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Melatonin, Sleep Enhancement, and ADHD
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Melatonin, Sleep Enhancement,
and ADHD
by Anthony Kane, MD
Overview Melatonin is a natural hormone, which is produced and
secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin plays an important role
in the regulation of many hormones in the body. Among its key
roles, melatonin controls the body's circadian rhythm, an
internal 24-hour time-keeping system that controls when we fall
asleep and when we wake up.
Melatonin is also a very powerful antioxidant. In one study,
melatonin was 60 times more effective than Vitamin C or
water-soluble Vitamin E in protecting DNA from damage.
Preliminary evidence suggests that it may help strengthen the
immune system.
There are numerous claims and theories concerning all the things
that melatonin may do and as a result it has become one of the
popular life extension and life enhancing supplements that are
currently available on the market today.
Uses The most accepted function of Melatonin is it role in sleep
regulation. Melatonin supplements help induce sleep in people
with disrupted circadian rhythms. Melatonin is significantly
more effective in decreasing the amount of time required to fall
asleep, increasing the number of sleeping hours, and boosting
daytime alertness.
Melatonin is purported to be one of those miracle substances
that has a hand in everything. This may be due to the fact that
during the height of the antioxidant craze, Melatonin was found
to be a more powerful and more universal antioxidant than both
vitamin C and vitamin E. Whatever the reason, Melatonin
ostensibly plays a role in numerous health conditions.
Here is a partial list:
Insomnia Osteoporosis Menopause Depression Eating Disorders
Breast Cancer Prostate Cancer Cancer-related Weight Loss
Sarcoidosis Rheumatoid Arthritis Epilepsy Sunburn Viral
Encephalitis Heart Disease
Since a lot of evidence for many of these claims is rather light
and since I am not trying to sell you melatonin supplements, I
am going to focus only on its role in sleep enhancement.
Insomnia As many parents realize, drugs like Ritalin are not
without side effects. One of the major complaints that parents
have is that their children who take Ritalin can't fall asleep
at night. Many parents report that their children, who may be
only five or six years old, are wide awake until 11 pm or later.
Melatonin may be able to help these children. Since it is the
primary chemical in the body that helps to induce sleep,
children who suffer from insomnia often find that Melatonin
restores their normal sleep cycle and helps them to be more
awake and alert during the day.
How to Take It There are currently no guidelines as to how to
take Melatonin. Sensitivity to Melatonin is an individual thing
and doses that are ineffective in one person may be too much for
someone else.
The best approach for any condition is to begin with very low
doses and slowly add more until you get the effect that you are
seeking.
In children, it is best to start with a dose of about 0.3 mg/day
or less. Although current research suggests that even doses as
high as 10 mg are perfectly safe, it is best to proceed with
caution.
In adults, 3 mg is usually a safe starting dose and you can
increase it or decrease it as you see fit. Availability
Melatonin is readily available in most health food stores in the
United States and it is very cheap. In Europe it is a controlled
substance. Most Europeans who wish to use Melatonin find it
cheaper and easier to have it shipped from the US.
Adverse Effects Melatonin is one of the least toxic substances
known. In one extensive clinical trial, a high dose of 75
milligrams of melatonin per day was given to 1400 women in the
Netherlands for up to four years with no ill effects.
The only consistent side effect of high doses has been
drowsiness and a slower reaction time.
Other common complaints include:
Vivid dreams or nightmares Stomach cramps Dizziness Headache
Irritability Decreased libido Breast enlargement in men
Decreased sperm count.
These side effects were in healthy people. We also don't know
how melatonin may affect people suffering from disease.
Possible Drug Interactions Melatonin may interact or interfere
with other drugs.
These include:
Antidepressant Medications Antipsychotic Medications: many of
these medications are now being used in treating children with
ADHD and Bipolar disorder Benzodiazepines Blood Pressure
Medications Blood-thinning Medications, Anticoagulants
Interleukin-2 Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Steroids and Immunosuppressant Medications Tamoxifen
If your child is taking any of these things, you should consult
with his doctor before giving Melatonin.
Also, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can all diminish levels of
melatonin in the body while cocaine and amphetamines may
increase melatonin production.
Conclusion Often children with ADHD have a great deal of
difficulty falling asleep. This can be due to the medications
that they are taking or just be one component in the spectrum of
their problems. When used properly, melatonin may be a safe and
effective way to handle sleep problems in ADHD children. |
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