This is why melatonin sleep has been exceedingly popular over the past few years, but is it really a great cure for insomnia? Before we take a look at that, do we know what the true cause of insomnia is for most people? Insomnia is a sleeping disorder that is brought about by a lot of different factors. Stress, depression and long term anxiety can make one toss and turn in their bed until they realize that it’s actually time to wake up. Others experience a huge lack of sleep due to their period or certain medicines that they have to take over time. There are also a couple of illnesses that may cause a lack of sleep in most patients, and while the best solution would still be rest and relaxation, melatonin pills are sometimes necessary to aid them in their sleep.

If you are suffering from insomnia, there is also a huge possibility that your immune system will also be affected. Do not let yourself be slowed down by this condition. Visit your nearest physician and have yourself checked so you know exactly what to do!

In simplest of terms, melatonin helps regulate our internal body clocks. Under the chemical name N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, the amounts of melatonin decreases during the day and starts to shoot up at night. As the sun starts to rise, you can expect to wake up in the morning with lower melatonin levels.

Scientists and physicians have studied the effects of melatonin for several years, and this has resulted to sleep aids and supplements that have been very effective in getting over insomnia and lack of sleep. While this can produce great results, you need to make sure that you are able to consult trained professionals in knowing how much you should consume.

Patients who have claimed to have suffered from melatonin side effects have reported of nausea, sleepwalking, migraines and abdominal cramps. There are also some that have been irritable and experienced bouts of depression.  When consumed in adequate dosages, melatonin has also been claimed to be helpful in terms of anti-aging and boosting the immune system.

Do we really need to take melatonin? As with any other kind of medicine or supplement, when your body does not have enough quantities of the hormone, then it may be advisable for you to get a recommendation from your physician. You may need to think twice about taking these sleep aids if you do not really need it. Your health is of utmost importance, and self-medication may produce more harmful results without the supervision of your doctor.

The concept of melatonin side effects have been a longstanding debate. While none of these have been factually proven, it is important that we have the right amount of awareness in identifying any changes in our body and our systems. Here are some examples of alleged melatonin side effects to keep you informed of what other patients have reported. Read on to find out what they are.

Overdose effects: it goes without saying that there will be adverse effects for people who have taken more than the recommended dosage. Some patients have complained of disorientation, nightmares and confusion. This immediately tells us that we should never take more than what our doctor prescribes. Studies have shown that these behaviors usually go away once the patient stops the intake of these supplements.

Depression and moodiness: There have also been some studies reported that people who have taken melatonin sleep aids have complained of emotional side effects. While a huge majority of them have suffered from loneliness and depression, there are also a couple who experience the opposite: they end up feeling unnaturally happy and giddy after allegedly taking these sleep aids.

These are just some of the initial examples of alleged melatonin side effects. As with any other medicine, pill or drug, anything in excess will be harmful to your health, so make sure that you are able to observe the exact dosage and with proper advice from your general physician.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a chemical that occurs naturally in the human body. Its most important function is in establishing and regulating the body’s circadian rhythm. This means that through melatonin, the body is signaled on when it is daytime and it should remain awake and agile and also when it is  night and time for the body to rest and recharge. The quantity of melatonin in the body remains very low during the day and gradually increases as the evening arrives.  After falling asleep, your body releases less and less melatonin into your blood stream; this allows for a gradual awakening and helps maintain a steady circadian rthythm.

Many companies make and see Melatonin, but who do you trust?  Our next section covers our research and findings on the various brands of the sleep supplement, what to look for, what to avoid, and more.

Which Melatonin should I Take?

Melatonin should be purchased only from trusted sources.  There can be significant side effects if poorly or cheaply manufactured Melatonin is purchased and consumed.  The only versions that we are comfortable recommending are Natrol, Schiff, and Source Naturals.  These brands of Melatonin are recommended by our site for the following reasons:

• The highest quality, all-natural ingredients guarantee a full night of sleep with no side effects or groggy feelings in the morning.
• Manufactured in certified and accredited facilities in the US.  This ensures that the tablets are safe and reliable.
• The restful sleep provided ensures no frequent waking or stirring in the night.
• Wakeup up feeling energized and ready to start a new day.
• The full night of rest is proven to relieve daytime stress, anxiety, and drowsiness.

For many of these brands, you can have a great night of sleep for less than 16¢ per night.  Quickly and easily relieve all of your sleep problems with a simple, natural pill!

Update:  Amazon has just lowered the price on Natrol Melatonin; each pill costs only 6 cents.  Take advantage of this unbelievable deal while it lasts by clicking here.

Dr. Rutledge, known for his analysis of prescription and natural drugs, states “Melatonin helps us sleep.  I like Melatonin.” Taking Melatrol Melatonin will help you sleep – period.  It is made from the highest quality ingredients so there are no worries.

