Can Adults Overdose on Melatonin? 4 Common Side Effects

AnushkaD
8 Min Read

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Sleep problems are quite common in today’s world whether the reason is psychological or biological. Sleeping pills, therefore, are the most common retort. But pause – you are consuming a chemical. What impact does it have on your body? We shall discuss this in today’s blog! 
A man sleeping
Image by Shane, Free to use under Unsplash License

What is melatonin? 

Melatonin is a hormone produced by a tiny gland located deep inside our brain – the pineal gland. The function of this hormone is to regulate our sleep cycles. It controls what a biologist would call circadian rhythms, our body’s own 24-hour internal clock. It is melatonin that tells our body – it’s night, and time to sleep. 

One can consume melatonin pills when they cannot sleep, in case of sleep disorders or jet lags. Melatonin is available as a supplement, as an oral tablet, or as a capsule. They can be made from animals or microorganisms, but most often they’re made synthetically in a lab.

What does melatonin do to your body?

Melatonin is a hormone regulator of your circadian rhythms.

Can Adults Overdose on Melatonin? 4 Common Side Effects 2
By Quin Stevenson, Free to use under the Unsplash License

 

Similar to a clock, your circadian rhythms have a 24-hour cycle. In the brain there is a small structure called the hypothalamus. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SN) of your hypothalamus remains dormant when it comes to triggering the pineal gland during the day thanks to the sun’s strong light.

But, this suprachiasmatic nucleus is no longer suppressed at night when there is less intense light. Your pineal gland is stimulated by the SN, and as a result, melatonin is released. To put it simply, melatonin production increases at night compared to during the day.

When you take a melatonin pill, you essentially hijack your body to induce sleep. You can simulate being at the peak of your circadian rhythm by taking melatonin, which can help you fall asleep more quickly by raising the associated concentration.

Because of insufficient production by the body, some people may need to take melatonin supplements. A person may, however, need to address the underlying issue that initially causes the deficiency to avoid becoming dependent on the medications.

Is it possible to overdose on melatonin?

The answer is – no, you cannot overdose on melatonin. 

Can Adults Overdose on Melatonin? 4 Common Side Effects 3
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You overdose on a substance because it is directly poisonous to your body’s cells or because it has a deadly effect on some of your body’s neurons.

Therefore, for instance, Tylenol kills you because it is poisonous to liver cells above a specific level. If you take more than that amount, your liver’s cells are completely killed, which results in death.

You die from depressants like heroin or barbiturates because they interfere with the brain’s neurons that regulate your respiratory rate. If you consume too many of those, your breathing rate decreases until you aren’t getting enough oxygen, at which point you pass away from a lack of oxygen.

You usually die from stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine because they interfere with the neurons that regulate your blood pressure. In order to keep your blood pressure consistent, your blood vessels are continually contracting or expanding to account for typical differences in how hydrated you are or how hot or cold you are. Methamphetamine and cocaine signal those neurons to raise blood pressure, which causes your blood vessels to constrict. The blood vessels will eventually shrink to where insufficient blood can pass through them, which will cause your organs to run out of blood and cause you to pass away.

However it is not always advisable, safe, or effective to take melatonin, and while it’s rare, it is possible to take too much of the supplement.

However, it is important to consider that melatonin is a drug. You can get addicted to any drug and melatonin is no different. Each medicine has LD 50, a fatal dose. Referring to the dosage of a supplement at which 50% of persons consuming the drug would die. Experts have not identified the LD 50 for melatonin. Even very large doses of melatonin were not deadly to animals. It is quite unlikely that you may die from a supplement overdose.

Side effects of melatonin

Even if melatonin isn’t comparatively harmful, it has many side effects. 

Some of the common melatonin side effects include:

     

      • Headache

      • Dizziness

      • Nausea

      • Drowsiness

    Some less common symptoms include:

       

        • Short-lasting depression

        • Mild anxiety

        • Tremors

        • Stomach cramps

        • Irritability

        • Less of an ability to be alert

        • Confusion or disorientation

        • Very low blood pressure

      Melatonin is a reactive element. It can be harmful if you mix it with:

         

          • Anticonvulsants (drugs to treat seizures)

          • Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs (drugs to prevent blood clots)

          • Contraceptive (birth control) drugs

          • Diabetes medications

          • Immunosuppressants (medications that suppress your immune system)

        It is therefore important to always consult a doctor before blindly taking pills. If you have any medication reactive with melatonin, docs can let you know.

        Your cardiovascular, dermatologic (connected to your skin), and melatonin may affect central neurological systems. If you use melatonin and have a condition associated with one or more of these, you could experience additional negative effects.

        Also, you might be increasingly susceptible to the supplement as you age. This is because your melatonin levels are low by nature. So, your physician might advise to start with less melatonin.

        Melatonin might cause an allergic reaction. However, this is unusual. Some persons who use melatonin may experience anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction.

        Additional symptoms of a melatonin allergy may include:

           

            • Itchy rashes

            • Wheezing

            • chest or throat constriction

            • breathing or speaking difficulties

            • Swellings

          If this occurs, you might need to seek immediate medical attention in the emergency hospital.

          Conclusion

          While melatonin can help you fall asleep if you’re having trouble, sometimes using anything too much can be harmful to your health. Be careful!

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          By AnushkaD Creative Content Writer
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          I am a content writer and a psychology major student. She contributed her work on lifestyle in Icy Tales