Preparation melaxen comprises a synthetic analog of melatonin – a hormone regulating sleep and wakefulness shift. Melaxen is not a hypnotic drug, it acts more gently, promoting natural falling asleep and deep sleep. Due to this, upon awakening, Melaxen does not cause drowsiness, headaches and other unpleasant sensations that are observed when taking sleeping pills.
Instructions for use of the drug Melaxen and Melaxen Balance
Composition
Melaxen tablets contain:
- active ingredient – melatonin 3 mg;
- auxiliary substances – calcium hydrogen phosphate , cellulose, magnesium stearate .
Melaxen application
The dose, frequency of administration and duration of the course are selected individually, depending on the cause of insomnia and the patient’s condition. For example, when traveling by air, it is recommended that you take 1 tablet, starting 1 day before your flight and continuing for 5 days. And with age-related desynchronosis, the drug is prescribed in long courses.
The usual dose is 1.5-3 mg once a day. Taking with food slows down the absorption of Melaxen , so it is recommended to drink the medicine after dinner, 30-40 minutes before the planned bedtime.
The maximum daily dose is 6 mg
Usually the course is from 3 to 8 weeks.
Indications
Long-term and severe sleep disturbances, as well as insomnia caused by organic lesions, do not respond to melatonin treatment
The indication for taking melatonin drugs is short-term insomnia caused by disturbed sleep-wake cycles:
- as a result of crossing several time zones during air travel;
- with a shift or rotational work schedule;
- with meteosensitivity;
- insomnia with depression;
- primary insomnia in patients over 55 years of age (age-related sleep disturbance associated with a natural decrease in melatonin production).
Long-term and severe sleep disturbances, as well as insomnia caused by organic lesions, do not respond to melatonin treatment. In such cases, do not self-medicate – immediately contact your doctor to identify the causes of insomnia.
Side effects
When the recommended doses are observed, side effects are rare. In the first week of admission, some patients notice swelling. Headache and morning sleepiness can also occur.
Less common are allergic reactions, hyperhidrosis and gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).
Contraindications
- hypersensitivity (allergy) to the components of the drug;
- severe renal dysfunction;
- malignant blood lesions (lymphogranulomatosis, lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma);
- autoimmune diseases;
- diabetes;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding period;
- epilepsy;
- chronic renal failure
- congenital galactose intolerance, glucose-galactose deficiency syndrome , congenital lactase deficiency .
Overdose
In case of an overdose, side effects may increase. You should rinse the stomach and carry out symptomatic treatment.
Drug interactions
Melaxen is incompatible with cyclosporine, MAO inhibitors and glucocorticosteroids .
It is not recommended for use with any hormonal therapy, treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as drugs that depress the central nervous system (thioridazine, imipramine).
Strengthens the action of beta-blockers and hypnotics.
Cimetidine and quinolones increase the concentration of melatonin. Frequently asked questions about the use of Melaxen
- Does Melaxen affect driving
Although melatonin rarely causes drowsiness when taken correctly, it is still not recommended to drive or operate complex machinery during treatment.
- Is it possible to smoke and take alcohol during treatment with Melaxen
Alcohol destroys all of the healing effects of melatonin and worsens insomnia
Smoking and drinking alcohol (in any dose) significantly reduce the effectiveness of Melaxen . It may seem that alcohol promotes relaxation and sound sleep, but this is not entirely true. Alcohol, like Melaxen , has an inhibitory effect on the nervous system. Therefore, their interaction leads to a violation of the structure and depth of sleep, which will necessarily manifest itself in the morning with lethargy, fatigue, drowsiness and headache. Also, when taken together with alcohol, there may be an increase in the side effects of the drug. Thus, alcohol destroys all the healing effects of melatonin and leads to aggravation of insomnia.
- Can Melaxen be taken for children
The drug is not prescribed to patients under 18 years of age, since studies on the safety and efficacy of melatonin in children have not been conducted.
- Melaxen and oral contraceptive compatibility
Preparations containing estrogens (substitution therapy and oral contraceptives) increase the concentration of Melaxen in the blood. In such cases, a specialist consultation is required.
- Is Melaxen allowed during pregnancy and lactation
Studies of the effect of melatonin on pregnant women have not been conducted, therefore, taking the drug is contraindicated. Melatonin is also secreted into breast milk, so it should not be used during lactation.
It is also not recommended to use melatonin preparations for women planning a pregnancy.
- Can Melaxen be taken for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea?
In obstructive sleep apnea, self-administration of both any sleeping pills and melatonin is unacceptable.
Most often, sleep apnea patients suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, and they may even feel sleepless at night. Therefore, such people may try to take various sleeping pills to improve their sleep. However, all hypnotics cause excessive relaxation of the muscles and a strong inhibitory effect on the nerve centers. These effects contribute to an even greater relaxation of the muscles of the pharynx and the occurrence or increase in apnea – a pause in breathing during sleep. Especially dangerous are benzodiazepine drugs such as phenazepam, diazepam and triazolam . Taking them aggravates the course of the disease and can even lead to death. Melaxen does not have a similar effect, therefore it is absolutely safe for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. However, in no case should this lead to self-prescribing sleeping pills, even Melaxena . With such a dangerous disease as obstructive sleep apnea, only a somnologist can choose the right course of treatment, including CPAP therapy.
- Are there analogues of Melaxen
Circadin, a long-acting drug, has similar effects . But, unlike Melaxen, it contains 2 mg of melatonin.
Domestic manufacturers produce melatonin under the trademarks Malarena , Sonnovan , Melarithm .
Melatonin tablets can also be found in sports nutrition stores. However, it is worth remembering that dietary supplements, unlike drugs, may contain low-quality raw materials or a dose that differs from the stated one. Long-term use of dietary supplements of dubious quality can have an unpredictable effect on the body and the course of insomnia.
Melaxen is an absolutely safe drug, but nevertheless, to determine the exact causes of insomnia and effectively combat it, it is better to consult a somnologist.