| Overview | | | | about 0.3 mg/day or less. Although current research |
| Melatonin is a natural hormone, which is produced and | | | | suggests that even doses as high as 10 mg are |
| secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin plays an | | | | perfectly safe, it is best to proceed with caution.In |
| important role in the regulation of many hormones in | | | | adults, 3 mg is usually a safe starting dose and you |
| the body. Among its key roles, melatonin controls the | | | | can increase it or decrease it as you see fit.Availability |
| body's circadian rhythm, an internal 24-hour | | | | Melatonin is readily available in most health food |
| time-keeping system that controls when we fall asleep | | | | stores in the United States and it is very cheap. In |
| and when we wake up.Melatonin is also a very | | | | Europe it is a controlled substance. Most Europeans |
| powerful antioxidant. In one study, melatonin was 60 | | | | who wish to use Melatonin find it cheaper and easier |
| times more effective than Vitamin C or water-soluble | | | | to have it shipped from the US.Adverse Effects |
| Vitamin E in protecting DNA from damage. Preliminary | | | | Melatonin is one of the least toxic substances known. |
| evidence suggests that it may help strengthen the | | | | In one extensive clinical trial, a high dose of 75 |
| immune system.There are numerous claims and | | | | milligrams of melatonin per day was given to 1400 |
| theories concerning all the things that melatonin may do | | | | women in the Netherlands for up to four years with no |
| and as a result it has become one of the popular life | | | | ill effects.The only consistent side effect of high doses |
| extension and life enhancing supplements that are | | | | has been drowsiness and a slower reaction time.Other |
| currently available on the market today.Uses | | | | common complaints include: |
| The most accepted function of Melatonin is it role in | | | | |
| sleep regulation. Melatonin supplements help induce | | | | Vivid dreams or nightmares |
| sleep in people with disrupted circadian rhythms. | | | | Stomach cramps |
| Melatonin is significantly more effective in decreasing | | | | Dizziness |
| the amount of time required to fall asleep, increasing | | | | Headache |
| the number of sleeping hours, and boosting daytime | | | | Irritability |
| alertness.Melatonin is purported to be one of those | | | | Decreased libido |
| miracle substances that has a hand in everything. This | | | | Breast enlargement in men |
| may be due to the fact that during the height of the | | | | Decreased sperm countThese side effects were in |
| antioxidant craze, Melatonin was found to be a more | | | | healthy people. We also don't know how melatonin |
| powerful and more universal antioxidant than both | | | | may affect people suffering from disease.Possible |
| vitamin C and vitamin E. Whatever the reason, | | | | Drug Interactions |
| Melatonin ostensibly plays a role in numerous health | | | | Melatonin may interact or interfere with other |
| conditions.Here is a partial list: | | | | drugs.These include: |
| Insomnia | | | | Antidepressant Medications |
| Osteoporosis | | | | Antipsychotic Medications: many of these medications |
| Menopause | | | | are now being used in treating children with ADHD and |
| Depression | | | | Bipolar disorder |
| Eating Disorders | | | | Benzodiazepines |
| Breast Cancer | | | | Blood Pressure Medications |
| Prostate Cancer | | | | Blood-thinning Medications, Anticoagulants |
| Cancer-related Weight Loss | | | | Interleukin-2 |
| Sarcoidosis | | | | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | | | | Steroids and Immunosuppressant Medications |
| Epilepsy | | | | Tamoxifen If your child is taking any of these things, |
| Sunburn | | | | you should consult with his doctor before giving |
| Viral Encephalitis | | | | Melatonin.Also, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can all |
| Heart DiseaseSince a lot of evidence for many of | | | | diminish levels of melatonin in the body while cocaine |
| these claims is rather light and since I am not trying to | | | | and amphetamines may increase melatonin |
| sell you melatonin supplements, I am going to focus | | | | production.Conclusion |
| only on its role in sleep enhancement.Insomnia | | | | Often children with ADHD have a great deal of |
| As many parents realize, drugs like Ritalin are not | | | | difficulty falling asleep. This can be due to the |
| without side effects. One of the major complaints that | | | | medications that they are taking or just be one |
| parents have is that their children who take Ritalin can't | | | | component in the spectrum of their problems. When |
| fall asleep at night. Many parents report that their | | | | used properly, melatonin may be a safe and effective |
| children, who may be only five or six years old, are | | | | way to handle sleep problems in ADHD |
| wide awake until 11 pm or later.Melatonin may be able | | | | children.Anthony Kane, MD |
| to help these children. Since it is the primary chemical in | | | | ADD ADHD Advances |
| the body that helps to induce sleep, children who suffer | | | | Publishers: |
| from insomnia often find that Melatonin restores their | | | | This article is available for your website or ezine. |
| normal sleep cycle and helps them to be more awake | | | | For an ezine, send an email to: |
| and alert during the day.How to Take It | | | | For a website send an email to: Anthony Kane, MD is |
| There are currently no guidelines as to how to take | | | | a physician and international lecturer. Get ADD ADHD |
| Melatonin. Sensitivity to Melatonin is an individual thing | | | | Child Behavior and Treatment Help for your ADHD |
| and doses that are ineffective in one person may be | | | | child, including child behavior advice, information on the |
| too much for someone else.The best approach for | | | | latest ADD ADHD medication help, and help with |
| any condition is to begin with very low doses and | | | | Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Sign up for the free |
| slowly add more until you get the effect that you are | | | | ADD ADHD Advances online journal. |
| seeking.In children, it is best to start with a dose of | | | | |