Melatonin

HISTORY: Melatonin is a natural endogenous hormone primarily produced by our body's pineal gland (also produced by several other tissues: The retina, thymus, spleen, ovaries, testicles, intestine, and bone marrow). Besides regulating our sleep cycle, there are many other proposed benefits to Melatonin; however, because the discovery of Melatonin was relatively recent (1958), there is still much to this substance that remains unexplored.
Once the benefits of melatonin were discovered, manufacturers began to produce it synthetically.

PROPERTIES: Hormonal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory

CONSIDERED USES

Respiratory: COPD

Cardiovascular: High blood pressure (especially at night)

Ears: Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Eyes: Age-related vision loss, possibly macular degeneration

Gastrointestinal: IBS, Acid reflux, ulcers related to h. pylori, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, heartburn, GERD, and epigastric pain

Genitourinary: Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), endometriosis, infertility, menopausal symptoms, PCOS

Musculoskeletal: Sarcoidosis, osteoporosis, exercise performance, TMJ

Neurological: Used to maintain normal sleep patterns (jet lag, delayed sleep disorder, shift work disorder), cerebral palsy, insomnia caused by beta-blockers drugs, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, restless legs syndrome, migraine and other headaches, tardive dyskinesia for, anxiety before and after surgery, agitation caused by anesthesia drugs, stress, intellectual disabilities, autism (helps sleep), dementia (including Alzheimer's), ADHD (helps sleep), Parkinson's

Skin: Sunburn

Mental Health: Several psychiatric disorders are related to the sleep-wake cycle: depression, anxiety, and cognitive disorders. Bipolar disorder, depression, seasonal affective disorder, schizophrenia (in conjunction with other medications), anxiety/panic, tardive dyskinesia using Melatonin to treat any of the above; it is important to discuss with your healthcare provider before doing so.

Immunity: Stimulates production of specific cells important in the immune response.

Cancer: May reduce some of the side effects from radiation and chemotherapy (i.e., mouth ulcers, thrombocytopenia), May help shrink tumors in conjunction with other medications

Other: To reduce side effects of smoking cessation, anti-aging properties, for recovery after surgery, possibly weight loss, nicotine disorder

Side Effects: Daytime sleepiness, nausea, stomach cramps, dizziness, depression, headache, irritability, hypotension/low blood pressure, circadian rhythm disruption, anxiety, may interfere with hormones and hormone receptors involved with the reproductive cycle

Cautions/Precautions: Mild /moderate interactions with quite a few other drugs, including antihypertensives (blood pressure medications), anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, sedatives, birth control, blood thinners, antidiabetic medications, immunosuppressants central nervous system depressants like benzos like Ativan, Xanax, and Valium as well as various sleeping pills. Avoid in autoimmune disorders. Caution with medications metabolized by the CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 systems

FORMS: Tablets, capsules, liquids, IV, gel, gummies, creams, lozenges

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

• Source Naturals® Melatonin - Orange Flavor-1 mg lozenge (order through Amazon link here)

• Swanson® Low Dose Melatonin 1 mg (order on Amazon through this link)

• Vicks® ZzzQuil™ Pure Zzzs™ Back To Sleep - to take in the middle of the night (sold in retail stores)

• GNC Melatonin 3 mg (order online through this Amazon link)

• Nature Made® Melatonin Gummies 2.5 mg - Dreamy Strawberry (order online through this link)

• Nature's Way® Melatonin Lozenge (sold in some retail stores)

• NOW® Liquid Melatonin 3 mg (link TBD)

• OLLY® Sleep - Blackberry Zen (sold in retail stores)

• Solgar® Melatonin 3 mg (available through this Amazon link)

• Trader Joe's® Chewable Melatonin 3 mg - Peppermint Flavor (Trader Joes)

• Webber Naturals® Melatonin 3 mg (can order through Amazon link here)

• Life Extension Melatonin IR/XR (order through Life Extension link here)

• Pure Encapsulations® Melatonin-SR 3 mg caps (LINK TBD)

• Natrol® Melatonin 5 mg - Strawberry Natural Flavor - fast dissolve (can order on Amazon link here)

• MidNite® Sleep Health 6 mg (found in retail stores)

• Nature's Bounty® Melatonin 10 mg (may be found in retail stores)

DOSAGES: As directed

The following are reported doses and may NOT be supported by evidence (reported by various sources, i.e., WebMD, RxList, Epocrates, ConsumerLabs, German Commission E, NIH publications, and others). Read dosages and instructions carefully when available on the label.

