Australia, can you stop overreacting? Nope…that’s what you do best!
The recent move to ban melatonin for kids — sparked by retailer iHerb suspending sales and a spike in poison hotline calls — has hit the “ridiculous” level. It’s becoming more and more obvious that this is yet another knee-jerk reaction from authorities who seem more interested in creating panic than addressing the real issues. Let’s break this down, because it’s getting out of hand.
For clarification: when I refer to melatonin, I’m talking about it in the form of a medication/supplement rather than the naturally occurring hormone.
First of all, melatonin is not some magic “super poison” that’s going to turn your child into a zombie. It’s a natural hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, and it’s used by millions of people, including children, around the world. Yes, overdoses are possible — just like with anything — but you’d need to really overdo it to cause significant harm. We’re not talking about something toxic or a dangerous chemical here. The real issue seems to stem from a few isolated incidents of people either misusing melatonin or not following simple guidelines. Why are we treating melatonin like it’s the new villain on the block?
Here’s the kicker: this isn’t about melatonin being dangerous — it’s about poor supervision and basic safety. Sure, melatonin gummies taste like candy, and, of course, kids might be tempted to snack on a whole bottle if it’s left in easy reach. But let’s not blame the product itself when the real problem lies with basic parental oversight and education. Don’t leave gummies where kids can get them!
But the real irony here is the people who need melatonin for things like insomnia, night shifts, or managing sleep disorders like Catapres (clonidine) users are the ones who get screwed over by all these regulations. The government has made it harder for us to access melatonin, and now we’re caught up in this over-regulated nightmare while a few bad actors get the headlines.
Let’s get one thing clear: the idea that melatonin is somehow “unsafe” for kids is laughable. Studies have already shown that any type of overdose isn’t going to cause dramatic issues. Drowsiness is expected, and the compound is typically cleared from the body within 12 hours. No special treatment is required.
The literature reports that daily doses of up to 300 mg have been administered without causing clinically significant adverse reactions. However, doses ranging from 200 to 1,200 mg per day have been associated with sleep disturbances and emotional issues. Given that most melatonin capsules typically range from 3 mg to 10 mg per capsule, achieving a 1,000 mg daily dose would require an impractical number of bottles. Specifically, to take 1,000 mg a day using 10 mg capsules, you’d need to consume 100 capsules daily.
If we’re genuinely worried about overdoses and harmful substances, how about we start looking at the real culprits? Whilst the uneducated opinions blame poor sleep on things like bad diets, excessive screen time, lack of exercise, and so on; they fail to understand the true difficulties faced by those with mental health issues.
Don’t get me started on the media sensationalism. The headlines make it sound like melatonin is a dangerous street drug that should be locked away. It’s irresponsible at best.
Frankly, it feels like Australia is trying to infantilise adults. We can make our own decisions, thank you very much. We’re perfectly capable of using melatonin responsibly. But instead, we get treated like we’re all incapable of making informed choices, especially when it comes to something as basic as sleep. And don’t even get me started on the lack of education. Instead of banning melatonin, how about the government focuses on teaching proper usage and safe consumption? Let people make their own choices — without wrapping us all in a blanket of overprotective regulation.
And let’s not forget the bigger picture. If melatonin is so dangerous, why isn’t there a similar outcry about the far more harmful substances we consume every day? The media is completely ignoring the fact that melatonin — when used as directed — is relatively safe and has been for years. But no, instead of rational discussions, we get a politically charged mess.
Melatonin isn’t a threat to society. It’s a tool that helps millions of people, including kids, sleep better. The recommended dose for adults is typically 1-3 mg of pure melatonin, not the sugar-laden gummies with added preservatives that make it easy to overdose. Overdosing on melatonin might lead to drowsiness, headaches, or dizziness, but it’s unlikely to cause any life-threatening issues. So why are we treating this like it’s some kind of national crisis?
At this point, it feels like we’re being punished for using something that has helped us manage our sleep, just because of a few isolated incidents. Instead of tackling the real issues at hand, the government and companies like iHerb are acting like they’re saving the day by imposing these extreme restrictions. If they were actually serious about safety, they’d focus on educating the public and promoting responsible use — not banning something that’s been safely used for years.
So here’s my message: stop punishing the responsible adults who need melatonin to get some decent rest. Let us make our own choices and don’t treat us like we’re incapable of doing so. If melatonin’s so dangerous, let’s have a real conversation about it, not this panic-driven, knee-jerk nonsense.
And let’s think about it. Is this really about protecting the children, or is it about the pharmaceutical companies being given the ability to monopolise something that clearly sells?