Table of contents:
- Impact of the drug melatonin on the body
- 1. Controlled sleep time
- 2. Sleeping hours messed up if taken at the wrong time
- 3. Interferes with child development
- 4. Negatively interacts with other drugs
- Increase melatonin naturally without medication
When experiencing insomnia, many people choose to take medication that can help them fall asleep. One drug or supplement that is often used is melatonin. Taking melatonin has several effects on the body when taken by mouth. What are the effects for the body? The following is the review.
Impact of the drug melatonin on the body
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, especially at night. This hormone is usually produced before the body prepares itself for sleep.
In addition to being produced naturally in the body, melatonin is also made in the form of a drug to perform the same task, which is to regulate a person's sleep time.
The effects that arise when taking melatonin include:
1. Controlled sleep time
According to the National Health Interview Survey, many people take melatonin to help them sleep due to insomnia.
Steven Locklet, PhD., Lecturer in the division of sleep and circadian disorders, department of medicine and nerves, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States, states that the hormone melatonin itself does not actually make you fall asleep.
The signals this hormone sends when it's dark tell the brain that it's time to sleep at night.
Therefore, this hormone that is produced before bedtime helps regulate the sleep cycle and wake-up time of the body.
2. Sleeping hours messed up if taken at the wrong time
To help you fall asleep at the right time, take melatonin medications or supplements at night. However, if you drink it wrongly, for example, in the afternoon or in the morning, this can actually mess up your sleeping hours.
Automatically, you will be sleepy during the day. For that, take this artificial melatonin hormone around 7 at night or a few hours before your bedtime.
3. Interferes with child development
Melatonin should not be given to children unless prescribed by a doctor. A study conducted on animals shows the fact that taking the drug melatonin can affect the development of reproductive hormones during puberty.
However, further research is still needed whether melatonin is really dangerous in children or not.
4. Negatively interacts with other drugs
The drug melatonin cannot be taken by everyone. Richard Shane PhD., A sleep therapist stated that this drug is usually not recommended for pregnant women, breastfeeding, people who have autoimmune disorders, seizures, or depression.
This one supplement can interact with a number of drugs, including anticoagulants, anti-platelets, anticonvulsants, birth control pills, diabetes medications, and drugs that suppress the immune system (immunosuppressants).
In addition, the drug melatonin can also increase blood pressure in people with hypertension. If you have a habit of drinking coffee or alcohol at night, you are also not advised to take this one supplement.
Increase melatonin naturally without medication
Actually, without the need to take drugs or supplements, melatonin can be increased naturally in the body. It's easy, a few hours before bed try to dim the lights in the house or room.
Additionally, research published in the Journal of Photocemistry and Photobiology recommends that you turn off the television or stay away gadgetblue sails, such as laptops, computers, and cell phones one hour before bedtime.
This is because blue light at night can reduce melatonin production in the brain. As a result, it will be difficult for you to sleep.
Also, don't be afraid to bask in the morning sun. The reason is, this helps the body's circadian clock to remain in normal conditions.
Before going to bed, you can also eat foods rich in melatonin, such as almonds, pineapples, bananas, and oranges.
No less important, avoid stress and shift work because they can reduce melatonin production in the body which can make you experience insomnia.
