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2012年9月14日 星期五

Melatonin Side Effects - Facts to Help You


They've all said it works great but what are potential melatonin side effects you should watch out for? Or perhaps you're wondering if you are experiencing some changes that could be due to melatonin side effects. Here's the low down.

Melatonin is undoubtedly one of the most popular over the counter sleep aids. You would probably be familiar by now about its benefits especially in jet lag and getting your internal body clock back on track. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. Long-term studies on humans are also not available.

The good news is melatonin is generally regarded as safe in recommended doses for short-term use (three months or less) according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). Looking at available studies and clinical use, melatonin's overall side effects are not significantly more common than placebo, the control group that didn't take melatonin. Commonly experienced melatonin side effects include fatigue, dizziness, headache, irritability, and sleepiness, although these effects may occur due to jet lag and not to melatonin itself.

In that context of its overall safety profile, you should still keep a watch out for out-of-the-norm melatonin side effects that have been reported and raised some concerns. These are:

1. Blood clotting abnormalities (particularly in people taking warfarin)

2. Seizures

Melatonin may lower seizure threshold and increase the risk of seizure, particularly in children with severe neurologic disorders. However, multiple other studies actually report reduced incidence of seizure with regular melatonin use. Hence, this remains an area of controversy.

3. Disorientation with overdose

This is accompanied by confusion, sleepwalking, vivid dreams, and nightmares. Fortunately, these melatonin side effects often resolve after stopping melatonin.

4. Mood changes including giddiness and dysphoria (sadness)

5. Psychotic symptoms

Hallucinations and paranoia are possibly due to an overdose. People with underlying major depression or psychotic disorders taking melatonin should be monitored closely by a healthcare professional.

6. Hormonal changes

This affects both men and women. For men, increased breast size (gynecomastia), decreased sperm count and decreased sperm motility have been reported. Fortunately, these are resolved after stopping melatonin.

For women, decreases or increases in levels of reproductive, thyroid and growth hormones have been reported. High levels of melatonin during pregnancy may increase the risk of developmental disorders. In animal studies, melatonin is detected in breast milk.

7. Elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia)

This melatonin side effect is mainly reported in patients with type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes). Low doses of melatonin reduced glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in these cases.

Avoid Melatonin if:

1. You are taking the blood-thinning medication like warfarin, aspirin or heparin.

2. You have neurologic disorders and taking anti-epileptic drugs

3. You are suffering from depression or other psychotic disorders

4. You have diabetes especially Type 1 diabetes

5. You are pregnant or are a nursing mother

Overall, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. The big picture is that when the recommended doses are used for short term, melatonin is generally safe. That's probably another reason why it's popular for jet lag and the effects of shift work.

And the fact is, you have to find not just any doctor but one who is familiar with your health profile to determine if your profile puts you at risk of those side effects of melatonin outlined.




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Herbal Sleep Supplements - Get Deep Sleep Without Side Effects


Whether it is aches, anxiety, stress or a busy lifestyle, getting the proper amount of sleep can be a challenge. Sleeping is essential to a healthy lifestyle whether it is maintaining the appropriate weight, alleviating depressed feelings, or being mentally alert. By not getting enough hours in the night, individuals are at risk for diseases and disorders like hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, obesity, emotional disorders, and even substance abuse. However, falling asleep is not always easy.

Melatonin is a natural hormone that is produce in your hypothalamus of the brain and is partly responsible for your circadian cycle (which tells your body when it is time to get up and when it is time to go to bed).

People who suffer from jet lag have their melatonin levels thrown off causing problems sleeping. This is also true of people living in areas with extended daylight hours. Still, other people may just not be producing enough melatonin at the right time to cause the drowsiness and slumbering effects. Taking a natural melatonin supplement can enhance a person's ability to sleep.

Another naturally occurring supplement to aid in sleeping is tryptophan, which is an amino acid (essential building block, or protein, found in food). Most individuals have experienced tryptophan's effects after large turkey dinners, which are loaded with it.

