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What Are the Signs of Melatonin Addiction?

By Gregory Hanson
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 26,697
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Men and women who take melatonin supplements regularly may become dependent on them and develop a form of melatonin addiction. This condition typically involves difficulty sleeping without the supplements and can include drowsiness at inappropriate moments or problems with the circadian rhythm more generally. The symptoms of addiction typically resolve rapidly once the supplements are no longer being taken and do not generally involve any serious complications.

The term "melatonin addiction" is something of a misnomer. Melatonin occurs naturally within the body, and while it is possible to become dependent, both physically and psychologically, on melatonin supplements, this is not a true addiction in the technical sense of the term. The human body naturally seeks a condition of internal balance, called homeostasis. When supplements are used to increase the level of a substance that the body naturally produces, the body responds by lowering its natural production of that substance and by reacting less strongly to it. Essentially, the body reaches a new balance point based around the higher level of a substance such as melatonin.

When supplements to boost the level of a natural compound, such as melatonin, are no longer taken, the body’s homeostasis is disturbed again, as the body is effectively deficient in that substance until it can adjust to a more normal level again. This can cause patients to suffer from more severe versions of the symptoms for which they originally began taking supplements. In the case of melatonin addiction, this means that patients who begin taking supplements in order to escape from insomnia may find themselves suffering from very severe insomnia when they cease taking supplements.

If a person wishes to spot or avoid this sort of melatonin addiction, he or she should carefully monitor the sleep cycle. Men and women who have become dependent on melatonin will usually find it very difficult to sleep normally. Melatonin is responsible for slowing down the body’s functioning and providing drowsiness cues to induce sleep. Addiction to melatonin involves building up a much higher tolerance to these chemical messages, so that only large, artificial doses of the hormone are able to induce sleep.

In almost all cases, the symptoms of addiction are mild. Most people can easily adjust to a course of melatonin supplements over the course of a few days, and long-term negative effects are very rare. In situations where a patient is concerned that he or she may have developed a form of melatonin addiction, a short trial period without the supplements should usually be sufficient to determine whether or not the body has come to be dependent on them.

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Discussion Comments
By anon995970 — On Jun 17, 2016

I've been using it on and off for four years, and for the past year I've been taking it daily unable to sleep without it. I can feel super sleepy, but the moment I try to sleep, I wake up. I try for a long time but to no luck. Then I take a pill and I can sleep rather quickly.

By anon992349 — On Sep 01, 2015

If your body does not produce melatonin on it's own, it is not a matter of addiction just as no one talks about "insulin addiction." If I do not take melatonin, I become more and more sleep deprived (I can "sleep" but I am never rested) and symptoms of sleep deprivation are almost full time. If I take my melatonin, I actually wake up refreshed or at least not feeling worse than when i went to bed as I did for the first 43 years of my life. I lacked so much restful sleep that I was even diagnosed with ADHD and used to take Ritalin or Dexidrine/Adderal for it. After discovering melatonin, I had no need of these meds, can fall asleep reasonably well and wake on my own. It has truly changed my life.

By anon990846 — On May 12, 2015

I took it for two years, at the low dosage 0.4 mg . I can't sleep without. When it helps it of course is addictive.

By anon984098 — On Jan 05, 2015

I have been taking melatonin every single night for over a year. I think I have a problem.

By serenesurface — On Dec 04, 2013

Melatonin addiction is not a big issue at all. Like most medications, the body becomes dependent on it after long-term use. People have the same issue with laxatives. But everything goes back to normal after a few weeks. One has to look for alternative remedies for sleep.

By bear78 — On Dec 03, 2013

@ddljohn-- You might want to ask your doctor about this because everyone responds a little bit differently to melatonin supplement withdrawal.

I experienced the same symptoms when I stopped taking my melatonin supplements abruptly. I do take them now but I give myself a break every once in a while. So if i take it during the week, I don't take it on the weekend. This seems to prevent addiction, at least in my case.

Many doctors say that melatonin is natural and if you suffer from chronic insomnia, you're better off taking it. Just make sure that you're on the lowest effective dose. Of course, don't just go by what I say, double check with your doctor.

By ddljohn — On Dec 03, 2013

I think I'm addicted to melatonin even though I was only on it for a few months. I stopped taking it three days ago and my sleep pattern is completely disrupted now. I wake up much earlier than usual and stay up very late. I don't know if I should start taking melatonin supplements again or allow my body to produce melatonin naturally.

Has anyone else been in this situation?

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