Popular keywords

Mattress quiz
Find a bed that’s the best fit for you

Popular keywords
Medical reviewed by
When it comes to hormones, melatonin is quite a common name. Melatonin flushes from the pineal gland into the bloodstream, responsible for inducing sleep. Melatonin, in recent years, has become a popular sleep supplement to handle insomnia, unpleasant jet lags, and more. But, the popular question is – Can you overdose on melatonin? Yes, you can.
An overdose of melatonin can be detrimental to the sleep-wake cycle. Since there are no explicitly instructed dosages, melatonin might be taken in ample quantities leading to an overdose. This article will cover how much melatonin is safe to consume, its symptoms, and more.
To determine how much melatonin is too much and not lead to melatonin overdose, it is important to consider the condition, age, and purpose of the use. Melatonin supplements, when taken for conditions such as insomnia – for balancing the circadian rhythm or combating jet lag, the recommended dosage is 0.2 to 5 milligrams. But, surprisingly, certain melatonin supplements comprise 10 times that amount in just one pill.
The answer to ‘can you overdose on melatonin’ can be slightly confusing. Since melatonin is generally considered a dietary supplement, it doesn’t hold stringent regulations by FDA as over-the-counter drugs and prescriptions. To clear this dilemma about melatonin overdose, a study was conducted by analyzing 31 melatonin supplements gathered from pharmacies and grocery stores. After analysis, it was found that 70% of the melatonin supplements tested greater or lesser than what was publicised. For example, one chewable melatonin tablet was labelled as 1.5 milligrams but contained a portion of 9 milligrams.
Melatonin has been banned in a few countries, namely- Japan, the UK, Australia, and some parts of the European Union because certain over-the-counter medications found the presence of serotonin in it.
The body swiftly absorbs melatonin. Once melatonin is released through an oral supplement, it takes around 1 hour to reach the peak level. So you might start enjoying the effects of melatonin, which is sleepiness, quite early. Though, like every other medication, melatonin supplements affect people differently – it might take more time for some and less for others.
Melatonin is undoubtedly a beneficial sleep-inducing supplement. But, if taken in greater portions, it might disrupt natural sleep cycles. What happens if you take too much melatonin? It might lead to lucid dreaming, eventually leading to grogginess and restlessness throughout the day.
When deprived of proper sleep, you will stay unfocused and irritable throughout the day. Disturbed sleep also leads to poor immune function, and also late reaction times. Some of the symptoms of melatonin overdose are:
The answer to ‘can you overdose on melatonin’ is already known to be positive. However, if you have overdosed on melatonin and started experiencing side effects, there are certain things to note.
Melatonin can be helpful for children who are having trouble falling asleep. Studies have shown that certain researchers have stated that melatonin might benefit children in falling asleep more quickly, and it might also help them increase their total sleep time. Though much research has been conducted, there is limited strong evidence about the benefits of melatonin on children. Therefore, it is always beneficial for the parent to converse with the doctor regarding the melatonin supplements.
Overdose in the case of your child:
Melatonin is not to be consumed with certain drugs as it will have a contradictory effect on the body. Let us study a few of the things you shouldn’t consume with melatonin:
Consuming melatonin for a longer period might have some detrimental effects on your body. Headaches, dizziness, and daytime sleepiness are some of them. Let us gain knowledge about the different long-term effects of melatonin consumption.
It might be risky to overdose on melatonin, especially when consuming the medicine at the wrong time (say morning or afternoon). This overdose might lead to drowsiness while working and can be dangerous for people handling heavy machine equipment, driving, operating, and so on.
Melatonin overdose might offer hormonal changes as you are already putting hormones in your system. Melatonin supplements might not be the right recommendation for pregnant women as limited research has been conducted.
Melatonin overdose might also reduce the libido in both men and women. It might disturb the sperm count of men and the ovulation cycles of women.
Melatonin overdose might lead to headaches in the morning. However, some research has talked about the therapeutic effects of melatonin on migraines. But since melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by the brain, supplementing it with additional measures might lead to counterproductivity.
Another side effect offered by melatonin overdose is dizziness. An allergic reaction to the supplement can cause it. Dizziness can be unpleasant and might affect your daily activities.
Why not shift to natural melatonin production rather than focusing on supplements? It is way better to increase your melatonin production naturally by following the below steps.
The melatonin hormone functions according to light exposure. This means sunlight exposure keeps melatonin levels low, whereas, during the dark, leading to sleepiness. Therefore, creating a sleeping schedule following the natural circadian rhythm is better.
When we are exposing ourselves to sunlight, we are reinforcing our sleeping schedule. When you expose yourself to the morning sunlight, you are slowing down the melatonin production, resulting in more alertness.
Blue light before bedtime often mimics sunlight, making the brain think it is still daylight. This eventually leads to the brain decreasing melatonin production and increasing cortisol production.
Certain foods rich in melatonin, like cherries, tomatoes, spinach, nuts, and more. Consuming these in your daily life and as bedtime snacks might increase your melatonin level naturally.
Melatonin overdose can be quite detrimental to the person’s body. However, after studying the article, it can be concluded that the best way to consume melatonin is natural. Supplements might be healthy for the body, but overdosing on melatonin can also be quite scary.
Yes, a child can also overdose on melatonin. The best way to handle the situation is to wipe their mouth with a soft and wet cloth, and immediately take them to the doctor.
Melatonin is fine till the time it is taken in a limited amount. Daily consumption of melatonin might become a habit leading to the person becoming dependent. Headache, dizziness, and nausea are some of the side effects of melatonin overdose.
Melatonin might cause anxiety and depression as hormonal imbalances generally cause it.
Chamomile is often considered the best natural sleep aid with anti-inflammatory power.
The standard melatonin dose is 1 – 10 mg, and 30 mg might harm a person’s health.
Melatonin is not related to weight gain in any way.
people like this articles
Written by
Medical reviewed by