Is melatonin supposed to make you sleep or become awake?

Question

Hi, I bought some melatonin to help me sleep, it said on the bottle to take it 30 minutes before you want to sleep (I think it did anyway!) and it hadn't really worked for me. My biology teacher randomly mentioned that this was what gradually woke us up in the morning, the release of melatonin... I am sooo confused!! I'm sure it was a sleeping pill - how can it wake us up and put us to sleep!!?? Thanks xx

Answer 1

Its supposed to help you sleep but I think its over-rated!;

Answer 2

Melatonin is produced naturally by our pineal gland. When we wake up and light reaches our eyes, this triggers the inhibition (stopping) of the production of melatonin which keeps us "awake." Melatonin is made from serotonin naturally in our bodies, and does help with the sleep/wake cylcle. However there is NO proof that taking melatonin will improve sleep!!! The best way to improve sleep is to excercise & take a shower before you sleep or something natural. As a last resort, then go to meds.
Your biology teacher just got the concept mixed around. Histamine is what actually helps us wake up. That's why when we take benadryl (an ANTI-histamine) we get SLEEPY. tell taht to yoru teacher and hell be like..wow your a genius!!!
THe guy posting below is an idiot b/c MELATONIN is INHIBITED when you WAKE UP. As light photons hit your retinia, the synthesis of melatonin is inhibited! Melatonin is "supposedly" used for Jet lag, however, there are problems b/c it has been associated with increasing the risk of SAD, seasonal affective disorder. This is why clinical pharmacists are just that...they dont know biology or medicine.
For more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin

Answer 3

I've been unable to stay alseep all night for the past 22 years, and it's torture. The medical world is just "waking up" (sorry!) to the fact that many people have serious sleeping problems which are hard to fix.

Melatonin worked 'okay' for me for about 3 years, but has side effects you may not want to deal with (e.g. daytime sleepiness).

Sleep is extremely complex, so if you have probs, do keep searching for answers that seem right for you. Don't give up! New answers come out every year or so. Pay attention to Sleep Hygiene rules (i.e. "tricks") that really will help. (See reference below.)

Answer 4

I am on melatonin because my body doesn't make enuf of its own. It is a natural sleeper, the higher the dose, the sleepier you will get. Maybe your teacher meant that the melatonin levels in your body drop which gradually wakes you up, that would make more sense.

Answer 5

Government study on effectiveness of Melatonin as a sleep aid.

http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/melatsum.htm

The your teacher is correct and so are you. Melatonin is used to regulate sleep and a return to wakefulness. (it's job is to regulate the body's timeclock) An imbalance of melatonin (lower levels) makes it difficult to fall asleep also interfere with deep sleep from entering and time remaining in light sleep (REM rapid eye movement) stage. When melatonin levels rise during the night, they increase REM stage sleep (light sleep and dreams) time its frequency of occurance. (This is what your biology teacher was referring to ...not that melatonin was responsible for alertness ....just that it gradually woke you up by increasing episodes and length of REM sleep.) If you want proof of this... even with sleeping on an jet bound for Europe watch how long it takes to "re-regluate melatonin levels" your internal clock for time to sleep and time to be awake. (JET LAG). Melatonin supplements will help with normal sleep only IF there is a deficit to correct. There are other reasons that one does not sleep well. There are other reasons people do not remain awake. Melatonin deficit can occur most frequently in the elderly or in certain disease states like multiple sclerosis or it can be drug induced.

This is why med students need to do residency for 3 additional years. The first 4 are used to memorize facts. The next 3 years are used to learn how they make sense in the real world : )

Mr. med student is correct about light shutting off production of melatonin. However again experience would show him it is a inhibition of more melatonin being produced not an elimination of existing stores of melatonin. It takes the body time to re-balance this.... That's why it takes an additional day or two to re-gain the balance in amount on hand and production rhythms in jet lag and a sense of when I should be sleepy or awake. I do not recommend melatonin be used for jet lag. I merely use jet lag as an example to show the effects of melatonin levels out of balance from time shifts affecting circadian rhythm and sleep patterns.

Answer 6

Melatonin makes you sleep. It works according to how old you are. If you are young you probably don't need to take it because your body manufactures enough of it, but As you age your body makes less and less of it. If it didn't work, try an herbal supplement called valerian.

Answer 7

Melotonin helps you sleep, Your biology teacher should spend a little more time in teaching the correct curriculum.

Answer 8

Be careful using that stuff. You would be far better to get out in the fresh air and have some fun than take that stuff. It can make you depressed.

Answer 9

I managed to get some in London years ago.It was banned,maybe still is.It didn't help me sleep,but it did great for
my skin.

Answer 10

i heard that it will help you sleep, maybe it takes a few days to get into your blood stream to work