 |
Get complete, unbiased, scientific information on MELATONIN, including Safety Ratings,
Effectiveness Ratings, Interaction Ratings, Lists of Ingredients and Adverse
Reactions... all from Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database | | |  |  | | |
|
|
|
| Also Known As: |
 |
|
MEL, MLT, Pineal Hormone.
CAUTION: See separate listing for Melanotan-II. |
| Scientific Name: |
|
|
| N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine. |
| People Use This For: |
|
|
Natural medicines are often tried for many conditions based on tradition, anecdotes, or
marketing, but not all of these uses are supported by reliable or credible scientific
research. Below is a list of some common uses for MELATONIN.
Subscribe now to get scientific Effectiveness Ratings for MELATONIN and thousands
of other natural medicines. Get the facts before your take it. |
Orally, melatonin is used for jet lag, insomnia, shift-work disorder, circadian rhythm disorders in the blind, and benzodiazepine and nicotine withdrawal. Melatonin is also used orally for Alzheimer's disease, tinnitus, depression, delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, migraine and cluster headaches, idiopathic stabbing headache, and insomnia associated with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Other uses include hypertension, hyperpigmentation, osteoporosis, breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer. It is also used for thrombocytopenia, cachexia, neuropathy, and asthenia associated with cancer chemotherapy. Melatonin is also used orally for epilepsy, as an antiaging agent, for menopause, as preanesthetic medication, and for birth control.
Transbuccal and sublingual forms of melatonin are also used for insomnia, shift-work disorder, and as preanesthetic medication.
Topically, melatonin is used as a skin protectant against ultraviolet (UV) light and sunburn.
Intramuscularly, melatonin is used for treating cancer.
|
| Safety: |
|
|
| Get reliable information about potential safety concerns from scientific Safety Rating. See if there are warnings against use during Pregnancy, Breast Feeding, or for Children. |
| Effectiveness: |
|
|
| Get scientific Effectiveness Rating and see if MELATONIN works before selecting it. |
| Mechanism of Action: |
|
|
| Research the pharmacology, active constituents, and a clear scientific explanation about how the natural medicine is thought to work for its medicinal uses. |
| Adverse Reactions: |
|
|
| Get detailed information on common side effects and potentially serious adverse reaction. Find out what to expect if you select this natural product. |
| Interactions with Herbs & Supplements: |
|
|
| Find out if MELATONIN is safe to take with other natural medicines or supplements or if there are potential interactions. |
| Interactions with Drugs: |
|
|
| Find out what medications MELATONIN interacts with and if the interactions are mild or potentially dangerous. |
| Interactions with Foods: |
|
|
| Find out if particular foods should be avoided with MELATONIN, Ginkgo, or if certain foods can negatively affect the product. |
| Interactions with Lab Tests: |
|
|
| Find out if MELATONIN interferes with laboratory tests or could cause a diagnostic test to fail or be inaccurate. |
| Interactions with Diseases or Conditions: |
|
|
| Find out if MELATONIN interferes with or could worsen any medical condition or if there are any precautions or contraindications. |
| Dosage/Administration: |
|
|
| Get reliable information on the best dose to use based on scientific research. Products only work if taken in the correct dose. Taking a dose that is too high can increase the chance of side effects and adverse outcomes. |
| Editor's Comments: |
|
|
| Get comments from the editors about special concerns, interesting facts, and other information. |
See a sample natural medicines monograph
|
|
|
