Taking melatonin and fighting it9/12/2023 ![]() In my experience, sometimes families use it to treat anxiety (those kids whose mind spins and spins and spins and worries) at bedtime. Many children respond to the hypnotic effect of higher doses of melatonin, but many children are also given it for family convenience, too. If it were my child I’d use melatonin if sleep dysfunction at bedtime was getting in the way of necessary sleep, but I’d also do everything I could to get them off of it as soon as I could. If your child can fall asleep in about 30 minutes after the lights are out (especially when you have made sure no screen time for 1-2 hours prior, no caffeine in afternoon) then melatonin is unnecessary. Lots of definitions, dosing info, and pediatric sleep expertise below. The other thing we know: melatonin is not regulated like medicines (it’s overseen as a food supplement) that has been studied in very few pediatric populations so it’s difficult to generalize safety for children everywhere. What we do know: melatonin can help children fall asleep with sleep dysfunction, sleep dysfunction and inadequate sleep have serious health consequences, and although melatonin only helps with sleep initiation (falling asleep) it can be hugely beneficial for children who lie awake at night for hours at bedtime. Often when I get the story of how families are using melatonin, I end up advising changes in the sleep schedule more than a need for meds. The short answer is we don’t entirely know because studies just haven’t been done. I’ve had COUNTLESS curbside consults from parents asking me if melatonin is safe to use in the short-term but also for years on end. No question that supplemental melatonin has a role in children’s sleep dysfunction but also no question that parents are turning to melatonin out of a need for convenience. However, when it does work, it can send a message to your body that it is time for you to go to sleep.When I recently shared this article on my Mama Doc Facebook about a “magic” children’s bedtime story promising to make the going-to-sleep process easier, many parents inquired about melatonin. The only problem is that some of the supplements use synthetic melatonin which isn’t always as effective as it is harder to absorb and that it doesn’t come from natural sources. ![]() Melatonin is typically used in supplements to promote sleep. It is the hormone that signals to your body that it is time to go to sleep. It is responsible for sleep cycle and your circadian rhythm. Melatonin is a natural hormone in your body that is made in your pineal gland and regulates your sleep. This can lead to serious problems if you plan on upping the dosage – especially if you’re adding Melatonin to it. You should not rely on it to promote drowsiness – as you will need more and more to get the full effects from this over-the-counter sleep aid. The problem is that your body can build up a tolerance to the sedating effects of doxylamine. Doxylamine is linked to causing drowsiness because it doesn’t target any particular tissue when it is fighting the histamine response which can make you sleepier. The main ingredient used in products like Nyquil is usually doxylamine, which is an antihistamine. Nyquil’s ingredients fall under the category of antihistamines. Doxylamine also does this – and using them together may have too much of a sedation effect and cause problems. Melatonin can sedate you and have depressant effects on your central nervous system. The problem is when you introduce Melatonin into the mix. They basically put you in a good enough condition to comfortably fall asleep. But first let’s look at what these Nyquil ingredients do and why.Īcetaminophen is a painkiller which can help make you more relaxed, whereas dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant, finally doxylamine is antihistamine, allergy medication which can help prevent sinus problems. These could pose a problem to something like Melatonin. Nyquil typically contains the following ingredients: This is what may happen when you take Nyquil and Melatonin together. Potential side effects of Melatoin and Nyquil include: Potential Side Effects of Taking Melatonin with Nyquil To see our top natural sleep aid, check out our Performance Lab Sleep review. You should absolutely talk to your doctor or a medical professional before combining melatonin with Nyquil. If any of these (or any other) side effects occur while using Nyquil with Melatonin you should stop combining them immediately and only choose one for future usage. There are no studies into this choice specifically, however, taking both could lead to side effects such as sleep-related disturbances, central nervous system and respiratory depression. It is not recommended to take Melatonin and Nyquil together.
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