Melatonin hypotension

melatonin hypotension

Melatonin hypotension refers to a drop in blood pressure that can occur after taking melatonin, a hormone supplement people use to help regulate sleep. Melatonin is naturally produced by the brain at night, and when taken as a pill it can influence blood vessels and the nervous system, sometimes causing blood pressure to fall. For most healthy people this change is small and temporary, but in some cases it can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, especially when standing up quickly. The effect matters most for people who already have low blood pressure, take medications for high blood pressure, or use drugs that affect circulation. Older adults and people with certain health problems are also more likely to notice symptomatic drops in pressure. If you take melatonin and feel unusually weak or dizzy, you should sit or lie down and contact a healthcare provider about adjusting dose or timing. Doctors may advise checking blood pressure before starting melatonin, spacing it away from blood-pressure drugs, or choosing lower doses. Research into how often and how strongly melatonin lowers blood pressure is ongoing, so cautious use and medical guidance are important. Overall, melatonin hypotension is a manageable risk for many people, but awareness and simple precautions help prevent problems.