
| am not trying to sell you melatonin | | | | Blood Pressure Medications |
| supplements, I am going to focus only on | | | | Blood-thinning Medications |
| its role in sleep enhancement. | | | | Anticoagulants |
| Insomnia | | | | Interleukin-2 |
| As many parents realize, drugs like | | | | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs |
| Ritalin are not without side effects. | | | | (NSAIDs) |
| One of the major complaints that parents | | | | Steroids |
| have is that their children who take | | | | Immunosuppressant Medications |
| Ritalin can't fall asleep at night. Many | | | | Tamoxifen |
| parents report that their children, who | | | | If your child is taking any of these |
| may be only five or six years old, are | | | | things, you should consult with his |
| wide awake until 11 pm or later. | | | | doctor before giving Melatonin. |
| Melatonin may be able to help these | | | | Also, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can |
| children. Since it is the primary | | | | all diminish levels of melatonin in the |
| chemical in the body that helps to | | | | body while cocaine and amphetamines may |
| induce sleep, children who suffer from | | | | increase melatonin production. |
| insomnia often find that Melatonin | | | | Conclusion |
| restores their normal sleep cycle and | | | | Often children with ADHD have a great |
| helps them to be more awake and alert | | | | deal of difficulty falling asleep. This |
| during the day. | | | | can be due to the medications that they |
| How to Take It | | | | are taking or just be one component in |
| There are currently no guidelines as to | | | | the spectrum of their problems. When |
| how to take Melatonin. Dosage seems to | | | | used properly, melatonin may be a safe |
| be a very personal thing. Some people | | | | and effective way to handle sleep |
| are very sensitive to small doses of | | | | problems in ADHD children. |