How Long Does Melatonin Last?

-by Abhrajita Mondal

–Reading Time – 5 min Approx

–Edited by – Srishti Bhattacharyya

Before we start, you must know what melatonin is. It is a naturally occurring hormone that induces sleep. In the body, the pineal gland produces melatonin. In the daytime, the retinas absorb the light and send a signal to the pineal glands. After the sun sets, another signal is sent to increase the production of melatonin. Melatonin is carried from the brain to other parts of the body. There are receptors in various cells which accept the melatonin and begin action. It reaches its peak at night. Night-time melatonin levels are higher than in the daytime. Apart from sleep cycles or circadian cycles, it also depends on the seasonal cycles. Melatonin levels are higher during autumn and winter. In summers, it lessens.

Melatonin, or the sleep hormone, has a lessened production when one is exposed to blue light for a long period. These people suffer from sleeplessness. You can avail yourself of it with easily available medicines. OTC melatonin stays in the body for 2.5 to 10 hours. There are numerous factors behind this. Melatonin has the power to regulate the body’s sleep cycle. Now, you must be wondering where it acts. How does it bring about a reaction?  Today, you will get the answer to ‘How long does melatonin last’.

How Long Does Melatonin Last?

You already know that OTC melatonin lasts in the body for 2.5 to 10 hours. It works well on people with sleep disorders. The various categories that we are talking about include people with jet lag, blind people, people with dementia, and those who work night shifts. Melatonin also reduces anxiety before and after surgery. It has many other unexpected uses. It can treat certain conditions like cancer, heart ailments, neurological disorders, and gastrointestinal issues. So, this answers your question ‘how long does melatonin last’.

Now, let’s approach the next question, how does melatonin work?

Melatonin works differently on different sleep disorders. You must find out the guidelines from a licensed doctor before taking any medication. Melatonin supplements have the power to improve your sleep if you suffer from disrupted sleep cycles. It can also help in case of Insomnia. This is your ultimate guide to does melatonin help you stay asleep.

Melatonin Hangover:

Like all medications, melatonin OTC products produce a hangover. Sleep supplements are not regulated medicines. Melatonin also comes with its share of side effects. The various side effects include depression, dizziness, low blood pressure, and mild anxiety. The biggest side effect is grogginess. Moreover, some people forget that it is a sleep aid. They consider it as a sleeping pill.

Now, there is one question lurking here. When to take melatonin? The body produces natural melatonin around 7 pm. That is the reason, people ought to take it after sunset. It prepares the body for sleep slowly. However, people work at that time. So, they wait until it is 11 pm. Then, it is too late. You must understand that most sleep aids cause sleepiness or drowsiness. Different people react differently to any drug.

Therefore, it is imperative to know the exact quantity that you ought to take. One size does not fit all, in this case. It has to be tailored for you. Moreover, you cannot take it at any time of the day. It is always suggested, to start with low doses. Start with about 0.3 mg. That is nearly equal to the quantity that the body produces. So, that is all about the melatonin hangover.

How Long Does Melatonin Last in A Child?

Nowadays, the doctor advice parents to give melatonin to kids as well. Lack of sleep can lead to health issues in children and also affect their performance at school. Research has shown that melatonin can solve certain issues for your child. It relates to insomnia, ADHD, and autism. Children do better with extensive-release formulations. However, such medicines come in capsules. Immediate-release formulations do not work for serious sleep issues. However, always talk to a pediatrician before giving melatonin. Additionally, you ought to supplement this medication with behavioral intervention. Positive reinforcement can be a boon in this case. However, if your child is attracted to electronic devices at night, sleep is difficult.

It must be noted that you cannot give melatonin to children below the age of three years. The problems of such children in sleeping and waking up suddenly are behavioral. Currently, there is no evidence to say that melatonin is unsafe for kids. However, some kids do have minor side effects like headache, nausea, and dizziness. 0.5mg works best in the beginning. You should give it 90 minutes before bedtime. That answers the question, ‘how long does it take for melatonin to work for a child’. The effect lasts around 8-10 hours. That is enough for a good night’s sleep. All said and done, try to initiate natural melatonin releases in kids. Have a dark environment ready in your kid’s bedroom and decrease screen time.

How Long Does Melatonin Last in Dogs?

You can also give melatonin to dogs. However, make sure to consult the vet. Always avoid Xylitol. It is poison for dogs. You can get several melatonin supplements for dogs. The dosage depends on the dog’s weight. If you have a small dog that weighs less than 10 pounds, you should give 1 mg. Medium-sized dogs that weigh 10 to 25 pounds can be given 1.5 mg. You can give dogs that weigh between 26 and 100 pounds, about 3 mg, and dogs over 100 pounds can have up to 6 mg. No matter what, you should not give it more than thrice. It is always better to give it to your dog with food.

The effects start showing after 15-20 minutes. Subsequently, the effects last for 8 hours. If you give it immediately before bedtime, it works great. It does not cause any harm to dogs. However, you may see a bit of sluggishness in dogs. Always start with a low dosage and work it up if necessary.

Thus, it has been noticed that melatonin does have effects on both humans and animals. Circadian cycles benefit from this hormone. In all vertebrates, it is produced in adequate quantities in the dark. You will be

a bit surprised to learn that some naturally occurring melatonin-enriched foods are available. Tart

cherries, bananas, grapes, rice, cereals, plums, wine, and beer have the chemical. Walnuts can raise the level to high quantities. So do other nuts. Foods that are rich in tryptophan and vitamins are good to raise melatonin levels. Wine is a great additive to your diet. Now, you realize why certain people feel so relaxed after drinking wine. There are different wine grapes, like Nebbiolo, Croatina, Merlot, Marzemino, and Sangiovese which have a high caliber that you can use as supplements along with melatonin-enriched OTC products.

-by Abhrajita Mondal

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