Melatonin Madness: A Sweet and Sleepy Dilemma

Surge in Child Melatonin Usage Raises Concern among Experts

Experts warn as child melatonin use skyrockets!

Kait Brown Image source: Kait Brown

In this modern age of “smart” everything, it seems that even our kids are getting smarter, especially when it comes to finding things they shouldn’t. Case in point: the alarming surge in melatonin use among children, leading to a skyrocketing spike in poison control center calls and emergency room visits. It’s like a colorful candy-coated nightmare!

According to America’s Poison Centers, there were a whopping 44,538 calls made by panicking parents last year alone, reporting melatonin ingestion in children aged 19 and younger. To put things into perspective, that’s up from a measly 8,258 calls back in 2012. And it doesn’t end there. Emergency room visits related to melatonin have surged from 382 in 2009-2012 to a staggering 1,782 in 2017-2020. We’ve hit melatonin madness, people.

Kait Brown, the Clinical Managing Director at the America’s Poison Centers, who has seen it all, says, “This is the bread and butter of poison centers: a lot of accidental ingestion in children, especially with melatonin. We see it every day, multiple times a day.”

Michael Toce Image source: Michael Toce

Here’s the disturbing part: 85% of these cases involve children aged 5 or younger. It turns out these little explorers stumble upon their parents’ stash of melatonin and mistake them for delicious candy. Can you blame them? Melatonin comes in scrumptious flavors, often in gummy form, that irresistibly appeal to young taste buds. And guess what? They don’t always come with child-proof caps like medicines do. It’s like hiding a treasure chest of sweetness in plain sight.

When parents frantically call poison control, it’s usually when their child has ingested melatonin. The experts at poison control swiftly jump into action, asking about the dosage, the child’s symptoms, and medical conditions. It’s a race against time and sedation.

The most common side effect? Good old drowsiness. It usually kicks in within an hour, making the child as sleepy as a sloth on a Sunday afternoon. But don’t just stand there and watch them snooze! Keep an eye on their breathing and perform some gentle tickling or poking to ensure they’re not too sedated. And beware of that gummy overload – it might bring on some nausea and diarrhea, just like a sugar rush gone wrong. Whatever you do, never try to make the child vomit. Sweet dreams, huh?

Now, here’s where things take a serious turn. If the child struggles to breathe or wake up, parents should skip the call to the local pizza place and dial 911 instead. Rare reactions, such as tremors or hallucinations, might require a trip to the hospital. But don’t worry, folks, in the majority of cases, the kids bounce back like rubber balls, and everything can be managed from the comfort of home. Phew!

But why on earth are kids getting their hands on melatonin in the first place? Here’s the twist: your body naturally produces melatonin when it’s time to hit the sack. It’s a little hormone made by the pineal gland, triggered by darkness. It makes you feel oh-so-drowsy and helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Nature’s lullaby, if you will.

Yet, the CDC has some shocking news. Out of the staggering 260,435 reports of child melatonin ingestion made to poison control between 2012 and 2021, over 4,000 cases required hospitalization and 287 young souls were sent to the intensive care unit. Five innocent lives needed ventilation, and tragically, two did not make it. It’s a heartbreaking reality, and we must acknowledge that there might have been other factors at play in those devastating outcomes. However, let’s not dwell on the darkness for too long.

Michelle Caraballo Image source: Michelle Caraballo

Now, let’s dive into the wild world of melatonin claims and concerns. You’ll be surprised to learn that melatonin supplements are shamelessly promoted as affordable sleep aids, conveniently available over the counter in the land of dreams, the good old U.S. of A. (while many European countries insist on a prescription, they must know something we don’t!). Some studies suggest that melatonin does help with sleep, but the evidence is about as clear as a foggy morning after a sleepless night.

But hold on tight, my curious readers, for there’s more. The FDA, in all its glory, regulates dietary supplements such as melatonin with far less rigor than prescription and over-the-counter medications. So, when you buy that melatonin bottle with a shiny label, remember that the actual melatonin content inside can be as random as a game of roulette. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, the advertised dose can vary from a mere 83% to a mind-boggling 478%. And wait for it – some brands even throw in other substances, like serotonin, another sleep-inducing molecule that requires a prescription. Oops!

