Rise in Melatonin Gummy Use Sends Thousands of Kids to Emergency Departments, CDC Study Finds
In recent years, there has been a concerning trend in the United States that is sending thousands of children to emergency departments across the country. It’s not nicotine-containing e-cigarette products or cannabis-infused candies, but rather a seemingly harmless sleep-aid supplement: melatonin, particularly in gummy form. According to a new report from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of melatonin has skyrocketed, leading to an increase in calls to poison control centers and visits to emergency departments.
Melatonin is a neurohormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle. It has gained popularity among adults for managing sleep disorders and jet lag. The use of melatonin in adults has risen significantly from 0.4 percent in 1999–2000 to 2.1 percent in 2017–2018. However, the rise in popularity also means that more households have these candy-like supplements within reach of children, increasing the risk of unsupervised ingestion. This has resulted in a staggering 530 percent increase in poison control center calls and a 420 percent increase in emergency department visits for accidental melatonin ingestion in infants and children between 2009 and 2020.
The problem persists, as the new study estimates that nearly 11,000 children visited emergency departments between 2019 and 2022 after accidentally consuming melatonin supplements. The majority of these cases involved solid forms of melatonin, with approximately 47 percent identified as gummies and 49 percent listed as an unspecified solid form, likely including gummies. These melatonin-related emergency visits accounted for 7 percent of all emergency visits by infants and children who ingested medications unsupervised.
What is particularly alarming is the age range of children affected by melatonin ingestion. While most emergency department visits for unsupervised medicine exposures involve infants and toddlers aged 1 to 2, half of the melatonin-related visits were in children aged 3 to 5. This suggests that the candy-like appeal of melatonin products is enticing to young children. Additionally, about three-quarters of the melatonin products involved in emergency visits came from bottles, indicating that either the children managed to open the bottles themselves or that the bottles were not properly closed. It is worth noting that manufacturers are not required to use child-resistant packaging for melatonin supplements.
Fortunately, most of the cases resulted in only mild or no effects. However, approximately 6.5 percent of the cases, equivalent to over 700 children, required hospitalization due to their melatonin binge. A separate study conducted in 2022 by researchers in Michigan found that reported symptoms from poison control center calls for children consuming melatonin included gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, or central nervous system issues. Common side effects of supervised melatonin use in children include drowsiness, increased bedwetting or urination in the evening, headache, dizziness, and agitation.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a part of the National Institutes of Health, states that supervised use of melatonin in children appears to be safe for short-term use. However, there is limited data on melatonin use in children, and the long-term effects of regular use or acute exposures are still unknown. The NCCIH cautions that because melatonin is a hormone, it is possible that melatonin supplements could affect hormonal development, including puberty, menstrual cycles, and the overproduction of the hormone prolactin.
In light of these findings, the authors of the CDC study emphasize the importance of educating parents and caregivers about keeping all medications and supplements, including gummies, out of children’s reach and sight. It is crucial to ensure that these potentially harmful substances are stored securely to prevent accidental ingestion and potential harm to children. As the popularity of melatonin gummies continues to rise, it is essential to prioritize the safety of our children and take proactive measures to prevent unnecessary emergencies.