Healthline: People are taking high doses of melatonin to sleep: Why experts are concerned

UC expert says taking too much melatonin could disrupt our sleep-wake cycle

According to a research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, more people are taking supplemental melatonin, and at increasingly high doses. Researchers point out these findings raise safety concerns since the actual dose of melatonin supplements could be nearly 500% higher than the label indicates. In a story published by Healthline, Sarah Gallucci, DO, of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine was one of the experts cited reacting to the letter. 

SARAH GALLUCCI WITH UC LAB COAT   IM PULMONARY

Sarah Gallucci, DO, of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the UC College of Medicine

“Melatonin is considered a dietary supplement and is not FDA approved for safety or effectiveness,” confirmed Sarah Gallucci, DO, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the UC College of Medicine.

She added that there is an organization that confirms the claimed dosage and purity of some brands.

“Supplements that are verified by the United States Pharmacopeial convention are the most reliable,” said Gallucci. “USP verified supplements are tested to ensure that the potency and amounts match the label and that the product does not contain harmful levels of specified contaminants.”

Gallucci added that melatonin is considered “generally safe,” with few serious adverse effects.

“The most common side effects are headache, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue,” she said.

Gallucci cautioned that taking too much melatonin could disrupt our sleep-wake cycle, making it more difficult to fall asleep.

“Safe starting doses range from 2 to 5 mg,” she advised. “Melatonin does not have any addictive potential, which can be seen with some prescription sleep medications.”

Read the full story here

Next Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission and is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities. UC's medical, graduate and undergraduate students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.

Related Stories

1

Weekly Real Estate News: UC welcomes new academic director of...

June 8, 2023

Gary Painter, PhD, the new academic director of the real estate program within the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, is looking forward to making connections in the university community and beyond, he told Weekly Real Estate News.

2

UC study examines role of metabolites in disease treatment

June 8, 2023

Each year, about 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a bulge in the lower part of the aorta, the main artery in the body, called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). New research from the University of Cincinnati examines the role a particular metabolite plays in the development of AAA and could lead to the first treatment of the condition.

Debug Query for this