Melatonin analogue - biconvex tablets Melaxen: instructions for use for active replenishment of hormone deficiency

Release form, composition and packaging

Tablets, coated from white to white with a yellowish tint, round, biconvex, with a scoring line on one side.

Excipients: calcium hydrogen phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate.

Shell composition: talc, shellac, isopropanol.

12 pcs. - blisters (1) - cardboard packs. 12 pcs. - blisters (2) - cardboard packs.

Other health benefits

Taking melatonin may also benefit you in other ways.

May support eye health

Healthy levels of melatonin can support eye health.

It has powerful antioxidant properties that may help reduce the risk of developing eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (macular degeneration).

In one study, researchers asked 100 people with macular degeneration to take 3 mg of melatonin for 6 to 24 months. Taking melatonin daily helped protect the retina and delay damage from macular degeneration without any significant side effects ().

May help with stomach ulcers and heartburn

Melatonin's antioxidant properties may help treat stomach ulcers and relieve heartburn (,).

A study of 21 people found that taking melatonin and tryptophan along with omeprazole helped stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria heal faster.

Omeprazole is a common medication for acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) ().

In another study, 36 people with GERD were given melatonin, omeprazole, or a combination of the two to treat GERD and its symptoms.

Melatonin helped reduce heartburn and was even more effective when combined with omeprazole ().

Future studies will help determine how effective melatonin is in treating stomach ulcers and heartburn.

May reduce symptoms of tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition characterized by constant ringing and noise in the ears. Often, when there is less background noise, the condition gets worse, for example when you are trying to sleep.

Interestingly, taking melatonin may help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus and help you fall asleep ().

In one study, 61 adults with tinnitus took 3 mg of melatonin before bed for 30 days. This helped reduce the effect of tinnitus and significantly improve sleep quality ().

May Help Boost HGH Levels in Men

Human growth hormone (HGH) is naturally released during sleep. Taking melatonin may help increase growth hormone levels in healthy young men.

Research has shown that melatonin can make the pituitary gland—the organ that secretes growth hormone—more sensitive to the hormone that secretes HGH (, ).

Additionally, studies have shown that both lower (0.5 mg) and higher (5 mg) doses of melatonin are effective in stimulating the release of growth hormone ().

Another study found that 5 mg of melatonin combined with resistance training increased growth hormone levels in men while decreasing somatostatin levels, a hormone that inhibits growth hormone ().

Summary:

Melatonin may support eye health, relieve tinnitus symptoms, treat stomach ulcers and heartburn, and increase growth hormone levels in young men.

pharmachologic effect

Adaptogenic drug, a chemical analogue of the biogenic amine melatonin. Synthesized from amino acids of plant origin.

It is a synthetic analogue of the pineal gland hormone. Normalizes circadian rhythms. Regulates the sleep-wake cycle, daily changes in physical activity and body temperature. Helps normalize night sleep: accelerates falling asleep, improves sleep quality, reduces the number of night awakenings, improves well-being after waking up in the morning, does not cause a feeling of lethargy, weakness and fatigue upon awakening, dreams become more vivid and emotionally rich.

Adapts the body to rapid changes in time zones, reduces stress reactions. Shows immunostimulating and pronounced antioxidant properties.

Inhibits the secretion of gonadotropins and, to a lesser extent, other hormones of the adenohypophysis (corticotropin, thyrotropin and somatotropin). Does not cause addiction or dependence.

Melaxen: instructions for use

According to the instructions for use, the drug for sleep is prescribed to adults for primary symptoms of sleep disturbance, half a tablet, and for obvious problems with falling asleep, 1 pill per day.

Melaxen is also used as an adaptogen when a person has changed time zones. It must be used the day before the flight and the next two to five days. The maximum permissible dosage of tablets is 2 pieces per day.

Melaxen tablets are not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Can children have Melaxen?

Sleep tablets are contraindicated for children under 6 years of age. Further, if obvious disorders are detected in the baby, a prescription may be issued to take half the tablet before bedtime. The duration of treatment is determined individually. The maximum daily dosage of Melaxen for children is 1 tablet.

special instructions

It is necessary to inform women who want to become pregnant that the drug has a weak contraceptive effect.

During the period of use of the drug, you should avoid exposure to bright light.

Impact on the ability to drive vehicles and operate machinery

During the treatment period, it is necessary to refrain from driving vehicles and other potentially hazardous activities that require increased concentration and speed of psychomotor reactions.

Indications and contraindications

It is important to understand what the drug is used for and what the general contraindications are in order to avoid the development of negative reactions and complications from internal organs. Among the general indications for the use of Melaxen are:

• 
  therapy of sleep disorders in primary biological insomnia in old age against the background of a decrease in endogenous hormone production in the brain - age-related desynchronosis;

• disruptions of circadian rhythms due to organic pathology (arterial hypertension, night cough);
• impaired sleep quality with frequent waking up or secondary pathology during daily work (doctors, night guards and cashiers) with violation of the daylight hours (constant exposure to artificial light sources);
• prevention of sleep disturbances when changing time zones, especially with a large time difference.

Contraindications to the prescription of the drug include the following pathological and physiological conditions:

• individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
• impaired renal excretory function;
• decreased clearance rates in chronic renal failure and indications for hemodialysis of the patient;
• manifestations of oncological pathology (leukemia, lymphoma, lymphogranulomatosis, myeloma);
• decompensated stage of diabetes mellitus;
• children's age (children under 18 years of age are not allowed to use the drug);
• autoimmune diseases in the acute stage;
• status epilepticus - admission is possible after consultation with a neurologist and for strict indications (the effect of admission exceeds the risk of side effects);
• severe hormonal disorders, especially pituitary hormones.

