Melatonin is addictive and shuts down your own production
Mostly falseThe Claim
Some people fear that taking melatonin nightly will make them dependent on it, cause withdrawal when they stop, or make the body stop producing its own melatonin.
Origin
The concern is borrowed from prescription sleeping pills, which can cause tolerance and rebound insomnia, and from the general idea that hormone supplements suppress natural production.
What Science Says
In a 6-12-month study of 244 adults with insomnia taking 2 mg prolonged-release melatonin, there was no evidence of tolerance, no rebound insomnia or withdrawal symptoms after stopping, and no suppression of the body's own melatonin production. A randomized trial in 170 adults aged 55+ also found no withdrawal effects on discontinuation. A systematic review of 37 RCTs found mostly mild side effects, though long-term data beyond several months remain limited.
Verdict
Mostly False
Sources
- PMID:21845053 Prolonged-release melatonin for insomnia - an open-label long-term study of efficacy, safety, and withdrawal.
- PMID:18036082 Prolonged-release melatonin improves sleep quality and morning alertness in insomnia patients aged 55 years and older and has no withdrawal effects.
- PMID:31722088 Adverse Events Associated with Melatonin for the Treatment of Primary or Secondary Sleep Disorders: A Systematic Review.