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Lower levels of melatonin have been linked to trouble sleeping. Taking a melatonin sleep aid in a vitamin or tablet form may help someone who is having difficulties. The amount of melatonin that should be taken can vary. Age, size and health all contribute to how much a person should take.
Taking melatonin sleep aid thirty to sixty minutes prior to bedtime has shown to be affective for people aged fifty five and older. It has shown to greatly improve sleep quality, which in turn helped their quality of awake time as well. As for children, studies showed that doses of one to ten milligrams melatonin sleep aid had little to no side effects. There is not enough proof to show that doses greater than 0.3 mg per day are safe in children under the age of 15 years. It may even be possible that 0-5 mg per day may cause seizures in that age group.
For insomnia in adults, 3 mg of melatonin sleep aid one hour before bedtime will most likely be effective. If after three days, the 3 mg isn't enough, then an adult could try 5-6 mg. An effective dose will offer a good night's sleep and a daytime without fatigue and irritability.
Some people may have very vivid dreams or nightmares when they take melatonin sleep aid. Overuse could cause a disturbance in the circadian rhythm which is what normally causes people to sleep at night and be awake during the daylight hours. It can cause drowsiness if taken during the day, so it should be taken one hour before planned sleep. If sleepiness occurs during the day, the dosage should be lowered the next night.
Your physician should be well aware of all medications you are taking since the melatonin can have a negative drug interaction with current medications. Such as anti-depressants, anti-psychotic medications, blood pressure medications, blood-thinning medications and many more.
If you are looking for a good night's sleep, melatonin may be exactly what you are looking for. Check with your doctor before beginning any treatment.
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