Status epilepticus

Today there is no clinical basis for the safety of use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, therefore it is not recommended for women to use melatonin-containing products during these periods.

Taking it is prohibited for drivers of night flights and long-distance drivers (it causes drowsiness, can cause accidents, and therefore poses a threat to human life and health).

Melatonin and pregnancy

Your natural melatonin levels are important during pregnancy. In fact, melatonin levels fluctuate throughout pregnancy (, ).

During the first and second trimester, the nighttime melatonin peak decreases.

However, as your due date approaches, melatonin levels begin to rise. At term, melatonin levels reach their maximum. After childbirth, it will return to pre-pregnancy levels ().

Maternal melatonin is passed on to the developing fetus, where it promotes the development of circadian rhythms and the nervous and endocrine systems (, ).

Melatonin also has a protective effect on the fetal nervous system. The antioxidant properties of melatonin are thought to protect the developing nervous system from damage associated with oxidative stress ().

While it is clear that melatonin is important during pregnancy, there is little research on melatonin supplementation during pregnancy ().

Because of this, it is currently not recommended that pregnant women take melatonin supplements ().

Summary:

Melatonin levels change throughout pregnancy and are important for the developing fetus. However, melatonin supplementation is not currently recommended for pregnant women.

Melatonin and alcohol

A decrease in melatonin levels can occur after evening drinking. One study of 29 young adults found that drinking alcohol 1 hour before bed could reduce melatonin levels by up to 19% ().

Low levels of melatonin have also been found in people with alcoholism.

Additionally, melatonin levels rise more slowly in people with alcohol dependence, which means they have a harder time falling asleep (, ).

However, taking melatonin supplements in these cases does not improve sleep. A study of people with alcohol dependence found that, compared with placebo, taking 5 mg of melatonin per day for 4 weeks did not improve sleep ().

It has been suggested that the antioxidant effects of melatonin may help prevent or treat alcohol-related diseases. However, more research is needed to verify this statement ().

Summary:

Drinking alcohol before bed can reduce melatonin levels and affect sleep. While people with alcohol addiction have low melatonin levels, taking melatonin supplements does not improve their sleep.

Side effects

It is not considered an absolutely safe drug for humans. According to the instructions and reviews, Melaxen can cause the following reactions:

• The appearance of headaches and drowsiness after waking up.
• The occurrence of nausea, the urge to vomit and upset stool.
• Swelling of the legs is also likely to occur at the initial stage of using the medication in the first seven days of treatment.

When intolerance to any of the ingredients of the drug occurs, allergic reactions may occur. In case of overdose, various side effects are observed, as well as some other manifestations.

This is stated in the instructions. Doctors' reviews of Melaxen are presented at the end of the article.

Drug interactions

The patient must study this point of the instructions to avoid negative reactions:

• Ethyl alcohol disrupts the action of melatonin. During therapy and during the period of adaptation to a new time zone, you should not drink alcohol simultaneously with new generation sleeping pills;
• During the treatment period, you should not drive, operate machines and mechanisms in high-risk areas, or perform high-altitude work. With an individual reaction of the body, it is possible to develop drowsiness or overexcitation, nervousness, excessive activity, which can provoke undesirable consequences when handling complex devices;
• melatonin reacts with components of drugs that regulate the production of certain isoenzymes: CYP2C19, CYP1A2 and CYP3A;
• You should not combine sleeping pills with the following names and groups of drugs: Cimetidine, Fluvoxamine, quinolones, estrogens, 5- and 8-methoxypsoralen. The simultaneous use of the listed medications and the composition for normalizing sleep reduces the effectiveness of the drug Melaxen;
• the concentration of melatonin in the blood plasma decreases while taking the drugs Rifampicin and Carbamazepine. Smoking has the same effect;
• names Thioridazine and Imipramine interact with the regulator of sleep and circadian rhythms, increasing the likelihood of adverse reactions from the central nervous system.

Summarize

• Melatonin is an effective supplement that can help you sleep, especially if you have insomnia or jet lag. It may provide other benefits to your health.
• If you want to try melatonin, start with a smaller dose of 0.5–1 mg 30 minutes before bed. If this dose is not effective, you can increase the dose to 3-5 mg.
• Melatonin is generally well tolerated, although there is a potential for mild side effects. Some medications may also interact with melatonin.
• If you are taking these medications, talk to your doctor.

Tags: Insomnia, Melatonin

Related Posts
• Omega-6 fatty acids: benefits and harm, where they are found
• What is algae oil and why do people take it?
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids: what foods they contain, benefits

« Previous entry

How to take melatonin

If you want to try melatonin, start with a lower supplement dose.

For example, start with 0.5 mg (500 mcg) or 1 mg 30 minutes before bed. If this does not help you fall asleep, try increasing the dose to 3-5 mg.

Taking more melatonin probably won't help you fall asleep faster. The goal is to find the lowest dose that helps you sleep better.

However, it is best to follow the instructions that come with your supplement.

Summary:

If you want to try melatonin, start with 0.5 mg (500 mcg) or 1 mg 30 minutes before bed. If this amount is not enough, try increasing the dose to 3-5 mg or follow the instructions on the supplement.