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Melatonin is often used to treat children with sleep difficulties, but can it be used also by kids? The simple and straightforward answer to this question is yes, however, it should only be used if changes in daily routines haven’t worked and once the treatment has been approved by your family doctor.
Sleep is one of the most essential factors that affect overall health and well-being, and this is especially true when it comes to children, as their bodies and brains are still developing and need the right resources to do so.
Children’s melatonin gummies are often used to help children who cannot fall asleep without the help of some supplements. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) melatonin is considered a dietary supplement, rather than a medical drug.
Among other things, this means that the regulations about the prescription of these supplements are less strict, making them easier to access. However, this also means that often melatonin gummies do not come with precise dosage limits and safety guidelines.
Through this article, we’ll explain what melatonin is and whether it should be used for treating children with sleep difficulties. We will also discuss the side effects of melatonin and tips for helping children fall asleep with or without melatonin.
Before analyzing the possible side effects of melatonin supplements, you should know what endogenous melatonin is (i.e. that produced by the human body) and what its main biological functions are.
Melatonin is a fat-soluble and water-soluble hormone produced by the pineal gland. Also known as the epiphysis, the pineal gland is a small endocrine gland normally found in the vertebrate brain;
It functions as a regulator of the sleep-wake cycle; through its release during the evening hours, the epiphysis stimulates that typical sense of falling asleep that captures the human being, usually as the sun goes down.
The confirmation of what has just been said comes from the measurements of the plasma levels of melatonin in humans, during the 24 hours of a normal day: during the day, the quantity of melatonin in the plasma is small. As night comes, however, the plasma concentration of the same begins to progressively rise, remaining at high levels for the entire course of the night (the peak is in the central hours of the night).
Currently, a considerable number of people use melatonin supplements for the treatment of insomnia and sleep disorders in general.
According to statistics, the major consumers of melatonin supplements include people over fifty and those who work night shifts and who, for this reason, have an altered sleep-wake cycle.
“Some studies have shown that melatonin may also be effective in breast cancer, fibrocystic breast diseases, and colon cancer. Melatonin has been shown to modify immunity, the stress response, and certain aspects of the aging process; some studies have demonstrated improvements in sleep disturbances and “sundowning” in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.” – MedGenMed. 2004; 6(2): 46.
More children than one would expect, suffer from sleep-related disorders. So much so that we could define it a common disorder even if not harmless. Sleeping is very important for children even more than for adults, because it is precisely during the deep sleep phase that somatotropin, or growth hormone, is produced, which is essential for the child’s proper physical and cognitive development.
That is why parents are increasingly interested in the effects of melatonin, one of the sleep supplements most prescribed by pediatricians and neuropsychiatrists, on children. In the USA, in particular, children’s melatonin gummies are preferred to other supplements such as valerian and passionflower and to alternative remedies to sleep better, especially when it comes to children.
But the question arises: does baby melatonin work? And above all: does it have any contraindications?
The beneficial effects of melatonin for children are especially noticeable in patients whose sleep difficulties are due to particular syndromes or disorders (hyperactivity, attention deficit, autism, central nervous system diseases, mental disabilities, cerebral palsy). In these cases, the doctor will more likely prescribe melatonin both in the form of sleeping gummies for kids and drugs.
When melatonin is taken at the destination, between 10 pm and midnight, it can correct the sleep disturbances, mental inefficiency, and daytime fatigue (cumulatively known as “jet lag”) that occur after flights across several time zones.[11–13] The biological rhythm disorganization caused by the rapid change of environment (and associated light/dark cues) apparently can be corrected by melatonin – MedGenMed. 2004; 6(2): 46.
When it comes to healthy subjects, however, the pediatrician tends to evaluate the situation more carefully, trying to establish if the situation requires “external” help. Most of the time, to promote the baby’s sleep, it is enough to establish correct sleep habits, made up of precise rituals, to be repeated every evening in the same way, in an environment free of excessive stimuli. This will ensure calm and serenity, not only for the child but also and above all for the parent in charge of putting him to bed.
The fact that melatonin is a substance naturally produced by the body does not automatically make it safe and suitable for everyone. Even melatonin for children (and therefore a low dose) can have contraindications. Side effects of melatonin typically include headaches, dizziness, blood pressure problems, diabetes, rapid heartbeat, blood clotting, and even daytime sleepiness.
Hypertension, weakness, movement disorders, curative inflammations, mood changes, night cramps, and allergic reactions are a little less frequent but still present among the side effects found in patients who take melatonin.
In particular, melatonin for children could cause the latter negative effects on the cardiovascular, immune, metabolic, and reproductive systems, which are still under development in children.
The problem is that studies on the long-term effects of melatonin on children have not yet been conducted, so the advice of pediatricians who prescribe it is to administer it only for short periods. On the other hand, a problem that of taking melatonin, as it happens with common hypnotics, is that it can be addictive or that, over time, its effectiveness is reduced.
A simple answer to this question is that, technically, an overdose of melatonin is possible. Taking excessive doses can cause sleep disturbances, and abnormal sleep and awakening habits may occur. Therefore, a melatonin overdose is difficult to define because it differs from person to person and also depends on the situation.
A lot of melatonin will have negative effects on the body, without achieving its intended purpose. It can make sleeping difficult because the normal circadian rhythms have been disturbed. Overdose can make you feel very lightheaded and you may fall asleep at times you may not intend to.
Besides, there can be various other symptoms;
For some people, too much melatonin can cause high blood pressure. This results in having to use another drug to lower blood pressure. Therefore, it is not always advisable to take a supplement, especially if it can create other problems. That is why you should always contact your family doctor before you decide to give some to your children.
Sleeping might not come as easy to children as one would hope, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they should be given melatonin. Despite its many benefits, there are many other solutions to children’s sleeping problems before you decide to give them this supplement. Discuss with your doctor the best solution to your specific situation, and happy sleeping!
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