But hey, we’re not done yet. There’s a smidgen of concern about potential long-term hormonal effects on the sexual maturation of developing adolescents. No need to panic just yet, though, as research in this area is as scarce as a full night of uninterrupted sleep. The CDC kindly warns us that “more research is needed to describe the toxicity and outcomes associated with melatonin ingestions in children.” In other words, we’re still in the wild west when it comes to melatonin’s true nature.

Yet, despite all the uncertainty and parental nightmare fuel, melatonin supplement sales have gone through the roof. They almost tripled between 2016 and 2020, reaching a jaw-dropping $821 million. It seems the pandemic has left us all feeling restless and anxious, creating the perfect storm for a sleepy solution. A survey conducted by the Sleep Foundation last year revealed that more than 1 in 4 adults admit to using melatonin regularly. And brace yourselves, my dear readers, because here comes the real shocker – nearly 1 in 5 children aged 5 to 13 have taken the melatonin plunge within the last month.

So, I hear you ask, should you give melatonin to your precious little ones? Well, Michelle Caraballo, a pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist at Children’s Health in Dallas, might just have the answer.

“It really depends on the kid and the specific situation,” she says, presenting the ultimate melatonin dilemma. There is some evidence that melatonin supplements may be useful for certain populations, such as kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder, according to the National Institutes of Health.

But here’s the plot twist – in her nine years as a sleep specialist, Caraballo has only discontinued melatonin use in two patients. One was a teenager experiencing headaches, while the other was a child who basically transformed into Sleeping Beauty after taking melatonin and slept until noon the next day (who said fairy tales aren’t real?).

But wait, there’s more! Caraballo, in a shocking revelation, admits that she sometimes gives melatonin to her own kids. Yes, you read that right. Even the experts fall under the melatonin spell.

However, before you rush to the supplement store or frantically search for that hidden stash of melatonin gummies, Caraballo has a gentle reminder for you. She believes that before parents even consider melatonin, they should ensure that their child’s sleep hygiene is on point. What does that mean? Get ready for a crash course on bedtime best practices.

Let’s start with strict bedtimes. No exceptions, folks. A 7-day-a-week bedtime routine is crucial. Allowing kids to stay up 2 to 3 hours past their regular bedtime on weekends is like subjecting them to jet lag after a cross-country flight. It’s as if their little bodies are teleporting through time zones.

Next up, a calming routine before bed. Kids should wind down by doing something soothing, like reading a book or taking a relaxing bath. Let them float away to dreamland on a sea of tranquility.

Creating a good sleeping spot is vital. Keep the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet – a sleep sanctuary. As daylight saving time can throw us all off balance, blackout curtains might just be the superhero capes of bedtime.

Banish those digital distractions! Phones, TVs, and other blue-light-emitting devices have no place in the bedroom. The blue light messes with our natural melatonin production – the exact thing we’re trying to encourage. So, keep the gadgets at bay and let the dreamy darkness take over.

Watch out for your child’s diet and exercise habits. Caffeine is a big no-no after lunchtime, as it can interfere with falling asleep. And vigorous exercise less than two hours before bedtime can rev up the engines instead of winding them down. Also, parents, please resist the urge to enjoy that glass of wine before bed. It might disrupt your own sleep, and we can’t have that.

Say goodbye to napping once your child reaches the grand age of 5. Naps are now officially off the menu, my friends. We’re embracing the all-day kind of tiredness.

Last but not least, we have a furry predicament. Pets have their place in our hearts, but studies show that sleeping with them can affect our sleep quality. Sorry, fluffy, it’s time to find a cozy spot elsewhere.

Caraballo truly believes in the power of behavioral changes before resorting to medicine. Establishing a routine and sticking to it is key. Kids thrive on routine, and their little bodies appreciate the order. Of course, there are exceptions, and that’s where melatonin might come into play.

So, my dear readers, armed with knowledge and a hint of humor, I hope you navigate the world of melatonin with caution and clarity. If you find yourself in need of emergency assistance or have any melatonin-related questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Poison Help at 800-222-1222 or visit PoisonHelp.org. Remember, knowledge is power, and a good night’s sleep is truly priceless.