How is Melatonin Produced in the Body?

Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland with help from the SCN of the hypothalamus. These same functions also serve other purposes, such as handling antioxidants, fights against immunity, and warding off autism.

What are the Side Effects of Melatonin?

Melatonin does have a few side effects that cannot be overlooked; when you take a hormonal supplement from an external synthesized source there is always the possibility of complications and side effects.  First there is the possibility that defects and errors in manufacturing can cause complications and unintended side effects. It’s imperitave to study the ingredient label and ensure that there is very little added to the supplement other than Melatonin and natural-ingredients to make the tablet. You should also find out if the company is in good-standing with the Better Business Bureau.  This may sound over-the-top, but don’t forget that you are ingesting chemicals into your body and it is always better to be safe than sorry.  As you have read above, we recommend Natrol, Schiff, and Source Naturals as the best, and most affordable way to get an all-natural night of sleep.

The most common side effect of melatonin is that the important natural hormones can interfere with user’s overall metabolic system.  It can have effects on when you are hungry, how quickly or slowly you digest food, and your overall consumption and digestion.  This varies by users and most users will likely experience no side effects associated with melatonin.

Others have reported that they experience a higher likelyhood of headaches and nausea. While these aren’t signficant complications, they are certainly bothersome and if you experience them you should stop taking melatonin and speak with a doctor about it.  Along those same lines, some have experienced depression, dizziness and abdomen pain although these do not affect many people.

Some suffer from nightmares after taking melatonin. This can also develop into delusions and hallucinations if the effects are prolonged and very severe; again, common sense goes a long way here.  If anything changes in your body after trying melatonin immediately stop usage and speak with a physician.

In general, it is advised that people suffering from hypertension, epilepsy or liver issues should not take melatonin without first speaking with their doctor. Your doctor may recommend that you start with a minimal dosage and then increase your usage only if needed. In you experience melatonin side effects, withdrawal, or addiction symptoms, stop usage immediately and seek professional help.

How do I avoid Side Effects from Melatonin?

You can greatly reduce the risk of side effects associated with Melatonin by only ingesting highly reliable, quality Melatonin capsules.  Melatonin manufactured by Natrol, Schiff, and Source Naturals are:

• Manufactured and regulated by the United States, so they are safe and reliable.
• Made from the highest quality, all-natural ingredients.  These are the same chemicals that occur naturally in your body, so nothing unnatural is ingested.
• Very cost-effective.  You can have a full nights sleep for less than the cost of a gumball.

There are great deals currently being offered on Melatonin.  Click here to take advantage of them.

Disclaimer

The information and advice available through MelatoninSideEffectsInfo.com is not meant to replace the services and professional advice of a physician, nor does this site and information provided constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Information on this web site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition.  Any text read on this website should be reviewed with a doctor before being implemented.

This is the personal experience of site contributor Brian Patterson.

I started taking Melatonin approximately 2 years ago when I realized that I really needed to do something about my sleep problems.  I had tried numerous different over-the-counter and prescription drugs to help with my inability to fall asleep, but all of them brought along their own issues and side-effects that left me unsatisfied.  Not only did they have unintended consequences, but I also was not interested in ingesting unnatural chemicals on a daily basis.

When I first heard about Melatonin, I was excited about its prospects but hesitant to believe all of the great things I had read.  I read up as much as I could online, spoke to my doctor, and then researched online to find the highest-quality, safest supplement available. I absolutely did not want to take a risk by ingesting a poor quality product into my body, health is just not worth the risk.  Here were my requirements for picking out the supplement:

• I wanted a product manufactured into the United States.  I knew that if it was made in the US, I could trust it to be reliable because of the numerous safety requirements.
• I didn’t want supplements that had extra, unnecessary additives.
• I wanted something Doctor reviewed and recommended.

After numerous research, I decided on Melatonin from Natrol.  I received my package and eagerly took it that night, about 45 minutes before I wanted to fall asleep, with a large glass of water.  As if by magic, about 45 minutes later, I was definitely ready for bed.  I wasn’t ‘knocked out’, but I was certainly tired and didn’t toss and turn trying to fall asleep.

The next morning I awoke refreshed and didn’t have that groggy feeling that some drugs and Nyquil often leave you with.  There were no noticeable side effects and I was certainly please with the results.  I definitely recommend Melatrol if you are going to take Melatonin – its the highest quality available, its safe to take, and it costs almost nothing to take a Melatrol pill and get a great night of sleep.  Update:  Amazon has just lowered the price on Natrol Melatonin; each pill costs only 6 cents.  Take advantage of this unbelievable deal while it lasts by clicking here.

I have continued to use Melatonin sparingly since and it has absolutely worked great for me.  I have not noticed any side effects at all; thats right, its as if I were just falling asleep on my own – nothing else.

