Taking Melatonin Every Night: What Doctors Want You To Know

Melatonin is a supplement that many people take to help them sleep. Some start using it once in a while, but later it becomes a daily habit. Because of this, many people are now asking an important question: Is it safe to take melatonin every night for a long time? Doctors say that melatonin can help in the short term, but we must be careful when using it regularly.

Melatonin is a hormone that the body makes naturally. It helps the brain understand when it is time to sleep. But when we use melatonin supplements too much, the brain may stop making enough of its own. A sleep specialist, Dr. Harish Chafle from Gleneagles Hospitals in Mumbai, explains that melatonin should be taken carefully and only in the amount that a doctor suggests.

There is no strong proof that melatonin causes addiction like some sleeping pills do. But a person can start depending on it mentally. This means someone might feel they cannot sleep without taking it. When that happens, it becomes a routine that may be hard to break. Over time, the body may get used to the supplement and make less natural melatonin. But the good thing is that the body can return to normal once the supplement is stopped slowly and sleep habits improve.

Some people may also worry about heart health. A study once showed that melatonin lowered blood pressure in some people with high blood pressure. But the effect is not the same for everyone. For this reason, people who have heart problems or high blood pressure should tell their doctor if they are using melatonin. It may also interact with medicines like blood thinners or heart rhythm drugs. So, it is safer to ask the doctor before mixing medicines and melatonin.

Melatonin may also cause some side effects when taken regularly. Some people feel sleepy during the day. Some may get headaches, feel dizzy, or have very strong dreams. If someone feels tired all day, sad, moody, or like their sleep is getting worse instead of better, they should stop using melatonin and talk to a doctor. These signs mean the supplement may not be helping.

There are also some groups of people who need extra care. Children, pregnant women, and older adults should not take melatonin regularly without a doctor’s approval. Their bodies react differently, and the supplement may affect them more strongly.

Doctors say that instead of relying only on melatonin, it is helpful to build healthy sleep habits. Some of these habits include turning off screens at least one hour before sleeping, keeping the bedroom dark and quiet, avoiding heavy meals at night, and making a simple bedtime routine like reading a few pages of a book. These small actions help the body sleep naturally.

In conclusion, melatonin can be helpful, especially for short-term sleep problems. But using it every night without guidance may cause more harm than good. It is always better to use melatonin under the advice of a doctor and to support sleep with healthy daily habits. Sleep is important for the body, so it must be taken care of gently and wisely.