Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDosageOverdoseSide EffectsDrug InteractionsWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dosage
Overdose
Side Effects
Drug Interactions
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Melatoninoverdose is not common or typically life-threatening but there are questions about how much melatonin is too much. While low doses are recommended, adult doses of up to 5 milligrams (mg) are not considered excessive.Higher doses can lead to side effects of headache, nausea, and feeling drowsy.
Melatonin use in childrenas well as adults has renewed the attention to the risks and side effects.Proper dosage varies from person to person, so it can be difficult to determine the optimal dose of thissleep cycle-regulatinghormone. And because the supplements are not regulated in the United States, you may not know how much melatonin you may actually be taking.
Dietary Supplements in the United StatesIn the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Dietary Supplements in the United States
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
AnnaStills / Getty Images
People take melatonin supplements to boost their own production levels. There is no specific recommended dose of melatonin. Some experts recommend keeping the adult level as close to 0.3 milligrams (mg) or less each day.A dose of 40 mg or 60 mg would be considered quite high.
Your body produces melatonin naturally, with thepineal glandreleasing between 0.1 and 0.9 mg of melatonin per day.Children produce more melatonin than adults do and it declines with age.
In addition to the pineal gland response to darkness, factors that affect melatonin production include:
With insomnia, additional research suggests that 1 to 3 mg of an immediate-release melatonin product taken 30 minutes before bed is an effective treatment level.
Insomnia and Treatment OptionsMelatonin is among the most-often used supplements in the United States; sales doubled between 2017 and 2021.However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia rather than first-line medication.Some studies suggest other medications are more helpful in treating insomnia in adults, with melatonin showing limited benefit.
Insomnia and Treatment Options
Melatonin is among the most-often used supplements in the United States; sales doubled between 2017 and 2021.However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia rather than first-line medication.Some studies suggest other medications are more helpful in treating insomnia in adults, with melatonin showing limited benefit.
Melatonin Overdose
Taking too much melatonin is not more effective and can have the opposite effect. This means that the sleep hormone may actually make it harder to fall asleep if too much is in your system.
Taking too much melatonin can lead to symptoms such as:
People who have naturally low levels of melatonin in the body, like older adults, may be more susceptible to symptoms and side effects. Melatonin supplements may stay active longer in older adults than they do in younger people.
In some cases, alcohol use can affect melatonin use. However, melatonin also may prove a helpful treatment in alcohol use disorder and related complications, including liver damage.
Is There a Lethal Dose of Melatonin?
Occasional, short-term use of melatonin is considered generally safe. But melatonin can lead to common side effects including:
Using melatonin is typically only recommended on a short-term basis. Long-term use can build tolerance over time.Age may also play a role and your needs may change. Research has found that adolescents beginning melatonin use before the age of 12 who used the supplement for just over seven years had normal sleep quality a decade later.
When taking new supplements, it’s important to consider possible drug interactions that may occur with the medications you take regularly. People who take the following medications should talk to a healthcare provider before using melatonin:
You should see your healthcare provider before you begin taking melatonin. A provider will determine how much you should be taking and which supplement to buy based on your optimal dose.
The most effective, first-line treatment option for melatonin overdose is eliminating the supplement from your routine. If the overdose symptoms are serious, you may have to see a healthcare provider. Seek immediate care if you:
The FDA hasn’t evaluated or approved the use ofmelatonin in kidsand there is a lack of evidence surrounding any side effects involved in using melatonin at a young age.Because of this, always speak to your healthcare provider before giving your child melatonin.
Summary
Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle, and can also be found in supplement form. When taken at low doses, melatonin is safe and effective. However, taking too much melatonin can lead to an overdose. When an overdose occurs, people may experience symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, vomiting, and high blood pressure.
In rare cases, serious health consequences can occur, but clinical research surrounding melatonin overdose is limited. To treat melatonin overdose, the first step is eliminating use so that it can be excreted from the body. This will result in symptom relief.
