While its use is widespread, melatonin may come with dangers you should be aware of, such as the risk of daytime drowsiness, dizziness, hormonal changes, blood thinning, or interactions with certain medications. Bottles of this supplement are all too often improperly labeled for dosing and potency. But the most frightening is the possibility of a serious melatonin overdose; melatonin overdoes requiring medical or hospital intervention have increased over 530% over the last five years, with many of the victims being young children, adolescents, and the elderly. We’ll examine the many dangers of melatonin and recommend a healthier, more effective alternative to help you safely get the restorative rest that your body and mind require for optimal performance and longevity.
If you’ve ever used a sleep aid supplement, you’ve probably tried melatonin. It is one of the most popular over-the-counter sleep aids available. However, melatonin has recently been scrutinized for its potential dangers, including adverse side effects, potential interactions with other medications, and unknown long-term effects. Despite its popularity, many people are now searching for a safer, more effective alternative to melatonin to help them get a good night’s rest. Keep reading to learn more about melatonin’s risks and a healthier, more effective alternative.
You May Also Like:
5 Great Alternatives to Liquid Melatonin
5 Great Ways to Avoid Diphenhydramine “Addiction”
What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by the body’s pineal gland in response to darkness. It plays a crucial role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, helping to promote sleep, and regulating the circadian rhythm. Melatonin supplements, available over-the-counter, are commonly used to help people fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep longer.
Melatonin supplements come in various forms, including pills, capsules, gummies, and liquids. They are often marketed as a natural, safe sleep aid. Still, research suggests that melatonin may have potential risks and drawbacks, including interactions with other medications and possible long-term effects on the body.
Melatonin works by binding to specific receptors in the brain that are involved in regulating sleep and circadian rhythms. This helps to reset the body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning. Melatonin production is inhibited by exposure to light, so limiting exposure to bright screens before bedtime and keeping your bedroom dark and quiet is recommended to promote natural melatonin production.
Dangers of Melatonin:
1. Daytime Drowsiness
Melatonin can cause daytime drowsiness by slowing down the activity of the central nervous system, which can impair cognitive function, reaction times, and alertness during the day. This sedative effect is due to melatonin’s role in regulating the body’s sleep-wake cycle, which involves lowering the body’s core temperature and reducing activity in the brain.
When melatonin is taken as a supplement, it can disrupt the body’s natural production and secretion of the hormone, leading to a build-up in the bloodstream and prolonged drowsiness. Daytime drowsiness can significantly negatively impact a person’s daily routine, especially when performing cognitive tasks that require maintained concentration and focus.
Dangers of Melatonin:
2. Dizziness
Another potential side effect of melatonin is dizziness, which can occur when it is consumed in high doses. Dizziness is a feeling of lightheadedness or unsteadiness that can be accompanied by nausea, headache, or disorientation. It can be caused by changes in blood pressure or circulation and is a potential side effect of melatonin supplements. Melatonin can also interact with other medications, exacerbating the risk of dizziness.
By impairing balance and coordination, dizziness can make it difficult to perform tasks that require movement or coordination, such as walking, driving, or operating machinery. It can also cause cognitive impairment, leading to impeded concentration, increased confusion, and memory problems. This can affect your work performance, social interactions, and quality of life.
Dangers of Melatonin:
3. Hormonal Changes
Melatonin has complex relationships with other hormones in the body, including cortisol, insulin, and reproductive hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. Taking melatonin supplements can potentially disrupt the body’s natural production and secretion of these hormones, leading to imbalances that can have various negative effects.
For example, changes in cortisol levels can affect a person’s energy, mood, and stress levels, leading to fatigue and irritability. Additionally, changes in insulin levels can affect your metabolism, appetite, and blood sugar regulation, potentially leading to weight gain, diabetes, and other health problems. Finally, disproportionate levels of reproductive hormones can cause fertility issues, sexual dysfunction, and mood changes, affecting personal relationships and overall quality of life.
Dangers of Melatonin:
4. Blood Thinning
Melatonin supplements have the potential to cause blood thinning, as the hormone has anticoagulant properties that can interfere with the body’s blood clotting mechanisms. This can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising, particularly when the melatonin dosage is high or when the supplement is combined with other medications that thin the blood such as aspirin or warfarin.