I highly recommend Natrol Melatonin to friends and family because it has been so effective for me.  It is natural and already occurs in your body, so you don’t feel as if you are doing any damage to your body by introducing new chemicals that don’t already exist. Additionally, the side effects are really non-existent for me, although your experience may differ.

If you do purchase Melatonin, pick up the Melatrol Melatonin. It is the highest quality, highest rated product out there and the price is absolutely worth it for the great product you get!

Human beings and other animals produce melatonin through the pineal gland, which is located outside the blood-brain barrier. In most the lens and retina also make melatonin.

In addition to a living creature or organism producing melatonin, it can also be biologically produced/grown.  This synthetic melatonin is most commonly used in the supplements available for purchase in most health food and drug stores. It is strongly suggested, based on current available research, that ‘harvested’ melatonin (such as that from Algae) be avoided due to other chemicals that may still be living in them. These other chemicals can cause serious side effects and complications.

Artificially synthesized melatonin that is infused into the system via supplements has proven to be a very effective way of increasing the total amount of melatonin present in the body.

The human brain has a temperature regulator called the hypothalamus which contains SCN. The SCN receives information from the retina about how a body is handling the process of day and night and how the circadian rhythm should influence the body. Melatonin is secreted by non-image based information of light pattern.

In many organisms, lymph cells and cells of bone marrow have also been known to produce melatonin. These are the peripheral cells in action.

We have mentioned the ‘circadian rhythm’ numerous times on this site. As you likely know by now the circadian rythm regulates your sleep cycle. How does the body get to know when the time to sleep is and how to adjust for the biological and seasonal internal clocks? Well, the function of melatonin defines the clock. The difference in the amount and span of melatonin production determines when you will feel tired and when you won’t. When your body feels time for you to be awake, very little melatonin will be present in the body; likewise, when your body feels it is time for you to be asleep, your body will increase melatonin production and induce drowsiness.

Seasonal factors also have an effect on sleep cycles.  Your body automatically adjusts the circadian rhythm and thus the melatonin production to compensate for the long nights of winter and the short nights of summer.

Maintaining the biological clock is clearly the most important function of the chemical. Its presence falls during daytime and is heightened in production during the evening and well into the night. Then again, as the day approaches, production drastically decreases.

Melatonin helps in the antioxidant related need of the body. Antioxidants reverse free radical damage and also cut out the chances of carcinogens destroying the DNA’s. This prevents cancer to a great degree. Antioxidants are also great means of flushing out body toxins and raising body metabolism. Melatonin production also aids the immunity levels present in the body. These are also known to boost the fight against autism.

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 off one the few known causes of cancer.

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. You can receive information about dosing  sizes by reviewing clinical trial data as well as the information on this site. 

The most common doses available 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.

Which Melatonin should I Buy?

Melatonin should be purchased only from trusted sources.  There can be significant side effects if poorly or cheaply manufactured Melatonin is purchased and consumed.  The only version that we take and reccomend is Melatrol.  The benefits of Melatrol include:

• The highest quality, all-natural ingredients guarantee a full night of sleep with no side effects or groggy feelings in the morning.
• Manufactured in certified and accredited facilities in the US.  This ensures that it is safe and reliable.
• The restful sleep provided ensures no frequent waking or stirring in the night.
• Wakeup up feeling energizes and ready to start a new day.
• The full night of rest is proven to relieve daytime stress, anxiety, and drowsiness.

For just a few cents per night, you can quickly and easily relieve all of your sleep problems – a great deal. Update:  Amazon has just lowered the price on Natrol Melatonin; each pill costs only 6 cents.  Take advantage of this unbelievable deal while it lasts by clicking here.

Dr. Rutledge, known for reviews of prescriptions and supplements, states ”Melatonin helps us sleep.  I like Melatonin.” Taking Melatrol Melatonin will help you sleep – period.  It is made from the highest quality ingredients so there are no worries.  Purchase Natrol Melatonin on Amazon.

Melatonin Manufacturing Details

Melatonin is considered a herbal or natural supplement.  As such it does not go through the rigorous testing and trials that the FDA performs on prescription 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. Natrol, Schiff, and Source Naturals are the only Melatonin brands we recommend and trust, as they are made from the high-quality natural ingredients and manufactured in the United States.

There are some side effects of Melatonin that are a byproduct of poor quality ingredients and supplements. Some of these side effects include nausea and vomiting, dizziness and abdomen pain. The more significant side effects of poor quality Melatonin supplements include withdrawal symptoms and depression.

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.  Because it is difficult to tell if the product you are taking is synthetically produced or harvested from farm animals, we again recommend Natrol, Schiff, and Source Naturals for safety and quality.

Melatonin is a great supplement and we have heard many success stories and very few complaints or issues when users take the Melatrol manufactured product.  You should always talk to your doctor or physician before taking any supplements, medicines or OTC drugs.