(TNS) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is warning that almost 11,000 infants and young children have ended up in the emergency room over the past several years due to unsupervised taking of the sleep aid melatonin.
Melatonin is a hormone made by your body to help regulate your circadian rhythm or sleep cycle. It is usually triggered by darkness.
Melatonin products, such as flavored gummies have become very popular among adults who suffer from sleep problems like insomnia, jet lag, chronic pain or other issues.
The CDC’s report identified cases involving children five years and younger who were taken to the emergency room between 2019 and 2022 after taking melatonin.
The researchers estimated, based on 295 identified cases, that 10,930 ER visits occurred during that time period. That’s about 7% of all ER visits in the U.S. for unsupervised medication exposures in infants and young children.
Because melatonin is a supplement, it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and does not require child-resistant packaging. The CDC report said that many of instances were from infants and children opening bottles or from bottles that had not been properly closed.
A recent study published by JAMA found that 25 melatonin products had dangerous levels of the hormone while others contained no melatonin and contained only cannabidiol, or CBD, CNN reported.
“These discrepancies in ingredients or strength could pose additional risk,” the CDC said.
The report stressed that parents and other caregivers need to continue to be educated “about the importance of keeping all medications and supplements (including gummies) out of children’s reach and sight.”
Side effects for children that take melatonin include drowsiness, headaches, agitation and increased bed-wetting or urination in the evening, CNN reported. It can also interact with drugs prescribed for allergic reactions.
Parents should talk with their pediatrician before giving their children any melatonin, Dr. Cora Collette Breuner said to CNN.
“I also tell families, this is not something your child should take forever. Nobody knows what the long-term effects of taking this is on your child’s growth and development,” she said.
