Melatonin FAQ
A: While side effects of melatonin are generally mild, you may experience the following:
- Vivid dreams: As with many sleep aids, melatonin may increase dream activity and leave you with vivid and memorable dreams.
- Grogginess: While sleepiness before bed is desirable, taking too much may cause drowsiness. If you experience any of the above, talk with your doctor. If you choose to use melatonin again with your doctor’s recommendation, start with a lower dose until you find the dose that works best with your body.
A: Melatonin may interact with other medications that are also metabolized by the same liver enzymes, leading to higher plasma melatonin concentrations. It is recommended to consult with your healthcare provider if you are currently on a prescription medication and plan on using melatonin supplements.
A: While severe side effects are unlikely, taking too much melatonin at once can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle and could result in next day grogginess. Because each person’s sleep cycle is different, as well as each person’s height, weight and sensitivity to hormones, there is no one-size-fits-all dose of melatonin that will work for everyone. Our ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs™ have an optimal 1-2 mg of melatonin in each dose. It’s best to start with a low dose of melatonin as experts, from researchers from MIT to Dr. Oz, recommend. If you give your body more than it needs, it’s possible to have the opposite effect and disrupt your sleep-wake rhythm, making it even more difficult to fall asleep.
A: Studies have shown that taking melatonin nightly is safe and effective. However, you should talk to your health care professional about long-term solutions.
A: Yes. You do not need to taper off your use of melatonin. You can discontinue use at any time as well as use it only when needed. Because of this, it’s an excellent choice for travelers to help them negate the effects of jet-lag. If you have a long flight, you can take it beforehand to help yourself go to sleep on the plane.
A: Because there have not been sufficient studies on the effects of melatonin while pregnant or breastfeeding, we recommend talking to your doctor (just like we say on the back of our label).
A: Yes. Melatonin is an excellent choice for children who have difficulty sleeping. Learn more about melatonin or go to our Vicks Pure Zzzs™ Melatonin Gummies page to purchase. Learn more about ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs™.
