At Canyon Sleep, we get a lot of questions about supplements for sleep and most of the questions revolve around the use of melatonin.  

Did you know that large doses of over-the-counter melatonin likely are not safe for long-term nightly use?

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone, this is an important distinction, it is not a supplement. It is secreted by the pineal gland, a structure that resides in the brain. However, Melatonin is considered a supplement in the US, and therefore it is not highly regulated. In fact, some products may be mislabeled. 

A study in Canada, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, found that some melatonin products contained levels that were 478% higher than what the labels stated. Not only that, but variability within different lots of the product was as high as 465%. Also, 26% of the samples tested included serotonin.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine published a Health Advisory: Melatonin Use in Children and Adolescents which we feel is important information for parents to read.  Check it out

To find out how to get a safer and better night's sleep, contact us.

480-280-0078 or info@canyonsleep.com