If you are not sure, ask a pharmacist or doctor … Melatonin is a natural hormone that appears to have only minor side effects. Melatonin supplements appear to be helpful in reducing anxiety before surgery, but it’s unclear if it helps to lower anxiety after surgery. Risks appear manageable so long as drug interactions are avoided, but caution is appropriate since melatonin is commonly over consumed, and, absent testing, people should "work up" to a therapeutic dose. Overview Information Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body. Melatonin does not have significant toxic effects, but it may interfere with sleep rhythms. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the conversation right now! There's been no evidence that melatonin is a drug that is capable of an OD. Some research suggests that melatonin supplements might be helpful in treating sleep disorders, such as delayed sleep phase, and providing some relief from insomnia and jet lag. The synthetic form of melatonin does not carry this risk. Evidence of benefit, however, is unclear. Melatonin may interact with drugs and supplements such as high blood pressure medication, corticosteroids, antidepressant medication and Benzodiazepines, to name a few. I see supplement as a legal or marketing term, not a medical one. Natural levels of melatonin in the blood are highest at night. People use melatonin when they have insomnia-- trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. There are two types: natural and synthetic (manmade). These are derived from natural or synthetic sources. Melatonin is also possibly effective in treating jet lag, high blood pressure, tumors, low blood platelets (blood cells that help your blood to clot), insomnia caused by withdrawal from drug addiction, or anxiety caused by surgery. The 2015 review looked at 12 studies that involved 774 people and assessed melatonin supplements for treating anxiety before surgery, anxiety after surgery, or both. This form could be contaminated with a virus so it is not recommended. Melatonin is one of the most popular sleep aids in the world. That is to say that the supplements have not undergone studies to examine their efficacy or their side effects. For this reason, researchers have tested it for use as a natural supplement in … The label on the pill bottle should list the type. Melatonin is a hormone and dietary supplement commonly used as a sleep aid. Unlike prescription medication, over the counter (OTC) melatonin supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In nursing school I was taught to consider any non-food, non-water substance ingested in order to modify your internal state as a drug.