Melatonin use has increased around the world as people grow more aware of sleep health and seek quick solutions for restless nights. The market now includes both standalone melatonin tablets and mixed formulas combined with calming plant extracts. Many doctors, however, are urging caution, warning that daily use may not be as safe or effective as people assume.Why Are Doctors Warning Against Daily Melatonin Use?A few years ago, pediatric sleep specialist Dr Judith Owens began noticing something unusual in her clinic. Owens, who teaches neurology at Harvard Medical School and works at Boston Children’s Hospital, has spent decades treating children who struggle to sleep. What startled her was how many of them were now taking melatonin. She explains that in most cases parents had already tried the supplement before seeking medical help, a sharp change from what she saw earlier in her career.Also Read: Can High Blood Sugar Lead To Blindness? Expert ExplainsAs per TIMES, adults have followed a similar path. Between 1999 and 2018, the number of people in the United States using melatonin rose more than fivefold. Because it is sold as a supplement, companies can promote it as a harmless, natural sleep helper without formal review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Yet major sleep groups, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, do not recommend melatonin as a treatment for insomnia. Researchers continue to stress that its long-term impact remains uncertain.How Much Melatonin Is Too MuchAs night approaches, the pineal gland begins to release melatonin into the bloodstream. Levels rise through the night and decline after sunrise, helping the body understand the length of darkness and adjust internal functions accordingly.Researchers have learned that melatonin’s reach extends beyond sleep. It influences immune activity, inflammation, and even the programmed death of cells. As per TIMES, experiments show that several tissues produce small amounts of melatonin on their own, and a wide range of cells carry receptors that respond to it.Also Read: First U.S. Human Bird Flu Case In Nearly A Year Confirmed In Washington—New Strain Detected Disturbances in melatonin rhythms have been found in conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, Type 2 diabetes, schizophrenia, some cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease.Interestingly, melatonin can be helpful when used under medical direction. Blind individuals with disrupted circadian cycles often benefit from carefully timed doses. Children with autism may sleep better with prescribed melatonin, and scientists have explored whether it could aid recovery after heart attacks.Melatonin And Heart Failure: Is There A Link?Despite these potential uses, most people take melatonin in ways that do not match how doctors view the hormone. Since large clinical trials are limited, some researchers have turned to electronic health records to spot trends.One recent abstract, presented at an American Heart Association meeting, examined adults who were prescribed melatonin and took it for at least a year. These individuals had a markedly higher rate of heart failure compared with similar patients who did not take melatonin. The study sparked attention, though specialists caution against assuming that melatonin caused the problem. Insomnia and heart disease often coexist, so the need for melatonin may simply reflect early signs of heart trouble.Is Melatonin Bad For You?Many experts believe that the main issue is the lack of long-term data. Doctors still cannot say whether regular supplementation weakens the body’s own melatonin production. Owens is especially concerned about children who take melatonin nightly for long stretches. Melatonin influences bone growth, immune function, and reproductive development, which raises questions about possible effects later in life.Some evidence offers reassurance. A Dutch research group followed children with ADHD and other diagnoses who were on medically supervised melatonin for nearly four years. They did not see harmful outcomes. Still, these children were monitored closely and given doses tailored to their needs. Without such oversight, adults and children may easily take more than required, disrupting the body’s internal clock and worsening sleep.Metabolism also differs from person to person. A dose that is modest for one individual may linger in another’s system well into the morning.Melatonin Use: Long Term EffectsIn the United Kingdom, melatonin can only be obtained with a prescription and is intended for short-term use. Experts say that the ease of buying it over the counter in the United States can lead people to view it as harmless. This mindset often encourages higher or longer-term use.Both Owens and sleep researcher Dr Marie-Pierre St-Onge advise people to focus first on behavioral changes rather than pills. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-I, is considered the most effective treatment for sleep problems in both adults and children. It relies on structured habits and practical adjustments that continue to help long after the treatment period ends.
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