• Insomnia: Start with 1 mg 1 hour before bedtime - may increase gradually to up to 10 mg: 1/2 to 1 hour before bed
  

• Pain: 3-10 mg by mouth daily
  

• Age-related macular degeneration: 3 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Bipolar disorder: 3 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy): 2 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Chronic fatigue syndrome: 5 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Cluster headache: 10 mg by mouth every night for 14 days
  

• Cognitive impairment: 10 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• COPD: 3 mg by mouth daily
  

• COVID-19: 3 mg by mouth 3 times daily (mild to moderate) or 5 mg by mouth 2 times daily (severe) - more studies needed
  

• Delayed sleep phase: 0.3-5 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Diabetes: 3-10 mg by mouth daily
  

• Diabetic neuropathy: 6 mg at bedtime by mouth at bedtime
  

• Dysmenorrhea: 10 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Dyspepsia: 5 mg at bedtime daily
  

• Endometriosis: 10 mg by mouth daily
  

• Fibromyalgia/chronic: 3-5mg by mouth at bedtime (may take up to 10 mg)
  

• GERD: 3 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• High blood pressure: 2-24 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• IBS: 3 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Menopausal symptoms: 3 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Migraine prevention: 3-4 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Obesity: 3-10 mg by mouth daily
  

• Osteopenia: 3 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• PCOS: 2-6 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Pruritis: 10 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Seasonal affective disorder: 0.25-2 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Stress: 3 mg by mouth once - best to take 1 hour before stress exposure.
  

• Sunburn: Apply 0.05 - 2.5 % gel before UV exposure
  

• TMJ: 5 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Tension headache: 3 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

• Tinnitus: 3 mg by mouth at bedtime
  

Dietary Sources:

Some natural sources: Eggs, grains Barley, rolled oats, red rice),  fish (esp salmon), tart cherries, nuts(esp pistachios), and seeds (sunflower, peanuts, walnuts, flaxseed, broccoli, turkey, arabica beans, grapes, portabella mushrooms, fruits (esp tart cherries), corn, asparagus, tomatoes,

pomegranates and olives

Product Recommendations

Please Note: I will only recommend products backed by third-party testing from reputable labs with rigorous quality standards (checked for purity, stated quantity of supplement) paired with consistently high customer ratings (4.5 stars or higher).

Low Dose: 

Source Naturals-orange flavor-1mg (order HERE)

Swanson Low Dose Melatonin-1 mg (order HERE)

Moderate Dose: 

• GNC Melatonin 3 mg tablets (order HERE)

• Natures Way Melatonin 2.5 mg lozenge (order HERE)

• NOW Liquid Melatonin 3 mg (order HERE)

• Life Extension Melatonin IR/XR (intermediate and extended release) 1.5 mg (order HERE)

• Pure Encapsulations Melatonin 3 mg capsules (order HERE)

High Dose:

• Natrol Melatonin 5 mg strawberry Natural Flavor (high dose)(order HERE)

• Mid Nite – Sleep Health-Vespyr 6 mg – high dose

Very High Dose:

• Natures Bounty Melatonin 10 mg capsule (order HERE)

Some other recommended and reputable brands can be found over the counter: 

• Nature Made Melatonin Gummies 2.5 mg Dreamy Strawberry (moderate dose)

• Mid Nite – Sleep Health- Melatonin 6 mg (high dose)

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