Melatonin mel-a-TOH-nin

Type of medicine: natural remedy

Scientific and common names: N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, MEL, MLT, pineal hormone

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone. It helps control your body's wake and sleep cycles. Melatonin is made by the pineal gland located in the middle of the brain. Natural melatonin is made from the pineal glands of animals. A synthetic form is made in a lab for medicinal use.

What is it used for?

This remedy has been used to treat several conditions. Studies in humans or animals have not proved that this remedy is safe or effective for all uses. Before using this remedy for a serious condition, you should talk with your healthcare provider. There may be other uses that are not listed below.

Melatonin has been used to:

• treat sleep problems such as jet lag, insomnia, shift-work disorder, and delayed sleep phase disorder
• help treat some kinds of cancer (alone or with other cancer medicines)
• decrease symptoms of a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia
• treat cluster headaches
• reduce symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine or benzodiazepines
• protect the skin from sunburn when applied to the skin as a cream
• treat some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

There is no evidence to show that this remedy is an effective treatment for cancer.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines.

How is it taken?

Melatonin comes as tablet taken by mouth, and as a cream for use on the skin. If your provider does not give you instructions, follow the directions printed on the product label.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

Do not take melatonin if you have:

• a seizure disorder
• depression
• diabetes
• high blood pressure

If you have cancer, talk with your healthcare provider before taking this remedy.

Melatonin should not be used by children. It affects other hormones and may interfere with development.

This remedy may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not understand. Remember:

• Natural remedies are not always safe.
• You should not take them if you are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults without your provider's approval.
• They affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take.
• Natural remedies are not standardized and may have different strengths and effects. They may be contaminated.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Possible side effects: Headache, depression, reduced alertness during the day, dizziness, stomach cramps, irritability, confusion, nausea, vomiting.

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• birth control pills
• caffeine
• diabetes medicines such as glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune), mycophenolate (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• medicines to treat or prevent blood clots such as abciximab (ReoPro), argatroban, bivalirudin (Angiomax), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), lepirudin (Refludan), ticlopidine, tirofiban (Aggrastat), and warfarin (Coumadin) dipyridamole (Persantine), heparin, dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox)
• natural remedies such as 5-HTP, angelica, anise, arnica, calamus, California poppy, capsicum, catnip, chamomile, fenugreek, garlic, German chamomile, ginger, ginkgo, goldenseal, gotu kola, kava, lemon balm, licorice, Panax ginseng, papain, red clover, sage, sassafras, Siberian ginseng, skullcap, St. John's wort, stinging nettle, turmeric, valerian, willow, and yerba mansa
• nifedipine (Procardia XL)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• prednisone
• sleeping pills such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), flurazepam, phenobarbital, temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien)
• verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

This advisory includes select information only. The information was obtained from scientific journals, study reports, and other documents. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information. The advisory may not include all side effects associated with a remedy or interactions with other medicines. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation for the use of any remedy. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.