Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMechanismMelatonin for FibromyalgiaMelatonin for Chronic Fatigue SyndromeDosageSide Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Mechanism
Melatonin for Fibromyalgia
Melatonin for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Dosage
Side Effects
Melatoninsupplements are best known as sleep aids. The supplements contain a synthetic form of a hormone that your body produces to help regulate the sleep cycle and perform a variety of other functions.
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Melatonin is also used for insomnia and to help improve sleep problems associated with menopause. It may also have analgesic effects to help reduce painand anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
How It Works
In a healthy person, natural melatonin levels rise as it gets dark outside, and that helps make you tired. Your body uses the neurotransmitterserotoninto make melatonin. People withfibromyalgiaand chronic fatigue syndrome are believed to have dysfunctional serotonin metabolism.
Does that mean these conditions are linked to melatonin problems as well? It actually may not, but research on that isn’t totally clear.
Early research on melatonin for fibromyalgia suggested that people with this condition have lower night-time levels of melatonin, which may make it hard to fall asleep and leave you tired the next day. That lead to a belief that melatonin supplements may be an effective treatment.
However, in later research, melatonin levels were normal or even increased compared to healthy controls. Still, several studies suggest a potential benefit of melatonin supplementation for symptoms.
A systematic review published in 2020 inComplementary Therapies in Clinical Practiceanalyzed four studies on melatonin for fibromyalgia and found that all studies showed improvements in symptoms. However, the authors cautioned that high-quality clinical trials on melatonin for fibromyalgia are needed since the designs of the studies varied.
Fibromyalgia research is plagued with inconsistency, which complicates the treatment process. And it’s not just research—many people with fibromyalgia experiment with melatonin. Some report that it works well for helping them sleep, while others say it has no effect whatsoever.
According to research, chronic fatigue syndrome doesn’t appear to be linked to low melatonin levels. In fact, one study suggested that adolescents with this condition may actually have elevated levels.Several studies state that there’s no indication for melatonin inchronic fatigue syndrome.
An exception is a 2006 study published in theEuropean Journal of Neurologyon people with chronic fatigue syndrome who also had delayed nocturnal melatonin secretion, which might cause difficulty falling asleep. In this subgroup, three months of treatment with melatonin was linked to improvement in fatigue, concentration, motivation, and activity.
As with fibromyalgia, you can find people with chronic fatigue syndrome who report improvement with melatonin as well as those who say it didn’t help.
You can buy melatonin supplements over-the-counter in dosages generally ranging from 3 micrograms to 10 milligrams. Other dosages may be available as well.
In general, short-term use of melatonin supplements appears to be safe for most people, but the long-term risks are unclear.
There may also be a risk of allergic reactions, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Some side effects noted in studies include:
There are also some accounts of short-term depression.
At higher doses, people may feel foggy the day after taking it. In addition, if melatonin is taken during the day, it may cause excessive sleepiness and impaired motor control.
There isn’t any information about melatonin’s safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It’s also possible that some people may develop a dependence to melatonin after using it for a long time.There are some concerns that it may have the potential to affect natural production of melatonin or be habit forming. Although, more research is needed.
Interactions
Melatonin can interact with medications and other substances. For example, caffeine and prescription antidepressant fluvoxamine may inhibit the metabolism of melatonin. Melatonin may dampen the effects of the calcium-channel blocker nifedipine, and it may increase the risk of bleeding for people takingwarfarin.
Always be sure to include your healthcare provider in decisions about supplementation. Your pharmacist can help you identify potentially dangerous interactions with drugs or other supplements you may be taking.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.Wilhelmsen M, Amirian I, Reiter RJ, Rosenberg J, Gögenur I.Analgesic effects of melatonin: a review of current evidence from experimental and clinical studies: Analgesic effects of melatonin.Journal of Pineal Research. 2011;51(3):270-277. doi:10.1111/j.1600-079X.2011.00895.xMount Sinai.Melatonin.Hemati K, Amini Kadijani A, Sayehmiri F, et al.Melatonin in the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms: A systematic review.Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2020;38:101072. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101072Josev EK, Jackson ML, Bei B, et al.Sleep quality in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2017;13(09):1057-1066. doi:10.5664/jcsm.6722Heukelom RO, Prins JB, Smits MG, Bleijenberg G.Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion.Eur J Neurol. 2006;13(1):55-60. doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2006.01132.xSleep Foundation.Melatonin side effects.Poison Control.Potential uses and benefits of melatonin.St. Luke’s Hospital.Complementary and alternative medicine: possible interactions with melatonin.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.Wilhelmsen M, Amirian I, Reiter RJ, Rosenberg J, Gögenur I.Analgesic effects of melatonin: a review of current evidence from experimental and clinical studies: Analgesic effects of melatonin.Journal of Pineal Research. 2011;51(3):270-277. doi:10.1111/j.1600-079X.2011.00895.xMount Sinai.Melatonin.Hemati K, Amini Kadijani A, Sayehmiri F, et al.Melatonin in the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms: A systematic review.Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2020;38:101072. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101072Josev EK, Jackson ML, Bei B, et al.Sleep quality in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2017;13(09):1057-1066. doi:10.5664/jcsm.6722Heukelom RO, Prins JB, Smits MG, Bleijenberg G.Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion.Eur J Neurol. 2006;13(1):55-60. doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2006.01132.xSleep Foundation.Melatonin side effects.Poison Control.Potential uses and benefits of melatonin.St. Luke’s Hospital.Complementary and alternative medicine: possible interactions with melatonin.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.Wilhelmsen M, Amirian I, Reiter RJ, Rosenberg J, Gögenur I.Analgesic effects of melatonin: a review of current evidence from experimental and clinical studies: Analgesic effects of melatonin.Journal of Pineal Research. 2011;51(3):270-277. doi:10.1111/j.1600-079X.2011.00895.xMount Sinai.Melatonin.Hemati K, Amini Kadijani A, Sayehmiri F, et al.Melatonin in the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms: A systematic review.Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2020;38:101072. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101072Josev EK, Jackson ML, Bei B, et al.Sleep quality in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2017;13(09):1057-1066. doi:10.5664/jcsm.6722Heukelom RO, Prins JB, Smits MG, Bleijenberg G.Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion.Eur J Neurol. 2006;13(1):55-60. doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2006.01132.xSleep Foundation.Melatonin side effects.Poison Control.Potential uses and benefits of melatonin.St. Luke’s Hospital.Complementary and alternative medicine: possible interactions with melatonin.
National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.
Wilhelmsen M, Amirian I, Reiter RJ, Rosenberg J, Gögenur I.Analgesic effects of melatonin: a review of current evidence from experimental and clinical studies: Analgesic effects of melatonin.Journal of Pineal Research. 2011;51(3):270-277. doi:10.1111/j.1600-079X.2011.00895.x
Mount Sinai.Melatonin.
Hemati K, Amini Kadijani A, Sayehmiri F, et al.Melatonin in the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms: A systematic review.Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2020;38:101072. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101072
Josev EK, Jackson ML, Bei B, et al.Sleep quality in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2017;13(09):1057-1066. doi:10.5664/jcsm.6722
Heukelom RO, Prins JB, Smits MG, Bleijenberg G.Influence of melatonin on fatigue severity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and late melatonin secretion.Eur J Neurol. 2006;13(1):55-60. doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2006.01132.x
Sleep Foundation.Melatonin side effects.
Poison Control.Potential uses and benefits of melatonin.
St. Luke’s Hospital.Complementary and alternative medicine: possible interactions with melatonin.
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