Melatonin is a natural hormone, which is produced and
secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin plays an important
role in the regulation of many hormones in the body. Among
its key roles, melatonin controls the body's circadian
rhythm, an internal 24-hour time-keeping system that
controls when we fall asleep and when we wake up.
Melatonin is also a very powerful antioxidant. In one
study, melatonin was 60 times more effective than Vitamin C
or water-soluble Vitamin E in protecting DNA from damage.
Preliminary evidence suggests that it may help strengthen
the immune system.
There are numerous claims and theories concerning all the
things that melatonin may do and as a result it has become
one of the popular life extension and life enhancing
supplements that are currently available on the market
today.
Uses
The most accepted function of Melatonin is it role in sleep
regulation. Melatonin supplements help induce sleep in
people with disrupted circadian rhythms. Melatonin is
significantly more effective in decreasing the amount of
time required to fall asleep, increasing the number of
sleeping hours, and boosting daytime alertness.
Melatonin is purported to be one of those miracle
substances that has a hand in everything. This may be due
to the fact that during the height of the antioxidant
craze, Melatonin was found to be a more powerful and more
universal antioxidant than both vitamin C and vitamin E.
Whatever the reason, Melatonin ostensibly plays a role in
numerous health conditions.
Here is a partial list:
Insomnia
Osteoporosis
Menopause
Depression
Eating Disorders
Breast Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Cancer-related Weight
Loss Sarcoidosis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Epilepsy
Sunburn
Viral Encephalitis
Heart Disease
Since a lot of evidence for many of these claims is rather
light and since I am not trying to sell you melatonin
supplements, I am going to focus only on its role in sleep
enhancement.
Insomnia
As many parents realize, drugs like Ritalin are not without
side effects. One of the major complaints that parents have
is that their children who take Ritalin can't fall asleep
at night. Many parents report that their children, who may
be only five or six years old, are wide awake until 11 pm
or later.
Melatonin may be able to help these children. Since it is
the primary chemical in the body that helps to induce
sleep, children who suffer from insomnia often find that
Melatonin restores their normal sleep cycle and helps them
to be more awake and alert during the day.
How to Take It
There are currently no guidelines as to how to take
Melatonin. Sensitivity to Melatonin is an individual thing
and doses that are ineffective in one person may be too
much for someone else. The best approach for any condition
is to begin with very low doses and slowly add more until
you get the effect that you are seeking.
In children, it is best to start with a dose of about 0.3
mg/day or less. Although current research suggests that
even doses as high as 10 mg are perfectly safe, it is best
to proceed with caution.
In adults, 3 mg is usually a safe starting dose and you can
increase it or decrease it as you see fit.
Availability
Melatonin is readily available in most health food stores
in the United States and it is very cheap. In Europe it is
a controlled substance. Most Europeans who wish to use
Melatonin find it cheaper and easier to have it shipped
from the US.
Adverse Effects
Melatonin is one of the least toxic substances known. In
one extensive clinical trial, a high dose of 75 milligrams
of melatonin per day was given to 1400 women in the
Netherlands for up to four years with no ill effects.
The only consistent side effect of high doses has been
drowsiness and a slower reaction time.
Other common complaints include:
Vivid dreams or nightmares
Stomach cramps
Dizziness
Headache
Irritability
Decreased libido
Breast enlargement in men
Decreased sperm count.
These side effects were in healthy people. We also don't
know how melatonin may affect people suffering from disease.
Possible Drug Interactions
Melatonin may interact or interfere with other drugs.
These include:
Antidepressant Medications
Antipsychotic Medications: many of these medications
are now being used in treating children with ADHD and
Bipolar disorder
Benzodiazepines
Blood Pressure Medications
Blood-thinning Medications
Anticoagulants
Interleukin-2
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Steroids
Immunosuppressant Medications
Tamoxifen
If your child is taking any of these things, you should
consult with his doctor before giving Melatonin.
Also, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can all diminish
levels of melatonin in the body while cocaine and
amphetamines may increase melatonin production.
Conclusion
Often children with ADHD have a great deal of difficulty
falling asleep. This can be due to the medications that
they are taking or just be one component in the spectrum of
their problems. When used properly, melatonin may be a safe
and effective way to handle sleep problems in ADHD children.
----------------------------------------------------
Anthony Kane, MD has been helping parents of ADHD and
Oppositional Defiant Disorder children online since 2003.
Join over three thousand parents and get help for your
Oppositional Defiant Disorder child
(http://addadhdadvances.com/betterbehavior.html), help with
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(http://addadhdadvances.com/childyoulove.html )
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