Melatonin (IUPAC name: N-Acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), known as a neurohormone synthesized at pineal gland and narcotically excreted to regulate circadian rhythm and sleep, is easily available at health food stores and retail pharmacies over-the-counter without prescriptions. insomnia is a sleeping disorder which is characterized by either having difficulty in falling asleep or being awake easily during the night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The secretion of melatonin decreases with aging while this could explain why sleeping problems seem to be more common among the elders. The database from 2005 National Sleep 

Foundation poll shows this trend as the reported insomnia syndrome partition increase with increasing age.

However, this trend is flipped over when a different partition of ages is applied. Instead of seperating the age of voters into [18,29],[30,49],[50,54],[65+], with new age partition we can see people before middle age(<=38) actually are reported as highest partition bothered by insomnia syndrome. pressure and stress.

Easy accessibility of melatonin may lead to abuse or overdose though its toxicity is tested as low, whereas the case study of melatonin is still limited and no assembly analysis of negative effects of melatonin use is published.

According to past study, three cases of using melatonin for suicide attempts are not harmful while in all cases the doses are less than 150mg per time. While another study aimed at long-term use and overdose intake show the significant relationship in worsening depression.