Melatonin, Sleep Enhancement, and ADHD

Overviewabout 0.3 mg/day or less. Although current research
Melatonin is a natural hormone, which is produced andsuggests that even doses as high as 10 mg are
secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin plays anperfectly safe, it is best to proceed with caution.In
important role in the regulation of many hormones inadults, 3 mg is usually a safe starting dose and you
the body. Among its key roles, melatonin controls thecan increase it or decrease it as you see fit.Availability
body's circadian rhythm, an internal 24-hourMelatonin is readily available in most health food
time-keeping system that controls when we fall asleepstores in the United States and it is very cheap. In
and when we wake up.Melatonin is also a veryEurope it is a controlled substance. Most Europeans
powerful antioxidant. In one study, melatonin was 60who wish to use Melatonin find it cheaper and easier
times more effective than Vitamin C or water-solubleto have it shipped from the US.Adverse Effects
Vitamin E in protecting DNA from damage. PreliminaryMelatonin is one of the least toxic substances known.
evidence suggests that it may help strengthen theIn one extensive clinical trial, a high dose of 75
immune system.There are numerous claims andmilligrams of melatonin per day was given to 1400
theories concerning all the things that melatonin may dowomen in the Netherlands for up to four years with no
and as a result it has become one of the popular lifeill effects.The only consistent side effect of high doses
extension and life enhancing supplements that arehas been drowsiness and a slower reaction time.Other
currently available on the market today.Usescommon complaints include:
The most accepted function of Melatonin is it role in
sleep regulation. Melatonin supplements help induceVivid dreams or nightmares
sleep in people with disrupted circadian rhythms.Stomach cramps
Melatonin is significantly more effective in decreasingDizziness
the amount of time required to fall asleep, increasingHeadache
the number of sleeping hours, and boosting daytimeIrritability
alertness.Melatonin is purported to be one of thoseDecreased libido
miracle substances that has a hand in everything. ThisBreast enlargement in men
may be due to the fact that during the height of theDecreased sperm countThese side effects were in
antioxidant craze, Melatonin was found to be a morehealthy people. We also don't know how melatonin
powerful and more universal antioxidant than bothmay affect people suffering from disease.Possible
vitamin C and vitamin E. Whatever the reason,Drug Interactions
Melatonin ostensibly plays a role in numerous healthMelatonin may interact or interfere with other
conditions.Here is a partial list:drugs.These include:
InsomniaAntidepressant Medications
OsteoporosisAntipsychotic Medications: many of these medications
Menopauseare now being used in treating children with ADHD and
DepressionBipolar disorder
Eating DisordersBenzodiazepines
Breast CancerBlood Pressure Medications
Prostate CancerBlood-thinning Medications, Anticoagulants
Cancer-related Weight LossInterleukin-2
SarcoidosisNonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Rheumatoid ArthritisSteroids and Immunosuppressant Medications
EpilepsyTamoxifen If your child is taking any of these things,
Sunburnyou should consult with his doctor before giving
Viral EncephalitisMelatonin.Also, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can all
Heart DiseaseSince a lot of evidence for many ofdiminish levels of melatonin in the body while cocaine
these claims is rather light and since I am not trying toand amphetamines may increase melatonin
sell you melatonin supplements, I am going to focusproduction.Conclusion
only on its role in sleep enhancement.InsomniaOften children with ADHD have a great deal of
As many parents realize, drugs like Ritalin are notdifficulty falling asleep. This can be due to the
without side effects. One of the major complaints thatmedications that they are taking or just be one
parents have is that their children who take Ritalin can'tcomponent in the spectrum of their problems. When
fall asleep at night. Many parents report that theirused properly, melatonin may be a safe and effective
children, who may be only five or six years old, areway to handle sleep problems in ADHD
wide awake until 11 pm or later.Melatonin may be ablechildren.Anthony Kane, MD
to help these children. Since it is the primary chemical inADD ADHD Advances
the body that helps to induce sleep, children who sufferPublishers:
from insomnia often find that Melatonin restores theirThis article is available for your website or ezine.
normal sleep cycle and helps them to be more awakeFor an ezine, send an email to:
and alert during the day.How to Take ItFor a website send an email to: Anthony Kane, MD is
There are currently no guidelines as to how to takea physician and international lecturer. Get ADD ADHD
Melatonin. Sensitivity to Melatonin is an individual thingChild Behavior and Treatment Help for your ADHD
and doses that are ineffective in one person may bechild, including child behavior advice, information on the
too much for someone else.The best approach forlatest ADD ADHD medication help, and help with
any condition is to begin with very low doses andOppositional Defiant Disorder. Sign up for the free
slowly add more until you get the effect that you areADD ADHD Advances online journal.
seeking.In children, it is best to start with a dose of