Pharmacist warns of 'unpleasant' side effects of popular sleep supplement
Getting a restful night's sleep is vital and often many of us can struggle but Brits should be wary of the "unpleasant" side effects of popular sleep aids.
Sleep problems are common and a few restless nights due to stress, anxiety, illness and injuries are usually nothing to worry about. However, lack of sleep can become an issue if it affects your daily life. According to the NHS website, one third of people in the UK will have episodes of insomnia at some point in their lives. Insomnia is a disorder characterised by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both.
To get them through these bouts of insomnia, many Brits turn to various sleeping aids to help them get enough shut-eye at night.
While a lot of these remedies will be tried and tested to ensure they are safe often some can come with unwanted side effects. Ian Budd, clinical lead and prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4U, has warned of one sleep aid and urged Brits to only take it as a "last resort".
Ian said the popular sleep aid melatonin, which is a hormone which naturally occurs in your body to regulate your sleep cycle, can be produced synthetically to be used as a supplement. The aid is often known under the brand names Circadin, Adaflex, Ceyesto, Slenyto and Syncrodin.
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The sale of over-the-counter melatonin supplements is banned in the UK and it can only be available through a prescription. However, some people have been known to bypass this by buying it online. For those doing this, Ian warns that they should make sure they know what they are "getting into" as some medicines can have some "pretty unpleasant side effects".
Ian explained: "If you've been struggling with your sleep cycle for a while, it's likely you know that melatonin is a natural chemical in the body that helps you to fall asleep. But, make sure you know what you’re getting into before you pick up your prescription, as Circadin can have some pretty unpleasant side effects such as abnormal nightmares, night sweats and weight gain.
"Sleep aids should only be used as a last resort, after first trying to make some lifestyle changes, such as improving your bedtime routine, cutting down caffeine intake and managing stress. We would recommend consulting with your doctor before using melatonin as a sleep aid to avoid any unwanted side effects."
The NHS lists side effects of melatonin as:
- Feeling sleepy or tired in the daytime
- Headache
- Stomach ache
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Feeling dizzy
- Feeling irritable or restless
- Dry mouth
- Dry or itchy skin
- Pains in your arms or legs
- Strange dreams or night sweats
If you are taking melatonin, then you should call 111 immediately if you:
- Get changes to your eyesight, such as blurred vision
- Feel faint or pass out
- Start feeling confused or dizzy, or things seem to be spinning around you (vertigo)
- Have any bleeding that does not stop, unexplained bruising or blood in your urine.
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