21 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.Li J, Somers VK, Xu H, Lopez-Jimenez F, Covassin N.Trends in Use of Melatonin Supplements Among US Adults, 1999-2018.JAMA. 2022 Feb 1;327(5):483-485. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23652.University of Colorado Boulder.Melatonin use soars among children, with unknown risks.Cohen PA, Avula B, Wang Y, Katragunta K, Khan I.Quantity of Melatonin and CBD in Melatonin Gummies Sold in the US.JAMA.2023;329(16):1401–1402. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.2296Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Melatonin.Minich DM, Henning M, Darley C, Fahoum M, Schuler CB, Frame J.Is melatonin the “next vitamin D”?: a review of emerging science, clinical uses, safety, and dietary supplements.Nutrients. 2022;14(19):3934. doi:10.3390/nu14193934Janjua I, Goldman RD.Sleep-related melatonin use in healthy children.Can Fam Physician.2016;62(4):315-7.Papillon-Ferland L.Should melatonin be used as a sleeping aid for elderly people?.Can J Hosp Pharm.2019;72(4):327-329Pierce M, Linnebur SA, Pearson SM, Fixen DR.Optimal melatonin dose in older adults: a clinical review of the literature.Sr Care Pharm. 2019;34(7):419-431. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2019.419Nikolaev G, Robeva R, Konakchieva R.Membrane Melatonin Receptors Activated Cell Signaling in Physiology and Disease.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23(1):471. doi:10.3390/ijms23010471Maas MB, Lizza BD, Abbott SM, Liotta EM, Gendy M, Eed J,et al.Factors Disrupting Melatonin Secretion Rhythms During Critical Illness.Crit Care Med. 2020 Jun;48(6):854-861. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000004333Auld F, Maschauer EL, Morrison I, Skene DJ, Riha RL.Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders.Sleep Med Rev. 2017 Aug;34:10-22. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2016.06.005.Hartstein LE, Garrison MM, Lewin D, Boergers J, LeBourgeois MK.Characteristics of Melatonin Use Among US Children and Adolescents.JAMA Pediatr.2024;178(1):91–93. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4749American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Missing the mark with melatonin: Finding the best treatment for insomnia.De Crescenzo F, D’Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, Ciabattini M, Di Franco V, Watanabe N,et al.Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):170-184. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00878-9Foley HM, Steel AE.Adverse events associated with oral administration of melatonin: A critical systematic review of clinical evidence.Complement Ther Med.2019;42:65-81. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.11.003NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.Kurhaluk N.Alcohol and melatonin.Chronobiol Int. 2021 Jun;38(6):785-800. doi:10.1080/07420528.2021.1899198Lelak K, Vohra V, Neuman MI, Toce MS, Sethuraman U.Pediatric melatonin ingestions—United States, 2012-2021.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(22):725-729. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7122a1Wurtman R.Low doses of melatonin promote sleep onset and maintenance in older people—an update.Zwart TC, Smits MG, Egberts TCG, Rademaker CMA, van Geijlswijk IM.Long-term melatonin therapy for adolescents and young adults with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset: evaluation of sleep quality, chronotype, and lifestyle factors compared to age-related randomly selected population cohorts.Healthcare.2018;6(1):23. doi:10.3390/healthcare6010023MedlinePlus.Melatonin.
21 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.Li J, Somers VK, Xu H, Lopez-Jimenez F, Covassin N.Trends in Use of Melatonin Supplements Among US Adults, 1999-2018.JAMA. 2022 Feb 1;327(5):483-485. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23652.University of Colorado Boulder.Melatonin use soars among children, with unknown risks.Cohen PA, Avula B, Wang Y, Katragunta K, Khan I.Quantity of Melatonin and CBD in Melatonin Gummies Sold in the US.JAMA.2023;329(16):1401–1402. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.2296Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Melatonin.Minich DM, Henning M, Darley C, Fahoum M, Schuler CB, Frame J.Is melatonin the “next vitamin D”?: a review of emerging science, clinical uses, safety, and dietary supplements.Nutrients. 2022;14(19):3934. doi:10.3390/nu14193934Janjua I, Goldman RD.Sleep-related melatonin use in healthy children.Can Fam Physician.2016;62(4):315-7.Papillon-Ferland L.Should melatonin be used as a sleeping aid for elderly people?.Can J Hosp Pharm.2019;72(4):327-329Pierce M, Linnebur SA, Pearson SM, Fixen DR.Optimal melatonin dose in older adults: a clinical review of the literature.Sr Care Pharm. 2019;34(7):419-431. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2019.419Nikolaev G, Robeva R, Konakchieva R.Membrane Melatonin Receptors Activated Cell Signaling in Physiology and Disease.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23(1):471. doi:10.3390/ijms23010471Maas MB, Lizza BD, Abbott SM, Liotta EM, Gendy M, Eed J,et al.Factors Disrupting Melatonin Secretion Rhythms During Critical Illness.Crit Care Med. 2020 Jun;48(6):854-861. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000004333Auld F, Maschauer EL, Morrison I, Skene DJ, Riha RL.Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders.Sleep Med Rev. 2017 Aug;34:10-22. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2016.06.005.Hartstein LE, Garrison MM, Lewin D, Boergers J, LeBourgeois MK.Characteristics of Melatonin Use Among US Children and Adolescents.JAMA Pediatr.2024;178(1):91–93. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4749American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Missing the mark with melatonin: Finding the best treatment for insomnia.De Crescenzo F, D’Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, Ciabattini M, Di Franco V, Watanabe N,et al.Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):170-184. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00878-9Foley HM, Steel AE.Adverse events associated with oral administration of melatonin: A critical systematic review of clinical evidence.Complement Ther Med.2019;42:65-81. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.11.003NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.Kurhaluk N.Alcohol and melatonin.Chronobiol Int. 2021 Jun;38(6):785-800. doi:10.1080/07420528.2021.1899198Lelak K, Vohra V, Neuman MI, Toce MS, Sethuraman U.Pediatric melatonin ingestions—United States, 2012-2021.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(22):725-729. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7122a1Wurtman R.Low doses of melatonin promote sleep onset and maintenance in older people—an update.Zwart TC, Smits MG, Egberts TCG, Rademaker CMA, van Geijlswijk IM.Long-term melatonin therapy for adolescents and young adults with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset: evaluation of sleep quality, chronotype, and lifestyle factors compared to age-related randomly selected population cohorts.Healthcare.2018;6(1):23. doi:10.3390/healthcare6010023MedlinePlus.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.
Li J, Somers VK, Xu H, Lopez-Jimenez F, Covassin N.Trends in Use of Melatonin Supplements Among US Adults, 1999-2018.JAMA. 2022 Feb 1;327(5):483-485. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23652.University of Colorado Boulder.Melatonin use soars among children, with unknown risks.Cohen PA, Avula B, Wang Y, Katragunta K, Khan I.Quantity of Melatonin and CBD in Melatonin Gummies Sold in the US.JAMA.2023;329(16):1401–1402. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.2296Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Melatonin.Minich DM, Henning M, Darley C, Fahoum M, Schuler CB, Frame J.Is melatonin the “next vitamin D”?: a review of emerging science, clinical uses, safety, and dietary supplements.Nutrients. 2022;14(19):3934. doi:10.3390/nu14193934Janjua I, Goldman RD.Sleep-related melatonin use in healthy children.Can Fam Physician.2016;62(4):315-7.Papillon-Ferland L.Should melatonin be used as a sleeping aid for elderly people?.Can J Hosp Pharm.2019;72(4):327-329Pierce M, Linnebur SA, Pearson SM, Fixen DR.Optimal melatonin dose in older adults: a clinical review of the literature.Sr Care Pharm. 2019;34(7):419-431. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2019.419Nikolaev G, Robeva R, Konakchieva R.Membrane Melatonin Receptors Activated Cell Signaling in Physiology and Disease.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23(1):471. doi:10.3390/ijms23010471Maas MB, Lizza BD, Abbott SM, Liotta EM, Gendy M, Eed J,et al.Factors Disrupting Melatonin Secretion Rhythms During Critical Illness.Crit Care Med. 2020 Jun;48(6):854-861. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000004333Auld F, Maschauer EL, Morrison I, Skene DJ, Riha RL.Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders.Sleep Med Rev. 2017 Aug;34:10-22. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2016.06.005.Hartstein LE, Garrison MM, Lewin D, Boergers J, LeBourgeois MK.Characteristics of Melatonin Use Among US Children and Adolescents.JAMA Pediatr.2024;178(1):91–93. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4749American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Missing the mark with melatonin: Finding the best treatment for insomnia.De Crescenzo F, D’Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, Ciabattini M, Di Franco V, Watanabe N,et al.Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):170-184. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00878-9Foley HM, Steel AE.Adverse events associated with oral administration of melatonin: A critical systematic review of clinical evidence.Complement Ther Med.2019;42:65-81. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.11.003NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.Kurhaluk N.Alcohol and melatonin.Chronobiol Int. 2021 Jun;38(6):785-800. doi:10.1080/07420528.2021.1899198Lelak K, Vohra V, Neuman MI, Toce MS, Sethuraman U.Pediatric melatonin ingestions—United States, 2012-2021.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(22):725-729. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7122a1Wurtman R.Low doses of melatonin promote sleep onset and maintenance in older people—an update.Zwart TC, Smits MG, Egberts TCG, Rademaker CMA, van Geijlswijk IM.Long-term melatonin therapy for adolescents and young adults with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset: evaluation of sleep quality, chronotype, and lifestyle factors compared to age-related randomly selected population cohorts.Healthcare.2018;6(1):23. doi:10.3390/healthcare6010023MedlinePlus.Melatonin.
