Melatonin

Benjamin Clanner-Engelshofen is a freelance writer in the medical department. He studied biochemistry and pharmacy in Munich and Cambridge / Boston (USA) and noticed early on that he particularly enjoyed the interface between medicine and science. That is why he went on to study human medicine.

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The active ingredient melatonin is one of the hormones that control the day-night rhythm and is formed in the body from the neurotransmitter serotonin. In Germany, in contrast to the USA, there is only one drug with this hormone. It can be prescribed for insomnia in patients over 55 years of age. Long-term use of melatonin is controversial in Germany, as it is not yet clear what effect a long-term hormone intake has on the body. Read more about the effects of melatonin, side effects and dosage here.

This is how melatonin works

Melatonin is a hormone that the body makes itself. It is mainly synthesized in the pineal gland (epiphysis) in the brain. Small amounts are, however, also formed in the retina of the eye and in the intestine. How much of the hormone is released depends on the eye. If daylight falls on the retina, the formation of melatonin is inhibited. In the dark, on the other hand, the distribution is stimulated.

The released hormone can bind to certain binding sites, such as the blood vessels in the brain and some cells of the immune system. In this way, it is made clear to the body in the dark that it is now time to rest and, for example, the energy consumption and blood pressure must be lowered. In addition, the hormone lowers the body temperature, boosts the immune system, influences the release of sex hormones as well as learning and memory. During the day, the melatonin level is about three to twelve times lower than at night.

The older you get, the lower the body's own melatonin production.

When is melatonin used?

The hormone requires a prescription in Germany. It is approved for the short-term treatment of a sleep disorder not caused by other diseases (primary insomnia) in patients over 55 years of age. The melatonin dosage per tablet is two milligrams. The melatonin tablets are supposed to help normalize the disturbed day-night rhythm.

The long-term effect of the hormone preparation has not yet been adequately researched and should therefore be avoided. In addition, it is not yet sufficiently known what effect melatonin tablets have on pregnant women and thus on the unborn child. The tablets should therefore be avoided during pregnancy. The same goes for breastfeeding, as melatonin also gets into breast milk.

In contrast to Germany, the hormone preparation is easily accessible in the USA: You can even buy melatonin in drug stores and supermarkets, without a prescription. The preparations are sold there as dietary supplements, which is not allowed in Germany - here the hormone is considered a drug. But so it happens that some people order melatonin on the Internet through American suppliers, i.e. buy melatonin without a prescription, which is associated with some risks. On the one hand, the long-term effect of such hormone intake has not yet been adequately tested, so the preparations should only be taken after consulting a doctor. On the other hand, when ordering hormone preparations from the USA, you can get caught up in scammers and acquire counterfeits. Quite apart from that, such a purchase is illegal.If there is any damage to your health when taking these tablets bought abroad, you have no liability claims whatsoever.

This is how melatonin is used

In Germany, melatonin has so far only been approved in one preparation. These prolonged-release tablets (delayed-release tablets) should be taken after the last meal and just before bed to make it easier for you to fall asleep and to improve the quality of your sleep. It has been observed that the level of melatonin in the blood is increased only for a short time after ingestion.

What are the side effects of melatonin?

Melatonin tablets can have several side effects. On the one hand, too high a dose or an incorrect intake time can lead to disturbances in the wake-sleep rhythm. For example, if you take the drug in the middle of the night, you may still feel the sleep-promoting effect the following morning.

In addition, nightmares or very vivid dreams can occur when taking sleeping pills. Other possible melatonin side effects include stomach cramps, dizziness, headache, irritability, and decreased sexual desire. Such side effects occur only occasionally (in one in a hundred to a thousand people treated) or rarely (in one in a thousand up to ten thousand people treated).

What should be considered when taking melatonin?

Melatonin tablets should only be taken in an appropriate dose shortly before going to bed in order to avoid side effects. Experts recommend that pregnant women and women who want to become pregnant should avoid melatonin. The same goes for women who are breastfeeding. Incidentally, the only approved preparation in Germany to date is only intended for patients over 55 years of age.

How to get medicines with melatonin

The melatonin preparation approved in Germany requires a prescription. The drug can only be obtained from a pharmacy on presentation of a prescription issued by the doctor.

How long has melatonin been known?

It has been known for over 100 years that the human body can produce an active ingredient that makes it tired and "suitable for sleep". This active ingredient - as was already known at the time - is released especially in the dark to regulate the day-night rhythm. Melatonin has been approved by the European Commission as a medicinal product for the short-term treatment of sleep disorders since 2007.

More interesting facts about melatonin

A low level of melatonin in the blood can have various causes, such as long periods of daylight in summer, serotonin deficiency, the use of certain medications or caffeinated beverages such as coffee and energy drinks, alcohol and tobacco consumption, intensive exercise in the evening and constant stress.

A high melatonin level in the blood, on the other hand, can be caused by long periods of darkness such as in winter, certain antidepressants or liver dysfunction.

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