Melatonin might worsen blood pressure in people taking blood pressure medications. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Melatonin use with these medications might cause an additive sedative effect.
Melatonin might lower blood pressure. Taking melatonin along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Furthermore melatonin has been shown to have valuable effects on cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and endothelial function and it might benefit patients with heart failure.
For individuals who take beta-blockers and experience trouble sleeping, taking extra melatonin could help improve their quality of sleep.
Beta blockers are a large group of medications that are often used for high blood pressure and other heart conditions. Top examples are metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL), carvedilol (Coreg), and propranolol. However, they can cause side effects — including sleep disturbances like insomnia and nightmares.
Use with anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs or supplements can increase the risk of bleeding, while use with anticonvulsants can reduce their effectiveness. Melatonin may increase blood pressure in individuals taking medication for hypertension and increase blood glucose levels in diabetics.
Melatonin is generally safe for short-term use. Unlike with many sleep medications, with melatonin you are unlikely to become dependent on it, have less response to it after repeated use or experience a hangover effect. The most common melatonin side effects include: Headache.
Melatonin is generally regarded as safe for seniors by physicians and pharmacists because its side effects are mild, it's not habit forming, and it does not cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly.
Melatonin's target sites are both central and peripheral. Binding sites have been found in many areas of the brain, including the pars tuberalis and hypothalamus, but also in the cells of the immune system, gonads, kidney, and the cardiovascular system (39, 40).
Don't take melatonin right before bed because it takes several hours for it to become effective.
In the UK and most of Europe, it's classed as a medicine, not a health supplement and as such, requires a prescription. This is because melatonin is considered “medical by function” which means that it requires a drug licence.
The most common side effects are headaches, nausea and dizziness (17). In the elderly, exogenous melatonin may decrease blood pressure and cause hypothermia (17).
What is a safe melatonin dose? According to Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, “melatonin is very safe if taken in normal doses,” which is anything between 0.5 mg and 5 mg.
Sleep deprivation can make this logic seem sound, but experts say taking melatonin in the middle of the night can actually make your sleep schedule even worse.
Sleeping on the left side is the best sleeping position for high blood pressure, as it relieves pressure on the blood vessels that return blood to the heart. These vessels are located on the right side of the body and can be compressed by slowing its circulation if you sleep on your right side.”
Insomnia is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Over time, poor sleep can also lead to unhealthy habits that can hurt your heart, including higher stress levels, less motivation to be physically active, and unhealthy food choices. For better sleep, get enough natural light, especially earlier in the day.
Magnesium also increases the effectiveness of all antihypertensive drug classes. It remains to be conclusively proven that cardiovascular disease such as coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, and cardiac arrhythmias can be prevented or treated with magnesium intake.
While melatonin is generally considered safe, there have been some reports of it causing heart palpitations in certain individuals. This may be due to the fact that melatonin can lower blood pressure, which can cause the heart to beat faster to compensate.
What are the health benefits of taking melatonin? Melatonin supplements may help with certain conditions, such as jet lag, delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, some sleep disorders in children, and anxiety before and after surgery.
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between Lipitor and melatonin. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.