Melatonin: How much is TOO much?
I’ve heard some doozies in my day…
But the term “melatonin overdose” might be the biggest crock of you-know-what I’ve heard in a LONG time.
I’ve talked at length about the numerous health benefits of daily melatonin – benefits all backed by countless hours of research.
Melatonin doesn’t just help you get into that sleep “sweet spot” …
It also helps your immune system, blood pressure, and even works to eliminate HEARTBURN.
But a recent study (which I’ll get into in a bit) is putting a negative spin on melatonin…
Implying that anyone on a melatonin regimen might as well be a dangerous pill-popper!
But today, I’m going to cut through the noise behind this latest “attack” on melatonin…
And give you the TRUTH about how much melatonin you can SAFELY take each day.
A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association claims that too many people are going above the recommended “limit” of 5 mg of melatonin per day.
You’d assume that a study in this journal would report some groundbreaking, shocking number of people “overdosing” on melatonin, right?
WRONG!
The study found that:
- In total, only 2.1% of people use melatonin…
- And, a miniscule 0.28% of folks take more than 5 mg of melatonin per day!
By that logic, anyone who buys a couple lotto tickets each week has a gambling addiction!
Here’s the bottom line…
The typical dose of melatonin is 3 mg per day. Occasionally you will find some manufactures that have 5 mg doses… but for the most part, the typical dosage for melatonin is 3 mg.
Now, what happens if you happen to occasionally take a little “more” than that 3-5 mg range?
You might sleep in the next day… be a little groggy… or maybe have a headache or something.
But you certainly won’t be deemed a druggie! And you completely wreck your health.
That being said, I do encourage you to stick to the 3 mg dosage. A higher dosage of 5mg every now and then isn’t cause for alarm, but steer clear of taking any more than that for a prolonged period of time.
And if you have any questions about how much you should take or are thinking about starting a melatonin regimen, talk to your doctor. Many folks start with less than 3 mg per day and work their way up.
To restful nights,
Sarah Reagan
Sources:
HealthDay News. “More Americans are using melatonin, some in risky amounts.” 2/2/22. https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2022/02/02/More-Americans-are-using-melatonin-some-in-risky-amounts/5061643748244/
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