There are many reasons your child may have difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep that need to be considered. Melatonin may interact with other medicines such as antidepressants, so you should always discuss this with your doctor before you start taking melatonin or any new medication.īefore you give your child melatonin to help them sleep, check with a doctor or pharmacist. If you have long-term sleep problems, there are other things you can do to help you sleep and further medical investigations may be needed. Melatonin is usually used for short term sleep problems or to reset your body clock after shift work or jetlag. Don't use melatonin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Melatonin is now available over the counter for people aged over 55 years.ĭon't take melatonin together with sedative or antidepressant medicines, or after drinking alcohol. Melatonin is available in Australia, but you do need to see your doctor for some prescription-strength formulations. Go outdoors in the daytime to expose yourself to natural sunlight.You can adjust your melatonin levels naturally: Avoid alcohol and cigarettes before bedtime. Developing good sleeping habits and a healthy lifestyle are very important. Remember that getting a good night's sleep requires more than just taking melatonin. Playing games or interacting online also keeps you alert and can impact your ability to fall asleep afterwards. The bright light from devices can stop your bodies from releasing melatonin. If you watch TV or use tablets, smartphones, laptops or other electronic devices before bed it can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Do some exercise in the daylight to help reset your body clock. If your melatonin levels are too high during the daytime and you feel sleepy (for example, if you have recently travelled a long distance and changed time zones), you should go out into the sunlight to help your body adjust your melatonin levels. alopecia (a health condition causing hair loss).Taking too much melatonin as a medicine or supplement may cause: You should not take melatonin before driving or operating machinery because it causes sleepiness. What happens if I have too much melatonin?

Your body's natural melatonin level tends to go down as you age. Too little melatonin can lead to sleep problems and in some studies low levels of melatonin have also been seen in people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, severe pain, type 2 diabetes and some mood disorders. What happens if I have too little melatonin? It can help you fall asleep at night and stay asleep for longer. This can help if you have travelled overseas and have jet lag, if you do shift work, or if you have low vision. Taken as a medicine, melatonin can help reset the 'body clock' and help you sleep and wake at the right times. It has also been claimed that melatonin has antioxidant effects that can prevent ageing and cancer, but ' claims aren't proven. Melatonin naturally helps control your body's sleep and wake cycles. You can take melatonin as a medicine to help with sleep problems, including insomnia, and for jet lag.Ī form of melatonin has also been made as a medicine to help treat depression. Your body naturally increases melatonin levels about 2 hours before going to sleep, to get you ready for sleep. Melatonin levels are higher at night and are lower in bright daylight. Its level varies throughout the day and night to control your body clock. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. Related information on Australian websites.What happens if I have too much melatonin?.What happens if I have too little melatonin?.Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you on whether melatonin is right for you.Melatonin can also be prescribed as a medicine for some people, and is available over the counter for people aged over 55 years.Melatonin is one way to help you control your sleep cycle, but if you are having trouble sleeping there may be other causes or treatments available.Melatonin levels increase when it is dark and are lower when you are exposed to light.Melatonin is naturally produced in the brain and can help control your sleep cycle.

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