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So a few months ago I started taking melatonin at night to help me sleep. I chose that because I don't want anything that could possibly be addictive or make me groggy all day. I figured it'd be pretty safe because it's something your body produces naturally and helps with sleep.

A couple of weeks into it, my freaking nipples started becoming very sensitive and sore, and I swear they began to get a little puffy, too. I did a little deep dive and come to find out, melatonin also helps regulate hormone production. It can lead to elevated estrogen levels compared to testosterone, which can lead to some weird things like tender nipples and possibly even gynecomastia.

I started with 5 mg, increased to 10, then 20. The tenderness started almost right away tho, and I didn't make the link until just a few days ago. I stopped taking it and the tenderness and swelling is almost completely gone now, after several months of it.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this while taking melatonin?

That’s certainly something to consider.

Is this effect just for people with female bodies or male bodies too?

And really sorry you went through that.

I think it's more common with females, but it can also affect males, tho less commonly. This according to some Google searching and the DuckDuckGo AI, lol.

It really wasn't too bad. Some tenderness and soreness accompanied by some swelling. That does line up with symptoms for gynecomastia. I stopped taking it at night a few days ago and the symptoms are almost completely gone. Fortunately it hasn't really impacted my personal or my sex life. I just couldn't believe it could be melatonin. I've dealt with the tenderness for several months now tho, and the symptoms have abated and almost completely disappeared just within a couple of days of stopping taking it. Weird, huh?

ETA: If it's not clear, and I didn't specify, I am a male.

[This message edited by Pogre at 3:24 PM, Thursday, November 27th]

I sometimes have problems going to sleep on nights where I have to work the next morning, so I started taking melatonin some of those nights. I started taking 3 mg, and did finish a bottle but like I said, I took it sporadically. I usually work 4 days a week but there are days where I'm exhausted enough that I didn't think I'd need the melatonin so didn't take it every time. I moved up to 5 mg for the next bottle because I didn't think it was entirely effective for my purpose. And I still didn't find it all that helpful for sleeping so I just stopped taking it. I didn't have the side effects you went through. Interesting info, though, thanks for sharing it. I'll keep it in mind if I ever decide to take it again.

1 to 5 mg is the recommended dose. Above that is over what's recommended. I started with one 5 mg pill every night, and when it wasn't very effective I started taking two 5 mg pills. Then when I bought a different brand they were 10 mg pills and I kept taking 2 pills. So I was not only taking it nightly, but above the recommended dose. Which... why would a company manufacture 10 mg pills to begin with if that's above the recommended dose?

It's not super common, but also not uncommon if that makes any sense. From what I've been reading you're less likely than most to experience any of those symptoms if taking the recommended dose. Melatonin does play a role in regulating hormone production tho, and it is possible to throw some people's system out of whack. It could potentially lead to gynecomastia in men.

[This message edited by Pogre at 4:01 PM, Thursday, November 27th]

And just for the record, my symptoms were pretty mild. Tho the tenderness and sensitivity was pretty pronounced. When my wife laid her head on my chest one night I almost jumped off the couch, lol. The swelling wasn't bad. I almost couldn't even tell until I really looked hard in the shower one morning. That's when I started doing some research on the topic. I'm not super alarmed or distressed over it, and seem to have caught it before I started growing full on man-boobs.

Like I said, the symptoms are almost completely gone after just a few days of stopping taking it.

Just because its natural doesn't mean its safe or for everyone.
Supplements are tricky because they do not need to meet the same standards as medications.
As a nurse Im mot a fan of Melatonin I have seen it negatively effect many people.
If you are struggling woth sleep talk to your dr about it. You should also read up on sleep hygiene and implement those practices.

Just because its natural doesn't mean its safe or for everyone.

Ain't that the truth?! I often say to people who are extolling the virtue of something natural that fire ants are natural. Doesn't mean I want to be covered in them!

That is odd, glad the side effects abated rather quickly.

I tried it for a few weeks last year after my Mom passed away as I couldn’t sleep and was having really weird distressing dreams. I started with a single dose and then after a week went up. Not only did my sleep NOT improve but the dreams got worse. Much worse.

Turns out nightmares can be a side effect. I stopped it immediately.

I gently asked my Mom to stop visiting me in my dreams so often because I needed to sleep. 💔

Annie extremely vivid wild.dreams is a very common side effect.
If you go more than 2 weeks without good sleep reach out to your dr.
Im not a fan of ambien or lunesta. Seen it make people out of their minds in the hospital setting. There are lots of other great choices that are non-addictive. Usually these are meds like trazadone or amytripilline. If those dont work theres always a low dose benzo especially if it is due to a stressor like what brings us here, loss of loved one etc.
Quality sleep is extremely important if meds dont help then ask for a sleep study even if you dont "fit the typical patient" who has it.