Getting rest is important for many reasons including just general wellbeing.  The National Institutes of Health warns that a chronic lack of sleep can increase the risk for a number of health issues including stroke, seizures, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done.  Nearly 60 million Americans every year experience some kind of insomnia and wake up feeling tired.  Dr. Sarah Zallek, a neurologist who specializes in sleep disorders for OSF Sleep, says that sleep disruptions can have countless causes such as personal loss, stress, or sadness. One thing that has been noticed has been the impact of COVID-19. 

One sleep aid option that is being used more and more is the use of melatonin supplements. Melatonin is a hormone your brain produces in response to darkness.  It helps with the timing of circadian rhythms and with sleep. Melatonin can be made synthetically, and is most often used as a supplement in this form.  A recent study published by the CDC shows that use has increased 150% between 2016 and 2020.  Dr. Zallek says that while melatonin does have value, if you have a sleep disorder you should find the cause of it. 

In the US, melatonin is sold as a supplement.  That means it’s not regulated as a drug and the US Food and Drug Administration doesn’t have oversight over what gets put in the bottle, the ingredients, or the accuracy of dosage claims.  Dr. Zallek warns that there might be more, or less, than you bargained for in your bottle.

Adults aren’t alone when it comes to sporadic sleep issues.  Kids can suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders and parents often turn to melatonin for help.  Dr. Zallek has concerns. 

Melatonin ingestions reported to US Poison control centers increased 530% from 2012 – 2021 with more 52,000 calls last year alone.  Dr. Zallek encourages everyone to speak to their doctor before starting a melatonin regimen for sleep.