Atlanta, Georgia – The number of children unintentionally ingesting melatonin in various forms, such as gummies and tablets, has seen a significant spike over the past two decades. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the instances of pediatric melatonin exposures have surged in recent years.
Anticipating a 530 percent rise in calls to poison centers for pediatric melatonin incidents between 2012 and 2021, the CDC reported an estimated 10,930 emergency room visits due to children under 5 ingesting melatonin between 2019 and 2022, marking a 420 percent increase. These cases accounted for 7.1 percent of emergency department visits for medication exposures in this age group, based on national data compiled by the CDC.
This increase in pediatric melatonin exposure corresponds with an uptick in melatonin use among adults within the same timeframe, as indicated by a survey conducted from 1999 to 2018 that pointed to a rise in adult melatonin usage from 0.4 to 2.1 percent, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Maribeth Sivilus, an epidemiologist with the CDC, stated that the accessibility and attractiveness of flavored melatonin formulations like gummies and chewable tablets make them appealing to children, potentially leading to unintended ingestion incidents. Unlike regulated medications, most melatonin supplements do not have childproof caps, and parents may not exercise the same caution in storing supplements as they do with conventional medications, according to Sivilus.
Moreover, the risk associated with melatonin consumption is underscored by research revealing discrepancies between label claims and actual melatonin content in products. A study published in JAMA found that many melatonin supplements contained significantly more melatonin than stated on the label, raising concerns about product consistency and accuracy.
With a considerable number of children exposed to melatonin not requiring hospitalization, experts emphasize that the consequences are generally mild, encompassing symptoms such as somnolence, nausea, vomiting, or headache. However, Cora Collette Breuner, a professor of pediatrics at Seattle Children’s Hospital, highlighted the lack of regulations governing supplements as a potential factor contributing to severe cases of exposure requiring medical attention.
As parents turned to over-the-counter remedies like melatonin to alleviate sleep disturbances during the pandemic, pediatric melatonin exposures reported to U.S. poison centers surged from 8,337 instances in 2012 to 52,589 in 2021. Kaitlyn Brown, clinical managing director for America’s Poison Centers, noted that melatonin is one of the leading substances of exposure reported to poison centers among children.
The rise in melatonin exposures not only strains the healthcare system by occupying emergency room staff but also poses financial burdens on families. Maryann Amirshahi, a professor of emergency medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, emphasized the stress that prolonged emergency room visits place on families, along with potential financial implications due to hospital bills.
Experts advocate for better packaging regulations to mitigate the escalating incidence of pediatric melatonin exposures, aiming to address the issue at its source. Varun Vohra, director of the Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center, is among those calling for packaging reform to prevent such incidents and reduce the burden on poison centers and emergency healthcare providers.