Save to favorites
This feature is restricted to active members.
Join now to save favorites and get all member benefits, including over 1,400 reviews.
Join NowAlready a member? Sign in here.
Clinical Updates
Melatonin Supplements
Loss of Response to Melatonin
5/31/2023
Some people may experience a “loss of response” to melatonin. Find out what may cause it and what to do if it happens in the ConsumerTips section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin for Hair?
5/05/2023
Does applying melatonin to the scalp help prevent hair from falling out? Find out what research suggests in the Other Uses section of our Melatonin Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.
Also see our article about supplements for hair.
Melatonin Quality
4/28/2023
Eighty-eight percent of melatonin gummies didn’t contain their exact, listed amounts of melatonin in a recently published study. Learn more about this in the Quality Concerns section of our Melatonin Supplements Review, and see our Top Picks among melatonin supplements and learn which gummies passed and which failed our tests.
Also see our 2-minute video highlighting three things you need to know about melatonin supplements.
Does Melatonin Improve Cognition?
4/25/2023
Find out what studies have shown when melatonin has been used by people with Alzheimer’s disease as well as cognitively healthy older people in the What It Does section of our Melatonin Supplements Review.
Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin Hangover?
3/03/2023
Can taking melatonin along with Ambien or Lunesta cause a hangover? Find out what a recent report suggests in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Better Sleep Habits Instead of Melatonin
9/28/2022
An expert group is encouraging parents to improve sleep habits in children rather than give melatonin, citing potential safety concerns. Get the details in the What It Does section of our Melatonin Supplements Review.
Vitamin C or Melatonin for COVID?
8/05/2022
Melatonin for MS?
6/21/2022
Can taking melatonin help people with multiple sclerosis (MS)? Find out what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Melatonin Supplements Review.
Also see our article about supplements for MS.
Melatonin Poison Reports Jump
6/03/2022
Reports to poison control centers regarding melatonin ingestion have skyrocketed in recent years among infants, children and adolescents. See the Concerns and Cautions section of our Melatonin Supplements Review for details and other potential safety issues with melatonin.
Melatonin and Urinary Frequency
5/27/2022
Can melatonin supplementation decrease nighttime urinary frequency in older women? See what a recent study found in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Melatonin Supplements Review.
Melatonin to Prevent COVID?
3/01/2022
Does taking melatonin help prevent COVID-19? Find out what a study found in the COVID-19 section of our Melatonin Supplements Review.
Also see our article about Supplements for COVID.
Melatonin and Heart Palpitations?
3/01/2022
Can taking melatonin cause heart palpitations? Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Pick for melatonin.
Melatonin & COVID
2/11/2022
Can supplementing with melatonin help prevent death among people hospitalized with COVID-19? See what a recent study found in the COVID-19 section of our Melatonin Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for melatonin.
Also see our answer to the question: Do any supplements help with COVID-19?
Melatonin, Sleep & Nighttime Asthma
1/20/2022
There is some concern about the use of melatonin among people with nighttime asthma. Get the facts in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Melatonin Supplements Review.
Fracture Risk with Melatonin Supplements?
12/02/2021
This week a newsletter reader asked if taking 3 mg of melatonin every night for sleep can increase the risk of fractures. Get the answer and find out why this is a valid concern in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Melatonin Supplements. Also see our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.
Does Melatonin Increase Alzheimer’s Risk?
11/17/2021
My doctor said that melatonin may increase the risk of Alzheimer's as some sleeping pills do. Is this true? See the answer in Concerns and Cautions section of the Melatonin Supplements Review.
When Melatonin Does or Doesn't Help in Hospitals
11/04/2021
See the latest research on whether or not melatonin helps people undergoing medical procedures or when hospitalized. Also learn if melatonin has been shown to help with other sleep issues. It's all in our Melatonin Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin in Nuts?
11/01/2021
Do pistachios or other nuts contain significant amounts of melatonin? How does roasting affect the melatonin content in nuts? See what a new study found in the ConsumerTips section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.
Melatonin and Autism
7/12/2021
Can melatonin supplementation improve sleep, behavior, or mood in children with autism spectrum disorder? See what a new study found in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.
Melatonin & Weight
6/07/2021
Can melatonin supplementation improve sleep or reduce weight? See what a new study among nightshift workers found in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin and Cancer
3/18/2021
Can high-dose melatonin increase survival time or improve symptoms in people with advanced lung cancer? See what a new study found in the What It Does section of our Melatonin Supplements Review.
Also see results of a study in which melatonin was given during breast cancer treatment.
See our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.
Also see results of a study in which melatonin was given during breast cancer treatment.
See our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.
Melatonin After Stroke?
3/05/2021
Melatonin supplementation may reduce the risk of developing delirium after a stroke, according to a new study. Get the details in the What It Does section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.
Melatonin for COVID-19?
12/19/2020
Can melatonin reduce the duration of symptoms in people with COVID-19? Get the details in the COVID-19 section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also, see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin for Anxiety?
12/19/2020
Can taking melatonin reduce anxiety before surgery? Find out what a recent analysis of studies showed in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also, see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin for Insomnia?
10/30/2020
Can melatonin help middle-aged men and women with insomnia fall asleep faster or improve sleep quality? Find out what a new study showed in the What It Does section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Lower Dose Melatonin for Children
10/22/2020
Melatonin and COVID-19
10/19/2020
Can melatonin supplementation reduce the risk of death in people with severe COVID-19? See what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin for Better Sleep
10/15/2020
Can melatonin improve sleep in people hospitalized and receiving intensive care? See what a recent study found in the What It Does section of our Melatonin Supplements Review. Also learn about melatonin for improving sleep with other conditions, and see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin for Nightshift Workers?
