Melatonin Side Effects

What is Melatonin?

We all have an internal body clock that has a schedule for our hormone production and other biological activities. Melatonin has the important task to control your internal clock, and to help you get a good night's sleep. It also helps reduce your core body temperature, which helps to induce sleep.

Melatonin hormone is secreted by the pineal gland, which lies at the base of the brain. This hormone is produced almost exclusively during the night, when it's dark. The secretion of the hormone usually peaks between midnight and 2am, then starts to fall beginning at about 4-5am.

And now it's time for a video about melatonin:

Melatonin Side Effects

Now that you learn how melatonin works on your body, you should know also the other side of the story. You probably wonder if it's wise to take melatonin pills if you have a shift work disorder or another sleeping condition.

Here is what you should know before taking melatonin pills:

• the most important thing is that melatonin can reduce alertness and induce sleepiness. So you should be very careful once you have take it and avoid driving and other dangerous operations.


• headache, sleepiness and nausea are also very common side effects in people who take melatonin pills - you should always use a quality product of melatonin, with license and quality-controlled verification.


• melatonin may reduce the sensitivity of the body to insulin, resulting in increased blood sugar levels.


• directly affects the timing of your biological clock.


• Always read the label carefully to avoid unwanted wheat, gluten, egg, milk or animal derivatives. Also check for such inactive ingredients as corn or rice starch, gelatin, methycellulose or talc.


• researches advise caution and only short-term administration of melatonin in children, since toxicity and other side effects have not been determined.


• depression is another melatonin side effect in people who have had episodes of depression.


• people with autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, or with diabetes, epilepsy, leukemia, eye diseases and headaches should also avoid melatonin.


• some people have strange reactions to melatonin: Instead of getting sleepy at nighttime, they get sleepy during the day.

In conclusion, you should realize that melatonin is a powerful hormone, and even in small doses, it may affect a number of different body processes. That's why you should always talk to your doctor before taking any sleeping aid, including melatonin.

Some more interesting pages for you to check out:

• Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment

• Shift Work in people with apnea breathing disorder

• Side sleeper pillow

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