Do YOU take sleeping tablets? You could be at risk of DEATH: Dangerous levels of a naturally-occurring chemical found in some supplements

Home / Patient Education / Do YOU take sleeping tablets? You could be at risk of DEATH: Dangerous levels of a naturally-occurring chemical found in some supplements
February 22, 2017February 22, 2017
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  • Potentially dangerous serotonin levels found in 26% of melatonin supplements
  • Excessive serotonin puts people at risk of life-threatening serotonin syndrome
  • Over 71% of supplements didn’t meet a 10% margin of the melatonin on the label

Put away the sleeping tablets.

Insomniacs who use them could be at risk of seizures, a high fever and even death, new research suggests.

Despite promising to contain certain amounts of sleep-controlling hormones, many supplements are well off the mark, scientists claim.

In fact, a quarter can contain dangerous – and unlabeled – amounts of a chemical known to cause severe side effects.

Many people rely on sleep supplements to nod of but they may be exposing themselves to dangerous serotonin levels 

Many people rely on sleep supplements to nod of but they may be exposing themselves to dangerous serotonin levels

Melatonin is a natural hormone that helps regulate the daily cycle of sleep and wakefulness.

Production of the chemical, which can be found in certain foods, naturally increases at night and decreases in the morning.

As a result, melatonin-supplements don’t need FDA approval and aren’t subject to the same rigorous controls as drugs.

Researchers from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, analyzed 31 sleeping supplements that were available to buy in local grocery stores.

The supplements spanned 16 different brands and included liquids, capsules and chewable tablets.

They found that the melatonin content varied widely, despite precise claims of how much of the chemical each product contained.

The study also revealed over 71 per cent of melatonin supplements didn't meet a 10 per cent margin of the hormone concentration listed on the label

The study also revealed over 71 per cent of melatonin supplements didn’t meet a 10 per cent margin of the hormone concentration listed on the label

Some 71 per cent didn’t meet the accuracy margins in regards to their actual content, the study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found.

They varied from containing 83 per cent less, to 478 per cent more melatonin than what was declared on the packet.

WHAT IS SEROTONIN SYNDROME?

Serotonin is a chemical your body produces that’s needed for your nerve cells and brain to function.

But too much can cause serotonin syndrome – which can be fatal if left untreated.

Symptoms that can range from mild (shivering and diarrhoea) to severe (fever and seizures).

Milder forms of serotonin syndrome may go away within a day of stopping the medications that cause symptoms.

But further analysis revealed that serotonin, a much more strictly controlled substance, was used in a quarter of the supplements.

The presence of unlabeled but significant quantities, like the researchers found, can cause serious side effects they say.

Serotonin syndrome can begin within hours of taking a medication or supplement that affects the hormone’s levels.

Mild symptoms include confusion, agitation and headache.

In severe cases, however, serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening, causing high fever, seizures, irregular heartbeat and unconsciousness.

Study author Dr Lauren Erland said: ‘Millions of people use melatonin for a variety of purposes, including as a sleep aid.

‘It is important that clinicians and patients have confidence in the quality of supplements used in the treatment of sleep disorders.’