A form of tryptophan (5-hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP) is available over the counter as supplement. This herb is a precursor to serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter (sends messages) in your brain, which regulates sleep. Having an imbalance of serotonin will not only produce slumber disturbances, but can also lead to anxiety and agitation.

A more mild type of herbal supplement that is easy on the stomach and the body is chamomile. It has been used for millennia around the world. It is so mild, in fact, that it can be used regularly, daily even. It is often prepared as a tea but comes in a pill form too. This calming herb not only relaxes the body, but it can sooth stomach aches. It contains natural oils that repairs tissues and reduces inflammation.

Lavender is another natural supplement that has been used for millennia dating back to the Egyptians and Arabians. It has been cultivated throughout the centuries and has been carried by many pilgrims to new lands. The natural oils in the plant have a calming, even a depressing, effect on your central nervous system. The effect is drowsiness and sleep.

These are just a few examples of natural supplements that can be used to aid sleep. It is important to keep in mind that these, and other herbs, have real affects upon our bodies much like pharmaceutical drugs (often without as many side effects). Please note that taking these herbs can interact with medications you are already taking. For further information on any type of supplement, it is important to consult your health advisor.




Herbal sleep supplements are a natural, non-narcotic and non-addictive way to calm mental chatter and promote a restful and restorative deep sleep without next day drowsiness. For doctor-formulated supplements that promote optimal health, visit http://www.goodelements.com.





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2012年9月13日 星期四

Side Effects of Melatonin


Melatonin supplements can be beneficial in numerous ways, but there are also side effects of melatonin which should be considered. Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the pituitary gland, located in the brain. Some fruits, vegetables, meats, and other foods contain traces of melatonin. Supplements are also available; it's safest to use a synthetic rather than a natural supplement because the natural form can cause disease, since it can be biologically contaminated.

Benefits

Helping with sleeping and waking up is the chief benefit of melatonin. When this hormone is released in higher levels in the body, it triggers readiness of sleep. During the night, levels remain high. But as dawn approaches, the level of melatonin decreases steadily. This is how a healthy body works, but some people suffer from insomnia because their body clock, or their circadian rhythm, isn't functioning properly.

The release of melatonin in the body is affected by light. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder could be caused by failing to get adequate light during the day and being exposed to too much light at nighttime. Shift workers and people with jet lag often experience a disruption in their normal sleep cycle.

As people get older, their bodies produce less melatonin, causing them to have problems sleeping.

For these various cases of insomnia, research proves that melatonin can relieve general symptoms of sleeplessness. But because of the fact that there are many possible side effects of melatonin supplementation, it's best to take the hormone as a patient under a doctor's care, including when used as sleep therapy.

The following are additional benefits provided by melatonin:


It's an antioxidant, which means that it helps to prevent cell damage. This function can ultimately improve your immune system and reduce the chances of having health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.
When added to anti-cancer drugs, melatonin has been proven to improve the rates of survival of men with metastatic prostate cancer.
Research shows that it inhibits the growth of some types of breast cancer cells.
It can bring relief from pain and bloating to people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.
The improved amount of deep restorative sleep provided by melatonin can have anti-aging effects on the body.
Research reveals that it may reduce the frequency of migraine headaches.
It can effectively be used as an anti-anxiety agent.
Used topically, melatonin is a natural sunscreen.
Experimental research provides strong evidence that low levels of melatonin lead to relief of both depression and seasonal affective disorder.
This natural hormone has been found to inhibit ovulation in women. Used together with other contraceptive methods, melatonin can be used as a form of oral contraceptive. On the other hand, some research has suggested that melatonin may stimulate the reproductive process.
One of the most notable benefits is that it helps people who do shift work and who suffer from jet lag. Switching from working all night to working during the day disrupts the body's biological clock, and the results include dizziness, fatigue, and muddled thinking. Melatonin helps establish normal sleep cycles more quickly, which relieves the negative symptoms caused by shift work and jet lag.
People who suffer from Alzheimer's disease can improve their quality of sleep and possibly slow the damaging effects of the disease.
Finally, melatonin, since it improves the REM phase of sleep, can lead to dream enhancement. People often experience memorable, enjoyable, and vivid dreams as a result of melatonin supplementation. The dose taken is an important factor, however.

