The use of melatonin among minors is increasing, says the child psychiatrist | News
The Poison Information Center receives about 150-180 calls about melatonin per year, about a fifth of which concern children under the age of five.
Melatonin products have become a familiar sleep aid, as various products are sold in pharmacies, stores and online. In the brain, the pineal gland releases a hormone at night that plays a role in sleep-wake cycles. However, melatonin can also be taken as a supplement.
There is no accurate information available on the prevalence of melatonin use among children and young people in Finland, Juulia PaavonenA specialist in child psychiatry at the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district (HUS) said that he believes the use of melatonin has increased among minors.
“This may be because there has been a lot of talk about sleep and its importance. The availability of melatonin has also increased,” said Paavonen. “This may have lowered the threshold for melatonin use even too much.”
In his work, Paavonen has encountered children whose sleep disorders have been prolonged due to the wrong use of melatonin.
“Such cases happen from time to time when melatonin has been used too much, irregularly or too late in relation to the child’s sleep rhythm. In such cases, the wrong way of using melatonin has continued the child’s sleep disorder,” he said.
Paavonen stated that he is very cautious about the use of melatonin in children under school age.
“Especially in this age group, it is very important to consider the underlying causes of insomnia and try to address them first. Only then, in carefully considered cases, can melatonin be considered as an additional treatment for insomnia.”
Paavonen recommends treating children’s insomnia primarily with behavioral therapy, i.e. everyday home activities, which are known to improve the quality of sleep.
Melatonin is sold for children only with a prescription
Supplements containing less than two milligrams of melatonin can be obtained without a prescription from both pharmacies and general stores in Finland.
Mikaela PammoThe head pharmacist of the University Pharmacy chain in Helsinki emphasizes that the company only sells melatonin products to children with a prescription.
“We are cautious about melatonin products because there is very little research into their long-term use in children,” Pammo said.
The Poison Information Center receives about 150-180 calls about melatonin per year, about a fifth of which concern children under the age of five.
“Our calls have not shown that melatonin has caused significant poisoning symptoms in children or adults. However, it is important to remember that melatonin should be stored like a medicine.” Tuomas LiliusDirector of the Poison Information Center said.