Sleep expert explains rise in children visiting ER after taking melatonin unsupervised [Video]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The CDC recently reported a rise in children going to the emergency room after taking melatonin unsupervised.

S. Justin Thomas is the Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at UAB. He said melatonin is an over-the-counter supplement that is not tightly regulated. Two studies have been done that show the actual melatonin in the supplement can range from 80% less to 400% more than what’s listed as the dosage.

“You can be getting anywhere from almost no melatonin to almost four times over what the dose on the box is,” said Thomas.

Since melatonin is often taken as a gummy, Thomas said its easy for kids to mistake it as candy.

“Based on what I just said about melatonin can be 400 to 500% more than the dose on the box, if you get a melatonin gummy for your kid, they may be, even with one gummy, …