How much melatonin is too much? This is one of the questions that most people ask related to this hormone. If you are someone who is currently taking these supplements and are in search of this answer, you will find this article to be of great help.
It is a hormone that is associated with the night and day or the sleep-wake cycle of the body. While the body produces this hormone naturally, there are times when people are advised to take supplements. If you are someone who is prescribed to take this hormone supplement, you might be asking how much of this hormone is safe to take.
In case you were searching for this answer, you have reached the right place. Keep reading this article till the end to learn more…
Answering The Question, “How Much Melatonin Is Too Much?”
While most people might think that it is safe to take it supplements in more than adequate amounts, that is not true. Rather, it can be dangerous if you take melatonin supplements in large amounts. This causes melatonin overdose, which can disrupt your sleep patterns.
The pineal gland of the brain is responsible for the production of melatonin in the body naturally. When people experience problems with their circadian rhythm or the sleep-wake cycle, they are often prescribed by their doctors to take melatonin supplements.
The production of melatonin increases in the evening, and that is the reason people feel sleepy as night approaches. When the body does not produce this hormone in enough quantity, people have a hard time falling asleep. These supplements act as a more natural approach than sleeping pills, which are also known to relieve similar issues.
However, you can easily overdose on melatonin if you do not know what the right amount or dose for this supplement is.
What Is The Recommended Dose Of Melatonin?
While melatonin supplements are healthy and have negligible side effects, you can face trouble if you do not keep the recommended dosage of this supplement in mind. According to WebMD, you do not need any prescription to buy melatonin supplements in the United States. This means that you can “legally buy it in any amount.”
While there is no exact amount that has been associated with melatonin supplements, there is still something that needs to be kept in mind.
According to reports, “a dose between 0.2 and 5 mg is considered a safe starting dose.” However, the safe dosage also depends on the age, body weight, as well as health of the person taking it. For adults, the right melatonin dosage is 8 milligrams a day for the first six months. The recommended dosage for kids is 3 milligrams a day for not more than three months.
Symptoms: What Happens When There Is A Melatonin Overdose?
Now that you know the recommended dosage of melatonin, it is important for you to learn about what happens when there is a melatonin overdose.
Too much melatonin in the body might also disrupt the sleeping patterns of the body. While it is true that experts and scientists have not been able to find the lethal dose of melatonin supplements that could kill you, there are a number of side effects that you can face.
Here are some of the common symptoms that you might experience when you take the hormonal supplement in a more significant amount than prescribed or recommended:
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Dizziness.
Now, take a look at these less common side effects or symptoms of taking melatonin supplements in larger amounts:
- Irritability
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Stomach cramps
- Tremors
- Depression
Precaution: What Not To Take With Melatonin?
There are a lot of medicines that you should avoid taking if you are on melatonin supplements. The interaction of these medicines with it does not work well in the body.
Take a look at this list of medicines that you should not take with melatonin supplements:
- Anticonvulsants
- Central nervous system (CNS) Depressants
- Anticoagulants
- Immunosuppressants
- Diabetes medicines.
How To Take Melatonin?
If you are searching for the answer to how to take melatonin or how to incorporate that into your diet, I have you covered.
It is best to talk to your doctor before you start taking it. As they will be able to tell you what might work best for your body. Most of the time, doctors advise you to take melatonin supplements nearly thirty minutes before you go to bed.
You can take these supplements in any form. These tablets are the most abundantly found form of this drug. These supplements can also be added to your food or drinks, however, tablets are reportedly the most effective ways of consuming this hormone.
It is best to avoid activities that involve “blue light.” This means that you should not use or look at your smartphones and laptops after taking this supplement. This is because the blue light from the screens can lower the production of melatonin in your body. This will make the melatonin supplements less effective.
It is also best to avoid drinking alcohol when you are taking it. Melatonin and alcohol do not go well together. This is because alcohol is known to reduce the production of it in the body. A combination of melatonin and alcohol also might have negative effects on the body, for example, increased anxiety and dizziness.
Wrapping It Up!
This is a hormone that is produced naturally in the pineal glands of the brain. This is the hormone that is responsible for the sleep-wake cycle of the body. If you are facing trouble with sleeping, doctors might ask you to incorporate this hormone as a supplement in your diet. In case you have been searching for the answer to “how much melatonin is too much,” I hope that this article has been of help to you. If there are any other queries that you may have related to the same, please feel free to write them down in the comment box below.
Read Also: