Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland. It participates in the regulation of circadian rhythms and provides the body with a physiological signal associated with biological night. When taken at an appropriate time, melatonin may help facilitate sleep onset and support adjustment of a disrupted sleep schedule.
How it works
Who may use it
However, 60 mg is substantially higher than doses commonly evaluated in clinical studies and used in approved melatonin products. Therefore, evidence from studies of conventional melatonin doses should not automatically be interpreted as evidence for the effectiveness or safety of a 60 mg dose.
Research and clinical evidence
Melatonin has been extensively studied as a regulator of circadian rhythms. Clinical research indicates that melatonin may improve sleep-onset timing and certain sleep parameters, particularly in people with circadian rhythm disturbances and jet lag.
The strongest evidence concerns relatively low doses. Clinical research does not establish that increasing the dose to 60 mg produces proportionally greater or more reliable benefits. Higher exposure may instead increase the likelihood of adverse effects such as excessive drowsiness, headache, dizziness, and impaired alertness.
Therefore, evidence supporting melatonin in general should not be presented as evidence that 60 mg of melatonin is an established or superior treatment for insomnia.
Melatonin is used to support regulation of the sleep–wake cycle and circadian rhythm.
Depending on the clinical situation, melatonin may be used for:
Its mechanism involves activation of melatonin receptors and synchronization of the body's biological clock. There is currently no adequate basis for claiming that a 60 mg dose provides additional effectiveness compared with lower doses.
Take the dispersible tablet according to the manufacturer's instructions and healthcare professional's recommendations. Timing is particularly important with melatonin because it acts on the circadian system rather than functioning simply as a conventional sedative. Because the stated strength of 60 mg is unusually high, self-directed dose selection and regular use without medical advice are not recommended. Patients should consider the possibility of drowsiness and reduced alertness after taking melatonin.
Side Effects
The likelihood of adverse effects may increase with higher doses.
