Melatonin is a naturally occurring chemical found in the body. Though it is synthetically produced by many different supplement makers, you can expect the consistency across all (honest) manufacturers to be of a fairly good quality. You can find a ton of information and products by exploring the many links on this site. Melatonin is a hormone generated by the body to set and regulate the time patterns of the circadian rhythm. As a bonus, it is also great for the purpose of fighting against free radical damage to the body which is known to cause cancer. By fighting this damage, your body is helping ward of one of the known causes of cancer.
Explore the links on this site to learn more about sleep solutions and alternative ways for you to get to sleep. We provide links to popular vendors and information so that you never have to toss and turn at night again.
Currently there are no dosage guidelines that have been accepted and adopted across the supplement industry. This does not mean, however, that we can’t get great information on what melatonin dosages are best. We can get information about dosing sizes by reviewing clinical trial data as well as personal experiences with melatonin. The most common doses available at the drug store range from 3 to 5 mg and are intended to be used once per day, right before sleep. Currently there is not a government or federal reccomended dosing size for melatonin so, as a rule of thumb, we suggest starting with the smallest dosage size (after consulting with your doctor) and only increasing after continued consultations with a physician.
Most sleep disorder and insomnia treatments are not intended to be taken on a long term basis, melatonin is no different. It is recommended that you only take it when it is absolutely necessary and that you avoid overusing it as your body will build up an immunity, which forces you to take larger doses for it to remain effective. For many people, a few weeks on melatonin is enough to establish a strong circadian rythm that will hold even after melatonin usage is discontinued.
Melatonin is considered a herbal or natural supplement. As such it does not go through the rigorous testing and trials that FDA performs on perscription drugs. So, you need to be absolutely careful and sure that you trust the manufacturer of the supplement you are taking. Always look for the symbol “USP” as this identies products that have been independently tested and ‘certified’ that the correct ingredients and quantities were used. Again, though, remember that this is not government testing and as such you can only trust it so much.
There are some side effects that are introduced by melatonin usage when we talk of the various supplements that come in the market in a synthesized way. Well, some of these side effects can be nausea and vomiting, dizziness and abdomen pain. The tougher ones may include withdrawal symptoms and depression. Reproduction is also known to suffer owing to its use and also the urge towards sex is diminished.
Most of the melatonin products you see on the shelf at your drug store are synthetically produced in a lab. While it may sound counterintuitive, the synthetic versions are widely regarded as safer than the natural products available. Some of the natural products available are ‘harvested’ from the pineal glands of farm animals such as cows or sheep. The problem with the naturally harvest products is that they can easily and unknowingly contain contaminants that could cause side effects and complications.
Melatonin is a great supplement and we have heard many success stories and very few complaints or issues. You should always talk to your doctor or physician before taking any supplements, medicines or OTC drugs. Please explore the links on this site to learn more about melatonin and other sleep solutions.