Combining melatonin with alcohol may cause excessive drowsiness, sometimes leading to poor decision-making or accidents. We’ll discuss melatonin and alcohol death and suggest a healthier alternative to the popular sleep supplement.
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The popularity of melatonin sleep supplements
At least 3 million Americans use synthetic melatonin supplements as a sleep aid for insomnia and jet lag, reports Healthy Grades. Melatonin supplements are available over-the-counter (OTC) in the U.S., for sale in pharmacies, health food stores, and online. Melatonin is sold by prescription only in Europe.
Your own natural melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by your body to optimize your circadian rhythm for sleep, being released throughout the night to influence the stages of sleep. “The pineal gland releases melatonin to regulate the times of alertness and sleepiness,” notes Medical News Today. An innate sensitivity to light and darkness triggers your body to produce melatonin as it becomes darker to induce sleepiness.
“Melatonin can also be made synthetically in a laboratory and marketed as a dietary supplement,” notes the Cleveland Clinic, further advising that “synthetic melatonin isn’t officially FDA-approved for any purposes or conditions.” The effects of synthetic melatonin supplements on sleep quality and total sleep time are unclear.
The risks of melatonin and alcohol
Seemingly innocentOTC medications containing synthetic melatonin can lead to added issues when mixed with alcohol. These are five dangers to be aware of:
- Disrupted Sleep Cycles: Alcohol and melatonin can act as depressants. Combining alcohol and melatonin can reduce the amount of natural melatonin your body can produce. Mixing alcohol and melatonin can disrupt your circadian rhythm sleep cycle, interfering with the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, when dreaming occurs. The lack of quality sleep results in daytime fatigue, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Disturbed respiration: Alcohol taken at night with melatonin supplements can affect your breathing. The muscles around your airways may tighten, especially for breathing problems like COPD, asthma, or sleep apnea. Combining alcohol and melatonin can also increase anxiety, possibly raising your blood pressure and increasing the risk of stroke and melatonin and alcohol death.
- Liver damage: Alcohol can lead to liver damage.
- Medication interaction: Medical News Today provides another rationale as to why it is not safe to consume alcohol while taking melatonin supplements. “Alcohol interferes with the effectiveness of medications and supplements, and melatonin is no exception.” Alcohol may diminish or intensify the effects of melatonin, further disrupting the natural circadian rhythm of sleep cycles that your body’s own melatonin should optimize and keep consistent. More serious concerns may include an abnormally rapid heartbeat and losing consciousness, which can cause melatonin and alcohol death from life-threatening falls.
- Seniors Sensitivity: “Older adults are at a higher risk for problems when combining alcohol and melatonin,” reports GoodRx. Due to age-related physiological disorders and a propensity for considerable sleep disruptions when mixing melatonin and alcohol, older adults are more likely to experience injury-inducing accidents, leading to melatonin and alcohol death. Simply falling out of bed can lead to hospitalization and further physical deterioration.
Safely activating your body’s own natural melatonin
Since synthetic melatonin supplements used long term may be detrimental to your sleep cycles and risky to your health, how can you improve your sleep naturally and safely while avoiding mixing melatonin and alcohol? DELTA BrainLuxury, a premier melatonin-free sleep supplement, offers a solution.
BrainLuxury co-founder and Chairman Axel Bouchon recalls watching his sister take antidepressants and sleep aids, including melatonin, for years and still only get 3 hours of sleep each night.
Using his experience in biochemistry and neurological brain development, he tested foods that help induce deep sleep and developed the DELTA BrainLuxury all-natural, melatonin-free nutritional supplement. His sister’s three hours of disrupted sleep was replaced by a healthy eight hours of sleep, with an included bonus of waking with an increased energy boost in the morning.
DELTA BrainLuxury’s exclusive blend of natural, vegan, gluten-free ingredients helps you to fall asleep quickly, stay asleep fully and deeply, and awaken refreshed and without fatigue:
- Tryptophan, an amino acid, is a precursor of melatonin that enables your brain to produce the healthy, appropriate amount of natural melatonin and serotonin for deep, restful sleep, night after night.
- Glycine, also an amino acid, stimulates your brain to enable you to fall asleep quickly and easily, stay asleep, and awaken energized.
- Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) from algae and flaxseed oil contribute to rapid sleep onset and increased creation of neuroplasticity.
- ALA, DHA, and EPA omega-3 antioxidants further contribute to calming and next morning energizing and recharging.
- Vitamin D, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc also support neuroplasticity and deep, beneficial sleep extension. These healthy ingredients blend with refreshing, great-tasting organic fruit juices and pulp.
You can find DELTA BrainLuxury here with free shipping.
The safe, effective alternative for a great night’s sleep
Do not risk the danger of mixing melatonin and alcohol. Both alcohol and melatonin supplements are sedatives. Taking these two substances together, or around the same time, increases the risk of accidents, and may disrupt healthy sleep patterns.
It stands to reason that encouraging your brain to create its natural melatonin and serotonin with a daily natural supplement is the safest way to ensure the best, most satisfying sleep.
Further reading for additional knowledge
New York Times: What Happens if I Take Melatonin After Drinking?
Very Well Health: Experts: Don’t Mistake Melatonin for a ‘Natural’ Sleeping Pill
Healthline: Taking Melatonin: Can You Mix Melatonin and Alcohol?
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.
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