When you can’t stay asleep or fall asleep at night, you are sleep-deprived and irritable throughout the day. As the CDCP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) points out, most Americans, about 1 in 3, don’t get enough sleep. And rest are suffering from poor sleep and other sleep disorders. You can treat many sleep disorders with melatonin gummies, and it is widely available.
These days, you can find colorful vitamins in the vitamin aisle. It’s because melatonin gummies are becoming more popular. Their popularity is unquestionable, and kids and adults love them equally. And they are helpful to those who have difficulty swallowing pills.
Is it melatonin help for sleep? Can we give melatonin to our child? How does melatonin work? And what are the side effects and advantages of taking melatonin? We will discuss all that is in this blog.
Table of Contents
What is Melatonin?
An anti-sleep hormone created by man to regulate sleep and wake cycles, melatonin is a synthetic variation of a natural hormone found in your brain. The use of melatonin is a likely effective alternative medicine treatment for insomnia and other sleep disorder.
Melatonin may also be used to treat jet lag, high blood pressure, tumors, low platelet counts, insomnia from drug withdrawal, and anxiety after surgery. Moreover, topical application of melatonin can protect the skin from sunburn. Studies have shown that melatonin may not be effective for treating these conditions.
Melatonin may effectively treat certain medical conditions, but there is no evidence to support this claim. There is no FDA approval for the use of this product for medical purposes. You can’t use melatonin as an alternative to your doctor’s prescription.
How Does Melatonin Work?
Melatonin is mainly responsible for regulating the night-and-day cycle in the body. In the presence of light, melatonin production decreases, and the body begins to prepare for being awake. A darkened environment triggers the body to release more melatonin, which signals that it’s time to sleep.
Melatonin levels are low in some individuals who have trouble sleeping. There is a possibility of improving sleep quality by adding melatonin gummies to your daily routine because researchers believe melatonin supplementation could help them sleep.
How to Use Melatonin Gummies?
Melatonin supplements do not all work the same way. Before choosing any melatonin products, you need to read the labels. You can ask your pharmacist for directions on taking melatonin gummies if you aren’t sure what to do.
A daily dosage of melatonin between 0.5 and 10mg is recommended. It is the best way to start a lower dose and start your work. But with time, you can increase the quantity of your dose.
You can take it after 30 minutes before going to sleep. Taking melatonin for a long period of time is not known to have long-term effects. You should consult a doctor if you find that you need melatonin every night for more than one month to rule out sleep disorders.
Uses of Melatonin Gummies
There are several uses of melatonin gummies, such as it is used as a treatment of GERD and reduces seasonal depression. Additionally, it is beneficial for your eye health.
#1 Good for Eye Health
A high level of antioxidants in melatonin can protect your eyes and prevent cell damage.
Researches have shown that melatonin may be beneficial to treating age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and hypertension.
Melatonin supplementation for six months to prevent age-related damage to the retina and support visual clarity has been shown to improve vision in an examination of 100 people.
Studies on melatonin supplements on the eyes’ health have been limited; further research is thus necessary.
#2 Treat GERD
The symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease include nausea, heartburn, and belching caused by the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus.
Researchers have found that melatonin inhibits the secretion of stomach acids. Furthermore, it lowers the amount of nitric oxide in your body, allowing stomach acids to pass into your esophagus.
Because of this, some research indicates that melatonin may be useful for treating heartburn and GERD. Among the effects of melatonin are blocking stomach acid production and nitric oxide synthesis. Researchers have found that it may reduce heartburn and GERD symptoms when alone and combined with medications.
#3 Reduce Seasonal Depression
It is estimated that up to 10% of people worldwide suffer from seasonal depression, also called a seasonal affective disorder. Depression of this type is caused by seasonal changes and occurs each year around the same time, typically beginning in late autumn and early winter.
According to some research, seasonal changes in light could affect your circadian rhythm. Since melatonin regulates circadian rhythms, low hormone doses are commonly used to reduce seasonal depression symptoms.
Melatonin may have an impact on symptoms of seasonal depression through further research.