Li J, Somers VK, Xu H, Lopez-Jimenez F, Covassin N.Trends in Use of Melatonin Supplements Among US Adults, 1999-2018.JAMA. 2022 Feb 1;327(5):483-485. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23652.
University of Colorado Boulder.Melatonin use soars among children, with unknown risks.
Cohen PA, Avula B, Wang Y, Katragunta K, Khan I.Quantity of Melatonin and CBD in Melatonin Gummies Sold in the US.JAMA.2023;329(16):1401–1402. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.2296
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Melatonin.
Minich DM, Henning M, Darley C, Fahoum M, Schuler CB, Frame J.Is melatonin the “next vitamin D”?: a review of emerging science, clinical uses, safety, and dietary supplements.Nutrients. 2022;14(19):3934. doi:10.3390/nu14193934
Janjua I, Goldman RD.Sleep-related melatonin use in healthy children.Can Fam Physician.2016;62(4):315-7.
Papillon-Ferland L.Should melatonin be used as a sleeping aid for elderly people?.Can J Hosp Pharm.2019;72(4):327-329
Pierce M, Linnebur SA, Pearson SM, Fixen DR.Optimal melatonin dose in older adults: a clinical review of the literature.Sr Care Pharm. 2019;34(7):419-431. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2019.419
Nikolaev G, Robeva R, Konakchieva R.Membrane Melatonin Receptors Activated Cell Signaling in Physiology and Disease.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23(1):471. doi:10.3390/ijms23010471
Maas MB, Lizza BD, Abbott SM, Liotta EM, Gendy M, Eed J,et al.Factors Disrupting Melatonin Secretion Rhythms During Critical Illness.Crit Care Med. 2020 Jun;48(6):854-861. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000004333
Auld F, Maschauer EL, Morrison I, Skene DJ, Riha RL.Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders.Sleep Med Rev. 2017 Aug;34:10-22. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2016.06.005.
Hartstein LE, Garrison MM, Lewin D, Boergers J, LeBourgeois MK.Characteristics of Melatonin Use Among US Children and Adolescents.JAMA Pediatr.2024;178(1):91–93. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4749
American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Missing the mark with melatonin: Finding the best treatment for insomnia.
De Crescenzo F, D’Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, Ciabattini M, Di Franco V, Watanabe N,et al.Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):170-184. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00878-9
Foley HM, Steel AE.Adverse events associated with oral administration of melatonin: A critical systematic review of clinical evidence.Complement Ther Med.2019;42:65-81. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.11.003
NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.
Kurhaluk N.Alcohol and melatonin.Chronobiol Int. 2021 Jun;38(6):785-800. doi:10.1080/07420528.2021.1899198
Lelak K, Vohra V, Neuman MI, Toce MS, Sethuraman U.Pediatric melatonin ingestions—United States, 2012-2021.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(22):725-729. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7122a1
Wurtman R.Low doses of melatonin promote sleep onset and maintenance in older people—an update.
Zwart TC, Smits MG, Egberts TCG, Rademaker CMA, van Geijlswijk IM.Long-term melatonin therapy for adolescents and young adults with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset: evaluation of sleep quality, chronotype, and lifestyle factors compared to age-related randomly selected population cohorts.Healthcare.2018;6(1):23. doi:10.3390/healthcare6010023
MedlinePlus.Melatonin.
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