Blood thinning can increase your risk of injury during physical activities and make it more difficult for wounds to heal properly. It may also increase the likelihood of complications during surgical procedures and exacerbate the risk of bleeding in individuals with a bleeding disorder. Additionally, blood thinning can interfere with the efficacy of other medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure or heart disease.
Dangers of Melatonin:
5. Interactions With Other Medications
When combined with other medications, melatonin can potentially interfere with their efficacy and increase the risk of side effects. For example, melatonin can interact with blood pressure medications, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, causing your blood pressure to drop too low and leading to dizziness or fainting. Melatonin can also interact with antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), causing serotonin syndrome. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause high fever, seizures, and hallucinations.
Other medications that may interact with melatonin include benzodiazepines, which can increase the sedative effects of melatonin, causing daytime drowsiness and dizziness. Melatonin may also interact with immunosuppressants, which can interfere with the body’s ability to fight off infections. To avoid negative interactions, it is important to consult a healthcare provider before taking melatonin alongside other medications or supplements.
Finding a safer, more effective sleep support alternative
As the dangers of melatonin become more apparent, many people are searching for a safer and more effective sleep support alternative. Some examples of natural alternatives include valerian root, chamomile, magnesium, and lavender, all of which have been shown to promote relaxation and improve sleep without negative side effects. One of the more effective sleep aid supplements on the market is DELTA BrainLuxury, with its revolutionary sleep support formula.
DELTA BrainLuxury works with the brain by supporting its natural power to induce sleep. Our brains naturally have everything needed to provide deep, refreshing sleep, but sometimes they need help. That’s where DELTA BrainLuxury comes in.
DELTA BrainLuxury is a unique blend of essential nutrients, including omega and fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that can promote natural sleep. Some of the key ingredients featured in this supplement are vitamin D, magnesium, glycine, DHA, EPA, and tryptophan. Vitamin D, for instance, can increase sleep duration and efficiency while reducing sleep latency. Glycine can help reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. Furthermore, the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA can improve sleep efficiency and shorten the time it takes to fall asleep while accelerating the onset of the deep sleep phase. Tryptophan plays a crucial role in the production of serotonin and melatonin, two hormones that are essential for restful sleep.
What sets DELTA BrainLuxury apart is its unique mechanism of action. Its ingredients work together throughout the entire sleep cycle, with glycine, DHA, and EPA aiding in the acceleration of sleep onset. Simultaneously, a proprietary formula of omega-3 oils prolongs the initial phase of deep sleep. During sleep, tryptophan, as well as trace amounts of vitamin D and zinc, promote the natural synthesis of serotonin and melatonin, which helps prevent premature awakening. The serotonin contributes to a positive mood upon waking after 5-7 hours of sleep. Furthermore, glycine initiates the production of creatine after 7-8 hours of sleep, providing morning energy and preventing grogginess.
A third-party scientific assessment by Innovative Science Solutions verifies that DELTA BrainLuxury naturally supports sleep. The evidence suggests that DELTA maybe the safest and most effective melatonin alternative available on the market today. It is non-habit-forming and is unlikely to cause daytime drowsiness, dizziness, blood thinning, or hormonal changes. However, BrainLuxury advises speaking to a medical professional to determine if DELTA may interact with your medications or supplements.
DELTA BrainLuxury can be purchased on the BrainLuxury website. You can choose to buy a subscription or make a single purchase of a trial (3 pack), 10 box, 20 box, or 30 box of DELTA.
Sleeping soundly naturally
While melatonin can be an effective sleep aid for some individuals, it carries significant risks and potential negative side effects. As awareness grows of the dangers of melatonin, more and more people are turning to alternative sleep aids. Ultimately, individuals can sleep soundly at night using a safer, more effective sleep support supplement like DELTA BrainLuxury.
Further reading:
Mayo Clinic: Is melatonin a helpful sleep aid — and what should I know about melatonin side effects?
Medical News Today: Melatonin: Are we using too much?
Johns Hopkins Medicine: Melatonin for Sleep: Does It Work?
Houston Methodist: Is It Bad to Take Melatonin Every Night? (& 5 More Questions About Melatonin, Answered)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Melatonin: What You Need To Know
Good Rx: 5 Melatonin Side Effects You Should Know About
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Table of Contents
