Why Melatonin Became So Popular
Melatonin is a hormone your brain naturally produces to help you wind down at night. Over the last few years, especially in the U.S., millions have turned to over-the-counter melatonin supplements hoping for an easier way to fall asleep. It’s marketed as gentle and “natural,” but many people don’t realize there’s more to the story.
A New Study Raises Important Questions
A new 2025 study presented at the American Heart Association meeting found that adults who took melatonin for a year or more had a significantly higher risk of heart failure compared to those who didn’t take it. Researchers looked at five years of electronic health records and saw that long-term melatonin users also faced more hospital visits and higher overall mortality.
As study lead Dr. Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi said, “Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed.”
Melatonin Affects More Than Sleep
Melatonin doesn’t just influence your sleep–wake cycle. It also interacts with the immune system, inflammation, liver function, bone development, and even plays a role in puberty in children.
Short-term use is generally considered safe, but the effects of long-term, daily melatonin, especially for kids, are still unclear.
Why Experts Recommend Caution
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine doesn’t recommend melatonin as a first-line solution for insomnia, except in specific medical cases such as autism or blindness.
Too much melatonin can disrupt your natural circadian rhythm and leave certain people feeling groggy, anxious, or “off” the next day. And because melatonin is sold freely in the U.S., it’s easy for people to self-diagnose, take high doses, or stay on it longer than experts advise.
Better, Evidence-Backed Alternatives
For adults and kids who struggle with ongoing sleep issues, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) remains the gold standard. It works on the root causes of restless nights and has longer-lasting benefits without the side effects of supplementation.
The Key Takeaway
- A recent study suggests long-term melatonin use may increase the risk of heart failure.
- Melatonin interacts with multiple systems in the body, and long-term effects—especially for children—are still uncertain.
- While melatonin requires a prescription in Europe, it remains unregulated in the U.S., leading many people to self-medicate without guidance.
- For long-term sleep support, improving nighttime habits and exploring CBT-I often leads to better results than relying on melatonin.
Sources
This article was created using information from the following outlets:
TIME Magazine
Science Media Centre (Nov 2025)
CNN (Nov 2025)
American Heart Association (Nov 2025)