Common Side Effects of Melatonin

There are many factors to consider with regards to taking melatonin supplements. For instance, they aren't advisable for a woman who is trying to get pregnant or for a child or adult under the age of 20, unless it's under the care of a doctor.

For the most part, side effects of melatonin are temporary and will cease by taking smaller amounts. The most common side effects of melatonin include the following:


Mood changes
Headaches
An alteration in sleep patterns is one of the side effects of melatonin but is sometimes one of the benefits
Changes in mental disposition
Itching
Lowered body temperature is one of the more common side effects of melatonin
Rapid heartbeats
Grogginess
While having vivid dreams is sometimes one of the welcome side effects of melatonin, the dreams are sometimes awful nightmares
Sleepiness during the day

Additional Side Effects of Melatonin

While not as common, there are other side effects of melatonin supplementation. For instance, in one medical study among men it was found that melatonin causes sperm concentrations to be decreased, and the motility rate also declines significantly.

Anyone who has diabetes, kidney disease, stroke, liver disease, depression, or immune system disorder should only take supplements under a doctor's care because of serious possible side effects of melatonin.

Additionally, alcohol consumption should be limited because it could increase the risk of worsened side effects of melatonin.

Special precaution should be taken not to drive or operate heavy machinery after taking supplements since sleepiness is one of the side effects of melatonin.




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2012年8月22日 星期三

Melatonin Side Effects - Should You Take Sleeping Medications?


Lately we have witnessed more and more patients using melatonin for their sleeping problems. Nevertheless, the fact is that melatonin may be rather threatening for the body. This comes because melatonin has shown to have unwanted side effects which can form dangerous complications for the health.

Some figures show that millions of American citizens get sleeping pills to cure their sleeping disorders. While insomnia and other sleeping disorders are indeed quite frustrating to fight with, sleeping tablets should not be your primary alternative. There are plenty of other methods for treating sleep apnea that do not have to do with any sleeping tablets.

Nevertheless, if you have decided that using pills for insomnia is the most sensible decision, you should bear other things in mind. Most sleeping pills contain melatonin, which originally is a natural hormone that controls people's sleeping manners. Scientists thought that people who have trouble sleeping should use the same hormone for treating the disorder and therefore they made melatonin sleeping tablets.

If you have started considering taking melatonin sleeping pills, you must be aware of melatonin side effects. People who used sleeping pills containing melatonin have reported dizziness, headaches, feeling misunderstood, nightmares, sleepwalking and disturbance. Even though these surely do not seem too dangerous, you must be aware that the list does not finish here.

Patients who have gotten melatonin and simultaneously tried to make a baby said that melatonin surely decreased their odds for conceiving. As a result, melatonin has even began to be used as contraception for the people who do not want to get pregnant. Besides for this side effect, people using melatonin have also reported feeling frustrated and irritated by most things and any person around them at the time they took melatonin. This is another melatonin side effect that makes people feel frustrated even by the slightest thing.

Melatonin cannot be mixed with a number of pills, which include blood thinning medications, immunosuppressants, contraceptive pills and diabetes pills. It would be harmful to combine melatonin with those medications since they might interact and lead to unwanted conditions to the patient using melatonin.

Melatonin overdose is a lot dangerous and the patient should at all times be vigilant when it is about the dose. Another research has shown that melatonin overdose, besides for being very vicious for the health, it also has no effect on those who take it to fight their sleeping disorders. Regularly, 0.3 mg of melatonin has proved to be too successful and any more than that can only lead to complications.

To conclude all that has been said, melatonin is a sleeping medicament and it serves its purpose well enough! Nonetheless, it also has a number of harmful side effects that make it harmful for the health of the person taking it. As a result, consulting with a doctor first is always better if you are struggling with sleeping troubles.




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