Melatonin : the doctors finally agree on its use in sleep disorders

Health 9 December, 2017


inesbazdar/epictura

Published the 09.12.2017 at 10: 45 am



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mélatoninetroubles of the sommeilhyperactivité

A “method” to “natural” cure for insomnia ? Melatonin. This hormone is secreted by the brain when light levels get low : it tells the brain that it is time to go to sleep. For several years, its consumption is increasing in France, particularly through the food supplements. At a Congress of the sleep, which took place in November in Marseille, the researchers have agreed on the indications and uses of this hormone.

Melatonin has benefits in the treatment of insomnia or sleep disorders in general. It does not cause side effects caused by benzodiazepines, widely prescribed in this kind of situation. Among these adverse effects include hallucinations, loss of memory and especially the risk of dependency.
The doctors gathered at this congress does not recommend the use of melatonin as a dietary supplement, because it is too small framed and you never know what one absorbs. On the contrary, they advise to take it in drug form and to vary the doses according to the type of insomnia.

A hormone effective in children with autism

Melatonin should not be given to children under the age of one year. It can be used in the treatment of disorders and deficits in attention or hyperactivity, which are associated with a sleep disorder.
For autism, its use is also advocated because it improves total sleep time and sleep latency.

Melatonin appears after this group of researchers as a treatment is attractive because it is well tolerated.