#4 Good for Quality Sleep
Melatonin naturally contributes to your sleep-wake cycle. It is at night that melatonin concentrations are at their highest. According to the research, melatonin supplements can help treat sleep disorders like delayed sleep phase and jet lag and help treat insomnia.
Sometimes even sound sleepers experience difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep. It’s possible to use melatonin for sleep if your difficulty persists longer than one or two nights.
There are some indications that a supplement may be helpful for those experiencing insomnia, who fall asleep late and wake up late. But the supplement may be more helpful for those experiencing delayed sleep phase syndrome.
Side Effects of Melatonin Gummies
According to studies conducted in 2016, most people can use melatonin in the short term without adverse effects. There have only been a few reports of side effects. These include:
- Dizziness
- Daytime drowsiness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Mood Swing, feel irritable
Other side effects may occur; however, this is not a complete list of side effects.
Melatonin’s safety has been extensively researched, but there is very little information on its use in children, pregnant, or breastfeeding women. Due to melatonin’s nature as a hormone, it might interfere with the functioning of other hormonal systems, such as puberty and lactation.
Sometimes, you may experience an allergy after taking melatonin gummies. So, if you are having the symptoms of an allergic reaction, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat, you should need to consult your doctor immediately.
Can You Give Melatonin Gummies to Your Child?
The majority of children fall asleep with no problems, despite sometimes not wanting to sleep. Some children who have difficulty falling asleep are prescribed melatonin supplements. It is highly effective, safe, and widely available for humans and animals (even for children).
Melatonin is available in multiple forms, such as capsules, pills, and even in gummies. Studies of children and adults suggest that using melatonin gummies for more than three years have shown no side effects.
When Should You Give Your Child Melatonin?
You should give the medication to your child 90 minutes before sleep. Nevertheless, it’s up to you and your doctor to decide what will most benefit your child’s situation. You should discuss with your doctor what kind of melatonin to buy. Unless the FDA regulates dietary supplements such as melatonin, the quality can vary.
How Much Melatonin Should You Give Your Child?
Melatonin dosage is a question to discuss with your doctor. It isn’t necessary to give children high doses. In some cases, a dose of 0.5 milligrams is sufficient. You should talk to your child’s doctor about their specific needs. If you are giving melatonin to your child, check with a lactation consultant to ensure there are no serious health problems.
Melatonin Gummies Aren’t for Everyone.
Melatonin gummies, used conservatively, are generally safe. In some cases, however, they should be discussed with a doctor. They include:
- Blood thinners or patients on blood pressure medication
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Those with epilepsy
- Those with chronic diseases such as cancer.
What Should You Do Before Taking Melatonin Gummies?
You may suffer from chronic sleep problems if you are physically ill. However, you can assist your sleep cycle by taking melatonin supplements.
Some people are sensitive to melatonin in oral form, even though it is generally safe. Furthermore, certain drugs may interfere with these supplements.
To decide whether to take melatonin supplements, talk to your doctor first. Also, consider seeing a doctor if you don’t see improvement after changing your lifestyle or taking supplements.
Interactions
You may experience difficulty concentrating or reacting when you take melatonin. You should avoid driving and operating machinery for at least four hours after taking melatonin gummies. You may also experience sleep and wake cycle disruptions for several days if you travel through multiple time zones.
Herbal Supplements
It is best to avoid combining melatonin with other supplements/herbs. Taking some herbal melatonin can increase your risks of bleeding, seizures, or low blood pressure. It is possible to increase these risks by combining specific products.
Caffeine
In the body, caffeine may decrease levels of melatonin. It is advisable to avoid taking any caffeine with melatonin because it is not good for your health to take melatonin and caffeine such as coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks together.
Final Thought
When the weather is dark outside, you feel sleepy due to melatonin. You may benefit from taking melatonin gummies to improve your sleep quality.
Melatonin supplements are available in many forms, including capsules, tablets, gummies, liquids, and sprays. When choosing a supplement, consider the manufacturer’s claims carefully.
If you’re unsure about a product, talk to your physician or pharmacist. This advice is not for melatonin whenever you take a new supplement, you should speak with your doctor first.