Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in the brain. This hormone is mainly used to aid with insomnia since its primary function is stabilizing the circadian rhythm. However, Melatonin is also responsible for blood pressure, immunity, and cortisol levels.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is commonly used to relieve pain and reduce fever. While the drug also goes by other brand names, Tylenol is one of the most common over-the-counter drugs purchased. While these 2 chemicals are used for different issues, consuming both together might have serious side effects.
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Can I Take Melatonin and Tylenol At The Same Time?
Even though no adverse reactions have been raised after 2011 when taking melatonin and Tylenol, it is recommended not to use both drugs simultaneously. This is because both drugs themselves may cause high-risk side effects.
Moreover, melatonin may reduce the effectiveness of painkillers such as acetaminophen. Hence it is better to ask your doctor before taking melatonin and Tylenol simultaneously. Melatonin, as a hormone, slows down the processing of drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol) in the liver.
What Medications Should You Refrain From While Taking Melatonin?
Melatonin may have adverse effects when consumed with certain medications. These include antidepressants, blood thinners, and blood pressure medicines. An animal study revealed that taking melatonin with antidepressants reduced the influence of the medication. This effect is yet to be thoroughly studied in humans. [1] [2]
Moreover, women who use birth control pills should also be careful when using melatonin. Consuming these pills may increase the melatonin levels in the body above the normal range. While melatonin reduces the impact of blood pressure medications, calcium channel blockers tend to lower melatonin levels.
Melatonin, when used with anticoagulants, also increases the risk of bleeding out. It is also recommended not to use melatonin with steroids and immunosuppressants since they lose effectiveness.
Can A Child Take Melatonin And Tylenol Together?
While it is generally deemed safe for children to take Tylenol and melatonin together, certain side effects are caused by using both drugs. It is important to ask your doctor about giving your child Tylenol and melatonin together if your child is also using other medications.
Both melatonin and Tylenol cause drowsiness and dizziness. If you give your child a high dose of either Tylenol or melatonin, there is a high chance of overdose. Read the directions for both medications before giving them to your child. If your child is taking supplements, read about interactions with Tylenol and melatonin before giving them to your child.
Melatonin And Tylenol Side Effects
Even though, according to research, using melatonin is safe for short and long-term usage, there are some side effects. Previously, there have been claims that using melatonin supplements may reduce the body’s natural ability to produce it. Studies, however, have shown otherwise. [3] [4]
The most common side effects of using melatonin regularly include nausea, dizziness, headaches, and drowsiness. Moreover, melatonin has side effects when used with antidepressants, anticoagulants, and blood pressure medicines.
Tylenol or acetaminophen is one of the safest drugs to use, and people rarely face side effects from using this medicine. However, overusing this medicine causes severe liver damage.
In some rare instances, people may have allergic reactions to the drug. The symptoms of an allergic reaction to Tylenol include:
- Itching
- Hives
- Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
- Swelling on the face, lips, throat, or tongue
Acetaminophen poisoning may occur with Tylenol overuse. When more of the drug is consumed, the liver produces more of a substance that causes the liver to get damaged.
Melatonin and Tylenol Benefits
Melatonin is a hormone that settles the circadian rhythm for improved sleep but has multiple other benefits. Tylenol is an over-the-counter pain reliever that may also help with other health issues. Some of the benefits of both melatonin and Tylenol include:
Reducing seasonal depression
Seasonal depression is a real issue that affects people in fall and winter. It gets triggered by changes in the circadian rhythm induced by seasonal shifts. A study including 68 people showed that a change in the circadian rhythm caused seasonal depression. When these people took 2 capsules of melatonin daily, this depression was reduced. [5]
Increase in human growth hormone
HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is necessary for cell regeneration and growth. A small study conducted on 8 men showed that using melatonin as a supplement increased HGH levels in the body. [6]
Promotes eye health
Since melatonin has many antioxidants, it is also beneficial for eye health. Age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma can be treated with the help of melatonin. A rat study was used to find that retinopathy, a disease related to the retina, can be avoided with the help of melatonin.
Tylenol overall benefits
As a pain reliever, Tylenol is highly effective. It is one of the safest drugs people can use to treat headaches, toothaches, fever, muscular pain, and much more. It is safe since it has almost no side effects apart from rare occasions of drug overdose.
Besides its pain-relieving properties, Tylenol is beneficial for controlling blood glucose levels and muscle functioning. It can be used for cardioprotection and neuroprotection. [7]
Melatonin and Tylenol Overdose
Melatonin dosage should be between 0.5mg and 10mg per day. Any amount greater than that is considered an overdose. You may face some symptoms caused by a melatonin overdose. However, consuming too much melatonin is not fatal. Using too much melatonin or an overdose may lead to these symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Stomach cramps
- Confused state of mind
- Low blood pressure
- Short-lasting depression
Tylenol or acetaminophen is safe between 3000mg and 4000mg daily. Consuming more than this may be lethal. An overdose of the drug leads to acetaminophen poisoning that affects the liver and may cause permanent liver damage.
Mostly an acetaminophen overdose may be treated in the hospital after conducting tests, stomach pumping, and drawing blood to remove the effects of Tylenol.
An overdose of any medication may be fatal. This is why reading instruction labels on all your medications is necessary. Remember the gap you need to keep between your medications so an overdose doesn’t occur.
Bottomline
While melatonin and Tylenol are considered safe drugs, using them together may cause serious health issues. If you must consume melatonin and Tylenol daily, maintain a gap between using both drugs. Most importantly, ask your doctor if you should consume both drugs together.
Melatonin and Tylenol both have other health benefits. If you must supplement melatonin in your routine, consult your doctor.
FAQs
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional.
Editorial References And Fact-Checking
- Erland, L. A., & Saxena, P. K. (2017). Melatonin Natural Health Products and Supplements: Presence of Serotonin and Significant Variability of Melatonin Content. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 13(2), 275–281. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6462
- Lusardi, P., Piazza, E., & Fogari, R. (2000). Cardiovascular effects of melatonin in hypertensive patients well controlled by nifedipine: a 24-hour study. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 49(5), 423–427. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00195.x
- Hack, L. M., Lockley, S. W., Arendt, J., & Skene, D. J. (2003). The effects of low-dose 0.5-mg melatonin on the free-running circadian rhythms of blind subjects. Journal of biological rhythms, 18(5), 420–429. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730403256796
- Claustrat, B., & Leston, J. (2015). Melatonin: Physiological effects in humans. Neuro-Chirurgie, 61(2-3), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuchi.2015.03.002
- Lewy, A. J., Lefler, B. J., Emens, J. S., & Bauer, V. K. (2006). The circadian basis of winter depression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(19), 7414–7419. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0602425103
- Lewy, A. J., Lefler, B. J., Emens, J. S., & Bauer, V. K. (2006). The circadian basis of winter depression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(19), 7414–7419. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0602425103
- Blough, E. R., & Wu, M. (2011). Acetaminophen: beyond pain and Fever-relieving. Frontiers in pharmacology, 2, 72. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2011.00072
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