Melatonin can you take too much

Luboshitzky, R. Melatonin administration alters semen quality in healthy men. Journal of andrology, 23 4 , — Janjua, I. Sleep-related melatonin use in healthy children.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 62 4 , — Black, L. Use of complementary health approaches among children aged years in the United States: National Health Interview Survey, National health statistics reports, 78 , 1— Kennaway D. Potential safety issues in the use of the hormone melatonin in paediatrics.

Journal of paediatrics and child health, 51 6 , — Boafo, A. Could long-term administration of melatonin to prepubertal children affect timing of puberty? A clinician's perspective. Nature and science of sleep, 11, 1— Evaluation of sleep, puberty and mental health in children with long-term melatonin treatment for chronic idiopathic childhood sleep onset insomnia.

Psychopharmacology, 1 , — Esposito, S. Pediatric sleep disturbances and treatment with melatonin. Journal of translational medicine, 17 1 , Learn more about Melatonin. By Jay Summer November 3, By Sarah Shoen September 2, Does Melatonin Expire?

By Tom Ryan July 22, By Danielle Pacheco July 15, Does Melatonin Affect Birth Control? By Jay Summer June 3, Related Reading Natural Sleep Aids. Other Articles of Interest Sleep Medications. There's no better time to start the journey to improving your sleep.

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We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Doses near the 30 mg mark are usually considered to be harmful. Taking too much melatonin for you can lead to unpleasant side effects.

These may include:. Young children can experience even more serious side effects, and melatonin overdose occurs more quickly. For example, a dose as small as 1 to 5 mg could cause seizures. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers more information.

Need to talk to someone today? Taking melatonin in any amount can be dangerous if you are also taking certain other medications. Unfortunately, this includes medications that can also make it difficult to sleep. People who use blood pressure drugs, for example, may have a lower amount of naturally occurring melatonin. However, taking melatonin can cause blood pressure spikes, which could be incredibly dangerous.

On the other end of the spectrum, birth control pills can lead to elevated melatonin production. Show references Melatonin: In depth. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Accessed Sept. Natural Medicines. Ferracioli-Oda E, et al. Meta-analysis: Melatonin for the treatment of primary sleep disorders. PLOS One. Auld F, et al. Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders.

Sleep Medicine Reviews. Auger RR, et al. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. See also Tips for better sleep 8 ways to improve sleep quality as you age Alzheimer's sleep problems Can psoriasis make it hard to sleep? Sleep and psoriatic arthritis Healthy heart for life: Avoiding heart disease Heavy menstrual bleeding: 3 tips to sleep better Hidradenitis suppurativa and sleep: How to get more zzz's How a sleep diary can transform how you feel Sleep guidelines How to sleep well during time changes I have atopic dermatitis.

Speak with a doctor if your sleep problems persist. In general, a dose between 0. Too much melatonin can have the opposite effect of its intended purpose. It can make it harder to sleep because your normal circadian rhythms will be disrupted. An overdose can also leave you feeling groggy and sleepy during the day and give you nightmares or extremely vivid dreams at night.

You can also experience:. For some people, too much melatonin can affect their blood pressure. However, taking a supplement to make up for lower melatonin levels may not always be advisable. Because melatonin can affect your sleep-wake cycle, avoid taking it with alcohol or caffeine.

These can interfere with your circadian rhythm and your natural melatonin production. Before starting melatonin or any over-the-counter medication or supplement, talk with your doctor. This is especially true if you take other medications.

For example, birth control pills may cause your body to start producing more melatonin, so taking a supplement could push your levels into an unhealthy range.

Taking melatonin with anticoagulant drugs , such as warfarin Coumadin , could increase your risk of bleeding.