Is melatonin a mood stabilizer

Answer 1

Melatonin is a naturally occurring "sleep regulating" hormone in your body. As such, it is not really a mood stabilizer as over the counter medications are. But since it helps regulate sleep, and since sleep is critical to overall mood, it does play a part in how our mood is if we do not get enough restful sleep.

It can be bought over the counter in various milligram dosages without a prescription; and it is often the first thing that some practitioners will suggest if there are sleep deprivation issues present. Since it is already present in the body, one is merely replacing something rather than adding a foreign substance. Therefore there is relatively little risk to the person.

Stress, and long periods of sleep deprivation can deplete the stores of melatonin in the body making sleep onset and duration difficult. Adding melatonin back can assist with both. Generally, the first suggested dose is 1-3mg per night; but there is also a 5mg extended release dose, as well. There do not seem to be any contraindications in my experience with most psychiatric medications, and indeed, melatonin is a first line additive when sleep issues are present prior to adding any prescription sleep aid.