Sleep doctor warns this ‘is the most misused supplement in the world’

Experts are warning insomniacs about the overuse of melatonin tablets as many who take the supplements are complaining of getting the worst sleep ever. 

A dramatic rise in sleep aides has occurred as 37 percent of Americans reported suffering from somewhat or much worse sleep in the past year, according to Sleep Foundation. 

As a result, scientists are cautioning against using melatonin to cure chronic sleeplessness.

‘I would argue that melatonin is the most misused supplement in the world,’ saidDr. Michael Breus, popularly known as the Sleep Doctor. ‘Melatonin is a sleep regulator, not a sleep originator.’

Melatonin is a cheap and easy-to-make drug that is being mass produced as tablets and gummies. The supplement has been marketed towards those suffering from sleep deprivation. 

Dosages range depending on the brand but doctors told DailyMail.com that adults should stick to five milligrams per day. 

But according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, researchers have not been able to find strong evidence on the effectiveness or safety of the supplementation for chronic insomnia but instead recommend seeking cognitive behavioral therapy as an initial treatment for insomnia. 

Apart from worsening chronic sleeplessness, excessive use of the drug can also cause headaches, next-day drowsiness, nausea and a decrease in body temperature. 

Luis F. Buenaver, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University recommends using less than three milligrams of melatonin two hours before bed and foregoing it if it has no effects. 

‘If melatonin for sleep isn’t helping after a week or two, stop using it. 

‘And if your sleep problems continue, talk with your health care provider. If melatonin does seem to help, it’s safe for most people to take nightly for one to two months.

Apart from worsening chronic sleeplessness, excessive use of the drug can also cause headaches, next-day drowsiness, nausea and a decrease in body temperature

Earlier this year, experts sounded the alarm about the sleep supplement as use skyrockets in the US and led to a spike of overdoses in children

‘After that, stop and see how your sleep is. Be sure you’re also relaxing before bed, keeping the lights low and sleeping in a cool, dark, comfortable bedroom for optimal results.’ 

Earlier this year, experts sounded the alarm about the sleep supplement as use skyrockets in the US and led to a spike of overdoses in children.

Melatonin, an over-the-counter sleep supplement, has surged in popularity over the past few years. Estimates suggest adult use has increased four-fold, and more than half of parents have given it to their kids. 

The vitamin pills – available for $10 per bottle of 30 pills – are said to mimic the effect of natural melatonin, a hormone produced by the body in response to darkness.

The substance tells the brain it is time to sleep by slowing heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

The above graph shows the rise in children suffering overdoses from melatonin

However, melatonin products, which are unregulated by federal authorities, often contain far higher doses of the active ingredient than labels suggest.

The supplement has been linked to a 500 percent increase in overdoses in kids over the past decade. 

A 2022 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the number of children being hospitalized after ingesting melatonin increased 530 percent from 2012 to 2021. 

The data also showed that two children died from overdosing on the supplement. Both children were under two years of age, with the youngest just three months old.

It is not clear exactly what happened in the body to cause the deaths, but experts have suggested heart rhythm problems are most likely to blame.