Melatonin: A wonder drug for sleeping beauty?

Melatonin: A wonder drug for sleeping beauty?

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

For "Bambang", having a good night's sleep after a stressful
day at the office was a luxury.

That was until he heard about melatonin from a colleague and
also read an article in a leading magazine. He now keeps a bottle
of melatonin pills on his bedside table.

"I take one pill shortly before I go to bed, almost every
night. It then only takes me 30 minutes to fall asleep and I
always wake up fresh the next morning without feeling tired or
drowsy," he explained.

Melatonin is championed by some as a wonder drug, especially
for long-haul travelers to help them adjust to jet lag or, like
Bambang, people who are having trouble sleeping.

Jet lag is a condition that arises from a disturbance in the
body's circadian rhythm after a long distance flight that
involves crossing several time zones. Travelers need time to
adjust themselves to the new time zone; during this transitional
period, people will feel sleepy, alert and hungry at
inappropriate times.

Meanwhile insomnia, which affects half of all adults in the
U.S., is a sleep disturbance that makes it difficult to fall
asleep or stay asleep.

Apart from combating jet lag and insomnia, there have been
claims that melatonin slows the aging process and has a positive
effect in the treatment of cancer, high blood pressure and
Parkinson's disease. It is even said to help in adjusting to
menopause.

In treating their body cycle problems, many confirmed users
believe that melatonin is safer than sleeping pills because it is
classified as a dietary supplement, not a drug.

For instance, it is available in health supplement stores in
Jakarta (a bottle of 60 3 mg pills costs about Rp 100,000) and in
the United States, among other countries, but is not permitted
for sale in the UK.

The British government's stance points to the fact that little
is known about the safety of melatonin, its correct dosages,
possible adverse interaction with other drugs, its side effects
and long term effects.

What exactly is melatonin?. According to the U.S. National
Sleep Foundation at its site www.sleepfoundation.org, melatonin
is a natural hormone produced by the pineal gland, which lies at
the base of the brain.

This pineal gland works in harmony with the light-dark cycle.
When it functions correctly, the level of melatonin rises and
makes people feel less alert, causing them to slowly fall asleep.
The level then slowly drops in the morning hours before people
begin to wake up. Melatonin levels are so low during the day that
scientists often have difficulty detecting it.

Age also plays an important role in melatonin production.
Older people, who are prone to insomnia, produce less melatonin
than children do.

Like other dietary supplements, melatonin is not regulated by
the U.S. Food and Drug Agency. It is not considered a drug
because melatonin appears naturally in some foods, although the
pills sold in stores are not the same as the substance naturally
produced by the human body.

But the sleep foundation also mentioned that complaints like
fatigue, depression, constriction of the arteries and effects on
fertility have been reported.

Before you resort to taking melatonin for sleep disturbances,
take a look at your lifestyle. Various factors can trigger this
condition, including stress, emotional or psychological problems,
drugs with sleep-disturbing effects and other habits, such as
drinking caffeinated drinks and alcohol, trying to finish work
and engaging in strenuous physical activities shortly before
sleeping.

Sleep problems can also occur due to an unfavorable
environment in your own bedroom. This is the reason why night-
time tossers and turners are advised to consider possible factors
that may be making it difficult for them to get a sound night's
sleep.

* Is your bedroom too hot or too cold?

* Is it too noisy or too bright?

* Is your bed comfortable?

* Are you experiencing any physical problems that may be related
to your sleep problem, such as heartburn, menopausal hot flashes,
arthritis, headache or back pain?

* Do you take any medications that may cause sleeping problems as
a side effect?

* Do you drink caffeinated drinks in the afternoon or evening?

* Are you drinking alcohol before you go to bed?

* Do you exercise within three hours of going to bed?

* Are you napping during the day?

* Do you work in bed or just before going to bed?