How much melatonin is too much to take?!
Question:
How much melatonin is too much to take?
my mother has started taking melatonin as a sleep aid and she is taking 3 3mg pills a night. I'm thinking that's too much melatonin. She had been taking sleeping pills but now is onto this. Any advice? THANKS!
Answers:
Hello
Great question in that Melatonin is used widely and comes in a great number of brands(only 12 "approved").
It has been studied widely but most of the research claims "that more studies are needed". The key , here may be your mothers age: Although dose ranges that are recommended, vary from .5-10 mgs, they are more specific for the "elderly": 0.5-1.5 mg, taken 30-120 minutes before sleep. There are few if any side effects BUT " the long term effects have not been studied"
Another study ( sleep cycle alterations: reports an exact 50% benefit of all participants with no benefit over 1.5 mgs.
In younger people, the dose range is from 0.5 -10 mgs: It is VERY IMPORTANT to note that there are soooooo many preparations sold and not all are as "pure" as others: There were 12 brands selected, by the Mayo Clinic( see, mayoclinic/com/health/melatoni... as meeting their advertised ingredients.
Practically speaking, the bottom line is IS SHE BENEFITTING ?
Melatonin, at the doses that she is taking, is likely preferential to a "patented" prescription medication( and more safe ).
It is an excelent question and it is admirable that you are interested in your Mom's health (yea!) BUT she is likely to do what she feels is best, anyway: So long as she is safe, better to be supportive of her: You don't want her losing sleep because you or she is upset by this issue.
I hope this helps: Be Well