Study on melatonin: Danger of over-the-counter sleep aids

sleep disorders
Study on melatonin: The popular “sleeping drug” is so dangerous

A young woman is sleeping. Melatonin can help, but it also has side effects.

© lev dolgachov/ / Picture Alliance

Melatonin can be bought in the supermarket, in the drugstore or in the pharmacy without a prescription in the form of tablets, spray, capsules or even gummy bears. In short, it’s easy to purchase and more and more adults are turning to the sleep aid. But the use is not entirely harmless, as a US study found out.

Melatonin Rises in Popularity: Over the past decade, the amount of melatonin sold in the United States has doubled. But consumption has not only changed in America, the sleeping pill is also being heavily courted in Germany. However, the use of the hormone is not entirely harmless, as a new study shows.

Melatonin regulates the day-night rhythm

Melatonin is one of the hormones and is produced by the body itself. How much of the hormone is released depends on our eyes: when more light falls on the retina, less of the hormone is released, and when it is dark, release is stimulated. Melatonin regulates our day-night rhythm.

As a hormone, melatonin has a strong impact on our body. Sleep experts therefore warn against considering the sleep aid on an equal footing with herbal supplements, dietary supplements or vitamins.

Melatonin Spray: Little researched so far

In general, the application of melatonin is still very unexplored. There is evidence that the sleeping pill would help in older people, where the body produces less melatonin. Other studies examining a possible benefit of melatonin tablets, melatonin spray and placebo agents found no sleep-promoting effect.

The long-term effects of melatonin, on the other hand, were hardly known until now. Therefore, melatonin should not be taken over a longer period of time. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also not take any melatonin preparations, since the effect on the child has not yet been sufficiently researched there either.

Possible side effects: nausea, headache, dizziness

The US-American study confirms that taking melatonin is not without risk: In the study by the scientists, headaches, dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps, drowsiness and unusually low blood pressure were associated with the sleeping pill. Even if an overdose with the over-the-counter drugs is unlikely, frequent use of melatonin can lead to various side effects.

Melatonin: differences between drug and over-the-counter alternatives

In Germany, only one preparation is currently approved as a prescription drug. This drug ensures that the active ingredient is released over a longer period of time, so that a long-term effect can also build up, which then also helps with sleeping through the night. The drug is prescribed to people over the age of 55 who have trouble falling asleep.



Sleep disorders: study on melatonin: the popular one is so dangerous "sleep drug"

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The over-the-counter remedies, on the other hand, are broken down very quickly by the body. The American scientists found that if adults take melatonin before going to bed, the time it takes to fall asleep is only reduced by around four to eight minutes. The effect is therefore very small.

Sleep tips instead of melatonin

Instead of trying to influence the time it takes you to fall asleep with hormones, experts recommend avoiding strong light sources for at least an hour before going to bed. When we’re exposed to too much light, our body doesn’t release melatonin either. These include, in particular, smartphones, laptops and tablets that emit blue light, which also disrupts melatonin production.

Other tips include: keeping the bedroom at a temperature between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, going to bed at a similar time every day and getting enough exercise and sport. These sleeping tips are definitely better and healthier than resorting to the sleeping pill melatonin.

Swell:CNN, Study on melatonin, Netdoktor.de

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