Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain during the night. It acts directly on our circadian cycle. It's what "tells" our body that it's time to sleep.
But how?
Melatonin, known as the sleep hormone or the darkness hormone, is stimulated to be produced by the absence of light. That's why we start feeling sleepy at night or in a movie theater, for example, and wake up when we come into contact with light again, whether artificial or not.
Melatonin is naturally produced by the body, but it can also be purchased, for example, at pharmacies. When we use purchased melatonin, our body may understand that it's time to prepare our cells for sleep, and we may feel sleepy earlier than usual.
Melatonin dosage deserves attention, since there is no medical consensus on the ideal amount to use in adults or children. The initial dose should be as low as possible and, throughout treatment, the doctor checks the need for any adjustments.
The good news is that melatonin is indicated for cases like yours, where the work schedule is unusual and causes circadian cycle imbalance, and it can be a valuable tool to counteract the impacts of this work schedule.
But be careful: never, I said never, start using it without the supervision of a healthcare professional. It's not a simple vitamin, remember that it's a hormone that can interfere with other important functions in your body.
Benefits vs. Side effects of melatonin
The benefits of melatonin, when used correctly, mainly include:
- Relaxation at bedtime
- Circadian cycle regulation
- Aid in fat metabolism
- Contributes to restorative sleep
On the other hand, the most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Daytime drowsiness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Restlessness
- Nightmares
We don't yet know the implications of long-term melatonin use, which is why it's so important to understand that being monitored by a healthcare professional is not optional, it must be mandatory. Find one you trust, get the recommended tests done, and follow the instructions given. Your health will thank you.