The use of melatonin products among adults in the US has skyrocketed in recent years, but a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights a concerning trend. According to the report, approximately 11,000 children have ended up in the emergency room after ingesting melatonin unsupervised.
Melatonin supplements are commonly used to regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle and are often used to address sleep issues such as jet lag or shift work disorders. However, the CDC report identified cases of children aged 5 and under who were taken to the ER between 2019 and 2022 for ingesting melatonin without adult supervision. Nearly 300 identified cases resulted in over 10,000 ER visits during this time period due to unsupervised melatonin ingestion in children.
The report found that over half of these cases involved children aged 3-5 years old, with most visits not involving additional medications. Melatonin gummies were found to be involved in almost 5,000 of the cases where the dosage form was specified. Since melatonin is not regulated by the FDA, discrepancies in ingredients or strength could pose additional risks to children.
Parents are urged to use child-resistant packaging for melatonin products to prevent unsupervised ingestion by children. The rise in melatonin use among adults since the early 2000s has led to a 420% increase in ER visits for unsupervised melatonin ingestion by children. While most cases did not result in hospitalization, more research is needed on the safety of supervised melatonin use for children.
Dr. Cora Collette Breuner advises families to be cautious with melatonin use in children and prioritize healthy sleep habits. Consulting a pediatrician before giving children melatonin is recommended, as the long-term effects on growth and development are unknown. Strategies such as reducing exposure to blue light before bed and establishing bedtime routines can help promote natural melatonin production in children.
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