Sleep gummies blamed for kids ‘overdosing’ on melatonin as calls to WA’s poisons hotline surge

Hundreds of children are accidentally overdosing on melatonin, with calls to WA’s poisons hotline relating to the popular sleep-inducing medicine increasing by 166 per cent in five years. The worrying trend has been attributed to the growing use of melatonin gummies, which are marketed as a sleep aid for children and can be easily purchased from overseas, bypassing Australian drug regulations. Last year 541 calls regarding melatonin were made to the Poisons Information Centre, with about 90 per cent of concerns relating to children. This is an increase on 463 in 2023, and almost treble the 203 calls made in 2019. So far this year, 322 calls were made to August 15, a rate of more than one a day. Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone which regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle, and can be prescribed by doctors to help with insomnia or jet lag. It is also commonly prescribed for neurodivergent children who struggle with sleep. But specialists are concerned by the growing popularity of unregulated gummies coming into Australia, through websites such as iHerb, and which are being given to children without first assessing the reason behind their sleep struggles. Pharmacist Yumi Tan, from the Poisons Information Centre, said most calls to the 24-hour hotline involved children getting into the gummies and taking too many. “Easier access to melatonin outside of the Australian healthcare system is leading to the increased number of exposures. It’s easy to order it online, which is a real concern,” she said. “Out of our hundreds of calls the majority are accidental, it’s a child that has been given a gummy, it tastes good, parents have left (the container) on the counter and the child, thinking it’s a lolly, has got stuck in.” “With a chewable tablet formation, they can often get into quite high quantities.” Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, stomach upset and headaches. But Ms Tan said prescribed melatonin had an important role, particularly for neurodivergent children. Melatonin is also available over the counter for adults over 55, for short-term use only. “It is controlled, to prevent people using it without getting proper review. If you’re constantly taking melatonin just to help you get to sleep, it could be masking other problems or medical issues,” she said. Occupational and myofunctional therapist Tash Duffin, who specialises in early childhood sleep, said melatonin was necessary for many children with neurodevelopmental issues. “There are genuine circumstances where it’s needed, but where it gets tricky is parents buying it online without first investigating the sleep problem,” she said. “It’s important to have children properly assessed, to find out why sleep is tricky. Melatonin doesn’t fix an airway issue, or a food intolerance, or constipation, so when it’s used as a blanket tool when we haven’t explored why sleep is a problem, that’s where I worry.” Use of melatonin and other sleep aids have exploded in recent years, and a report published last week by the Sleep Health Foundation found one in four Australians now use sleep medications regularly. Foundation chief executive Dr Moira Junge said the findings revealed a widespread and growing health and productivity issue that demanded urgent national attention. The study revealed a lack of sleep was impacting 46 per cent of Australians and their ability to work or study. Almost half attributed poor sleep to a busy mind or worry. Dr Junge said sleep did not receive the public health funding or messaging that it deserved, and as a result the space was being filled with “clever marketing people and influencers”. “There is misinformation around, but it’s normal if kids take a while to get to sleep, and there are really good, evidence based behavioural solutions parents should look to first,” she said. “Even understanding about lighting and stimulation in the home, and unwinding before bed, and making sure everyone knows sleep is a priority. “The education isn’t out there yet so people get panicked about seeking medication, and the perfect night’s sleep.” Dr Junge said melatonin and magnesium were beneficial for those who were deficient. “But so many people are reaching for these sorts of solutions without investigating the root cause.” Poisons Information Hotline 13 11 26