Melatonin and Alcohol Interaction Dangers – Are they Safe to Mix?

Is it safe to combine melatonin with drinking alcohol? Many people take melatonin supplements to relieve sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, as well as disorders like jet lag, shift work disorder, situational anxiety and nicotine withdrawal.

Although research has proven that taking melatonin is generally safe, caution should be exercised when combined with alcohol. Melatonin and alcohol are similar to each other in the mechanisms in which they affect people.

Research has also shown that alcohol can interfere with the normal secretion of melatonin. Alcohol works by stimulating GABA receptors in the brain. GABA agonists (like Benzodiazepines) may decrease normal levels of endogenous melatonin, which could negatively impact sleep quality.

While there may not be a serious adverse effect when combining small amounts of alcohol with melatonin sleep aids, it is recommended to avoid mixing the two to prevent possible interactions.

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Melatonin Overview

Melatonin is a hormone that occurs naturally within the body. Because melatonin is released by the body as night falls and the stimulus of light is removed, researchers believe that it is related to the body’s inner circadian system.

This helps the body to set a natural rhythm of becoming sleepy with the approach of night and more awake with sunlight. In research studies, administering melatonin supplements can reduce sleep latency in people with sleep disorders

Melatonin is also available over the counter in a number of different supplemental forms. These include chewables, lozenges, creams, capsules and tablets.

In addition, melatonin is sometimes added to other over-the-counter products and is available under several different brand names.

Melatonin is rated as Likely Safe by the Natural Medicines Database when used appropriately. However, side effects can occur if it is combined with other substances that can cause an interaction.

Melatonin and Alcohol

Alcohol is a sedative, used by many to help them relax and unwind before they fall asleep. However, in some people, it can have the opposite effect.
It can cause disruptions during sleep, leading to restlessness rather than restfulness. In these situations, individuals may be inclined to use melatonin supplements to help them get to sleep.

While more research needs to be completed concerning the relationship between melatonin and alcohol, there is some evidence that drinking alcohol could reduce the amount of melatonin in the body.

It appears that this is because alcohol suppresses the production of melatonin rather than displacing the amount of the substance that is currently present.

Effects of Alcohol on Melatonin Levels

According to a study published in 2000 in the journal Epidemiology, researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center found that alcohol affects the levels of melatonin that circulate in the body at night.

Scientists chose healthy women with ages between 20 and 74. Researchers categorically analyzed the evidence obtained by participants as they maintained an activity diary, were subjected to in-person interviews and underwent a nighttime urine collection over three successive day.

Of the 203 women who were studied, researchers found no effect on melatonin levels after they ingested one drink. With each successive drink, however, the levels of circulating melatonin dipped significantly.

After only two drinks, study participants showed a nine percent reduction. That figure fell to a reduction of 15 percent with three drinks while four or more drinks resulted in a drop of 17 percent.

Melatonin and Alcohol Interactions

Scientists at France’s Centre Hospitalier Universitaire found that normal secretions of melatonin are impaired in chronic alcoholics and in healthy individuals engaged in binge drinking.

In most people, melatonin secretions are suppressed during the day and released at night. For those people who are alcoholics as well as healthy individuals, these events could be reversed with the introduction of alcohol.

Researchers found that these incidences occurred during different situations in which alcohol was involved including during withdrawal, while drinking and after withdrawal.

One of the primary findings reported in this study was that disruptions in melatonin secretions was seen in both those individuals who were termed chronic alcoholics as well as healthy individuals who were directed to drink a large quantity of alcohol for the study.

The scientists provided 11 healthy individuals with about nine ounces of alcohol over a 24 hour time period. They found that these study individuals did not secrete melatonin during the daytime.

In addition, this study noted that daytime melatonin secretion has been observed during the first 24 hours by those individuals who are undergoing treatment for withdrawal.

Researchers are not clear if this abnormal secretion timetable is the result of acute levels of alcohol consumption or if it is due to a change in the circadian synchronization of the alcoholic.

Melatonin, Growth Hormone and Alcohol

When melatonin is released, growth hormone is also signaled and released. Growth hormone is necessary to repair the body as it sleeps.

Researchers with Italy’s Centro di Alcologia-Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale e Terapia Medica tested nine alcoholic men who were between 40 and 52 years of age.

They were given either a placebo or 12 mg of melatonin and then they had their growth hormone levels tested. Those men who received melatonin did not show an increase in their growth hormone levels compared to those who received a placebo.

The researchers concluded that the effects of alcohol and melatonin disrupt the release of growth hormone.

It is important to note that many of the above studies highlight the effects of melatonin and alcohol by using alcoholics or those individuals who consumed high levels of alcohol.

It is possible that responsibly consuming alcohol while taking melatonin will have no adverse effects. However, you should check with your doctor to determine your personal risk status and it is advised to avoid this combination where possible.

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