Melatonin and blood pressure, hypertension - Melatonin in children
Melatonin Lowers
Blood Pressure at Night
Taking a pill containing melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates sleep, at
bedtime may enhance the drop in blood pressure that occurs at night. The normal
decline in blood pressure at night may be related to the rise of melatonin
levels in the body. Therefore, treatment with a melatonin supplement may lower
lower blood pressure further. To evaluate the effect of melatonin on blood
pressure changes in women, Italian researchers recruited nine healthy women and
nine women who were being successfully treated with drug therapy for high blood
pressure. The ages of the women ranged from 47 to 63 years. For three weeks, one
hour before bed, the women were randomly assigned to pills containing 3 mg of
sustained release melatonin or inactive "placebo." After the three weeks, the
women crossed over to the alternate treatment. Melatonin treatment decreased
nighttime blood pressure. Melatonin had no effect on daytime blood pressure or
on heart rate. This is good news for those with hypertension. However, i prefer
a lower dose to be used, perhaps 1 mg, and since we don't know the long term
effects of nightly melatonin use for years and decades, I think the maximum dose
and frequency should be 1 mg of melatonin every other night.
Melatonin in children
Q. My email is in regards to melatonin for my child.
My son's pediatrician recommended us giving him (almost 5 years old now)
Melatonin nightly because he had a hard time falling asleep. We have given him
at least 1 mg every night for several years. Recently we started observing and
he started complaining of ''tremors" which looked like he was shivering from
being cold. He recently had a 48 hour EEG which was normal. We stopped using the
Melatonin and the ''tremors" have disappeared. My child also has had some
behavioral problems, requiring discipline and ''time outs'' but since we stopped
the Melatonin this has improved. I also saw some information recently that
Melatonin affects Human Growth Hormone, my son is very short for his age, in the
3% for his age. I am a very concerned parent. Do you feel that the long term
Melatonin use has contributed to his growth problems? The ''tremors?" The
discipline issues? His lack of growth? I saw a mention that you don't recommend
its use for more than 2 times per week. Do you think there will be any long term
problems my child will experience because we used melatonin tremendously more
than your recommendation?
A. The long term use of melatonin in children and adults has not
been evaluated enough to know the consequences. It is possible that the
conditions you mention regarding your child's health may be due to melatonin
excess. If that is the case, hopefully his body and pineal gland will be able to
recover and readjust after stopping the melatonin. It may be a good idea not to
use melatonin until he is much older. It is possible that these side effects and
problems will reverse with time, however we are not familiar with any child who
has been given high doses of melatonin nightly for several years, so we don't
have any first hand experience. I can't be sure that these problems are related
to melatonin use, but it is a possibility.
The Right Dose of Melatonin for Sleep
After treating more than 200 patients with melatonin, surveying hundreds more, and informally talking to thousands of users, I am becoming more and more convinced that, until we learn more, it's best not to take melatonin on a daily basis. The following are some of my concerns:
1) Tolerance develops in some people when melatonin is used every night. After a few weeks some find that melatonin is not inducing or maintaining sleep as well as it did in the past. To avoid the creeping up of tolerance, melatonin should be used at most every other night, or preferably every third night. The dose used should be the lowest amount that works, such as 1 mg or less. Some users find that a dose as little as 0.2 mg can induce sleep. It is ok to accasionally take a high dose such as 5 or 10 mg if needed. Melatonin is not toxic at high doses when used infrequently.
2) Tiredness, low mood, or fatigue can develop when people use melatonin every night, especially in doses more than 2 or 3 mg. Some people feel sleepy the next day with the wish to take naps.
3) We still don't know the long-term effects on the immune and hormonal systems of chronic melatonin use. Also, high doses of melatonin used regularly could possibly inhibit sex drive and inhibit the function of gonads (testicles and ovaries).
I'm 40 years old and I'm currently using 0.5 mg of melatonin about twice a week. Not only does melatonin provide me with a deep sleep, but there seems to be a carry over effect into following nights. The effect of taking it one night seems to influence my sleep positively for another night or two. Many users find the same: they feel better, have a better mood and more energy.
Will taking a melatonin supplement help you live longer. The effect of melatonin on longevity could be due to many factors, and let's briefly discuss three of them:
1) Deep sleep. The positive influence of melatonin on deep, restorative sleep could alone account for a longer life span.
2) As an antioxidant. The advantage of melatonin over other antioxidants is that it is both water and fat soluble, meaning it goes into almost all cells and all parts of the body. Melatonin's disadvantage is that it has a short half-life and it's antioxidant benefits may only last overnight, as opposed to vitamin E, which is stored in tissues and protects all day long.
3) Immune system improvement. Interestingly, many people report that since they've been on melatonin, they don't catch colds and infections as much as they used to. These stories are, of course, anecdotal, and we don't have any published human studies on the influence of melatonin on the immune system in the long-term.
It's best not take melatonin every night
until we gather more information.
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Danshen used in China for
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Deer antler velvet
Lapp dance enhancer? anyone try
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Depression move aside,
Prozac...mood lifters without a prescription
DHEA hormone pill
Diabetes it's not healthy to be
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Diet do you have the will
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DMAE focus your brain,
a well-known mind/memory booster
DMG mind and sex booster
Dopamine the libido
neurotransmitter
Chapter One
Melatonin: A Supplement for the Future? or Tonight?
Discusses the controversy, safety issues, and effectiveness.
From Cradle to Rocking Chair-Melatonin Throughout Life
Includes a graph of declining levels throughout life.
Dreams Like You Never Dreamed
Melatonin has the Chemical Structure Similar to Tryptamine Hallucinogens
Melatonin and Longevity
Life Span Extension in Animals
A Powerful Antioxidant
Immune Enhancement
An Honest Appraisal of Melatonin's Influence on Longevity
Take Two Melatonin's and Call Me in the Morning
What Dosage is Best?
When is the Best Time to Take Melatonin?
Is Melatonin Addictive?
What About Tolerance?
Are Their Withdrawal Symptoms?
Uses of Melatonin: Insomnia, Jet Lag, Shift Work, Mood Elevation
The Circadian Cycle
The Pineal Gland
Hibernation
Daily Rhythms
The Science of Sleep
The Lessons from the Blind
The Stages of Sleep
Twenty Tips to Forty Winks
How to Sleep Deep
Melatonin and the Future
To Treat Prostate Gland Enlargement
Treating Osteoporosis, Cancer, Epilepsy, Improving Immunity
For Heart Disease and to Prevent Cataracts
The Chemistry of Melatonin