Long-Term Use of Melatonin as Sleep Aid May Create Increased Tolerance and Dependency

Melatonin, or N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a naturally occurring hormone, that is used by an increasing number of people as a sleep aid. From personal experience and talking to others who've used it, I found that taking melatonin nightly to aid sleep can have adverse effects. These include increased tolerance, dependency, failure to address underlying sleep problems and altered sleep patterns. Many people take melatonin by itself or in combination with other ingredients in such sleep aids as Alteril. Melatonin is used for a variety of sleeping problems: to help people get to sleep, stay asleep and sleep better. Melatonin is available over the counter in the US, but in other countries by prescription only. Read more Long-Term Use of Melatonin as Sleep Aid Creates Increased Tolerance and Dependency