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