I Have Taken Melatonin to Help Me Get to Sleep Each Night for Months. Can This Cause Depression?

[JasonP]

Melatonin seems to calm me down and help me get to sleep but I wonder if it could be causing me to have mood fluctuations and/or depression. Anyone have experience with this long term?

 

[Sound Wave]

No it can't

 

[hartje5]

I'm not so sure it can't. My depression got worse when I took melatonine.

 

[Ears Hurt]

I've been taking melatonin for a year. I never experienced any mood changes. Try L-theanine which is supposed to help with anxiety. My doctor suggested it.

 

[Bobby B]

If you worry about everything all the time then you will get depression
Melatonin is fine -
The drugs that I would avoid though, are the anti dht , male hormonal hairloss or prostate drugs - those can influence moods over time

 

[Robert44]

how much are you taking each night?

 

[linearb]

I have noticed very significant rebound depression from melatonin, but it doesn't always happen. Tends to be worse with higher doses.

 

[Kste Adams]

From WebMD.com:
Melatonin is POSSIBLY SAFE when used by mouth appropriately, long-term. Melatonin has been used safely for up to 2 years in some people. However, it can cause some side effects including headache, short-term feelings of depression, daytime sleepiness, dizziness, stomach cramps, and irritability. Do not drive or use machinery for four to five hours after taking melatonin.

Initially it made me dizzy and gave me some really weird dreams. Also, the longer I've been taking it, the less effect it has (on tinnitus or anything else). Not something I plan to use long term, unfortunately.

 

[LadyDi]

Pretty much others already have said this: For something that's sold over the counter as a supplement, melatonin can seriously screw with your brain chemistry. My doctor once told me that he wouldn't be surprised if melatonin eventually became a regulated substance. As others have said, the dose matters. I read somewhere once that anything over 1 mg on a nightly basis long-term was suspect, but don't if that's true.

It also gave me the wacky dreams. I don't take it any more -- primarily because I didn't like the side effects, plus it didn't help much with the sleep.
You could try cutting out the melatonin for awhile and see if your depression improves.

 

[JasonP]

how much are you taking each night?

1.5 mg which I believe is 3x more than the body produces

 

[Robert44]

1.5 mg which I believe is 3x more than the body produces

I would try cutting the dose. The less you take the better I feel

 

[RaZaH]

Made me depressed.

 

[gotyoubynuts]

Melatonin is a hormone and should as a supplement be used with care. The smaller the dose, the better.