8/28/2020
Does using melatonin before going to sleep in the morning improve attention and concentration in people working nightshifts? Find out what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for Melatonin.
Caution With Melatonin & Diabetes
8/20/2020
Research is raising concern regarding the use of melatonin by people with diabetes. For more details – as well as other concerns with melatonin – see the Concerns and Cautions section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for Melatonin.
Melatonin for Sleep and Parkinson's
6/05/2020
Melatonin is known to trigger sleep, but can it help people with Parkinson’s disease? See the results of the latest study in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin During Chemotherapy?
4/21/2020
Does melatonin improve sleep quality and have other benefits during chemotherapy for breast cancer? Find out what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin and Cataracts
3/06/2020
Do you have cataracts (clouded lenses of the eye)? A recent study suggests that having them removed and replaced with a certain type of intraocular lens may increase natural melatonin production. For details, see the ConsumerTips section of the new Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.
Is Melatonin Safe for Children?
1/27/2020
Find out what side effects melatonin had when taken for up to two years by children and adolescents in a small study. See the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Pick for melatonin.
Melatonin & Post-Op Delirium
10/07/2019
Reduced melatonin levels following surgery have been implicated in the development of post-operative delirium. But does taking melatonin around the time of surgery reduce this risk? Find out in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin for PCOS?
6/17/2019
Can melatonin help women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? See what a recent study found in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin for Troubled Sleep?
3/18/2019
Does melatonin supplementation help people with a condition involving intense dreams as well as laughing, yelling, kicking or punching during sleep? Learn what a recent study found in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin for Headaches
11/26/2018
Melatonin for Fibromyalgia
11/16/2018
Daily melatonin supplementation has been found to decrease pain and improve other symptoms of fibromyalgia. For details, see the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.)
Melatonin and Menopause
7/27/2018
Can taking melatonin reduce the severity of menopause symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping, hot flashes, and sweats? Find out what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Pick for melatonin.)
Melatonin and Restless Legs Syndrome
7/12/2018
Taking a melatonin supplement can help some people fall asleep, but a study suggests that it may be a problem for people with restless legs syndrome. Get the details, and learn about potential side effects of melatonin in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Melatonin Supplements Review.
Melatonin for Poor Sleepers
6/19/2018
For people who cannot fall asleep until early morning, a recent study showed some benefit with a low-dose form of melatonin. For details, see the What It Does section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Picks among melatonin supplements.)
Melatonin and Balance
6/01/2018
If you take melatonin, be aware that it can potentially affect balance for a period of time, as demonstrated in a recent study. For details, see the Concerns and Cautions section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Melatonin Improves Sleep in Children with Autism
11/06/2017
Prolonged-release melatonin helped children with autism fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer in a new study. Get the details, plus more about the best way to take melatonin to get a good night's sleep, in the "What It Does" section of the Melatonin Supplements Review >> [Also see our Top Picks for melatonin supplements in the Review.]
Melatonin Increases Aggression
7/28/2017
A study among young men found melatonin to modestly increase aggressive behavior. For more about this and other potential side effects of melatonin see the "Concerns and Cautions" section of the Melatonin Supplements Review (which also includes our Top Picks among products).
Melatonin vs. Light Therapy for Sleep
4/11/2017
A recent study found that melatonin was slightly better than light therapy in helping children fall asleep. The overall results, however, may have been better with a lower dose. For details see the "What It Does" section of the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
Melatonin Quality Concern
1/12/2017
A recent Canadian study found that 71% of melatonin supplements did not contain within 10% of labeled amounts of melatonin. Certain types were more likely to be off-the-mark than others. For details, and our own tests of (U.S.) products, see the "Quality Concerns" section of the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
Melatonin for Migraine
11/04/2016
Melatonin was shown to reduce migraine headaches as well as a prescription migraine drug but with fewer side-effects in a recent study. Get the details in the "What It Does" section of the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
Melatonin for Itchy Skin
11/28/2015
Atopic dermatitis is an itchy inflammation of the skin, affecting up to 10% of adults and 30% of children. A recent study in children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis found that taking melatonin modestly reduced symptoms and, not surprisingly, reduced the time needed to fall asleep. For details about this and other uses of melatonin, as well our reviews of available melatonin supplements (including several similar to the one studied), see the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
Melatonin Safety in Women
10/02/2015
A year-long, placebo-controlled study in postmenopausal women found that moderate doses of melatonin resulted in no increase in daytime drowsiness or adverse events. Get more details and about this and other melatonin studies (and see tests of products) in the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
Melatonin Helps Post-Op Sleep
9/28/2015
A study found that giving melatonin to women significantly improved their sleep time during the weeks after breast cancer surgery. For details, including our tests of products, see the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
Melatonin for Anxiety Before Medical Procedures?
9/04/2015
Some studies in men and women show that melatonin can reduce anxiety before surgery. A recent study in children found it can also reduce the anxiety and pain associated with blood tests. For details, including dosage, evidence for other uses of melatonin, and our tests of popular products, see the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
Melatonin Increases Bone Density
6/06/2015
Research has begun to suggest that melatonin may have a positive effect on the skeleton. The latest study shows that giving post-menopausal women with bone loss daily melatonin causes small, but significant improvements in bone density. Details, including dosage, as well as our tests of melatonin supplements, are found in the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
Caution Urged with Melatonin
3/02/2015
In light of increasing use of melatonin in children, an expert is cautioning that its long-term safety has not been established and it should be used carefully. For more about this -- as well as other concerns with melatonin, its efficacy, and our reviews of melatonin supplements, see the Melatonin Supplements Review >>
