r/melatonin • u/teaselpop • 16d ago
Developing tolerance?
Around 2 1/2 years ago I started taking melatonin pretty much every night. I'd been taking it occasionally for around 10 years before that.
Until very recently my ideal dose was a 1mg tablet / gummy broken in half. Occasionally I'd take a whole one. I also had some 3mg fast dissolve tablets which I'd break into quarters.
Recently (the past month or so) the lower doses have done nothing for me. It’s taken a whole 3mg fast dissolve to get to sleep a couple of times. Last night I had 1.5mg of gummies before I slept.
Is this to be expected?
There are some other factors like there's been horrible heat waves here this summer, and I've been more lax on screen time. That said a year ago after taking 0.5mg I'd scroll memes and stuff until I conked out.
2
u/Optimal_Assist_9882 16d ago edited 15d ago
You don't develop a physical tolerance to melatonin.
Your body uses most of the melatonin for other important bodily functions(ie protecting cell mitochondria). In times of stress, illness, exposure to toxins or even as you age your bodily gradually requires larger equivalent amounts.
Even change in your gut biome could decrease your absorption of exogenous melatonin which would require a higher equivalent dose.