A recent study highlights a significant increase in heart failure risk among adults with insomnia who use melatonin long-term. These individuals face a 90% greater likelihood of developing heart failure compared to those who do not use the supplement.
Researchers analyzed medical records from over 130,000 adults suffering from insomnia but without previous heart failure. They compared those who used melatonin for more than a year against those who never took it.
In the United Kingdom, where melatonin is prescription-only, adults with at least two prescriptions filled 90 days apart still exhibited an 82% higher heart failure risk, underscoring the supplement's potential risks even under medical supervision.
"Adults with insomnia who took melatonin for at least a year had a much higher chance of developing heart failure, according to researchers."
"Long-term users were nearly 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure compared with nonusers."
Melatonin is a widely used over-the-counter sleep aid in the United States, with nearly six million Americans relying on it to improve sleep quality or duration.
The findings were presented at the 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, raising concerns about the safety of prolonged melatonin use for insomnia management.
Summary: Long-term melatonin use in adults with insomnia significantly raises heart failure and mortality risks, highlighting the need for caution in its prolonged use.