Melatonin - Any side effect with this product like severe leg cramps (charlie horse)?

It can aggrevate RLS (restless leg syndrome). I would definitely look into the condition if you’ve experienced a tingling or painful sensation before sleep, or leg cramps in the middle of sleep.

I tried Natrol time release and the more recent chewy ones. Right now I'm on day 3 of a bad knee pain two years ago I was on Time released Melatonin my feet were cramps so bad someone also said Linsipril can also add to it on another forum. Melatonin isn't all what its cracked up to be bad Nightmares and you will wake up early and cramps to where you can't walk. Just toss the garbage in the trash.

My daughter (5) is given melatonin every now and then *less then 5 times a month) if she is crazy wired before bedtime. I thought she would get a bought of grouchiness and be fussy before falling asleep but I have FINALLY put two and two together when she said tonight “my feet just feel so spiky and it hurts mama!!” While itching up and down her legs. After the 5th time waking up in pain I started to google to see if cramping was a melatonin side effect. Long behold…. This thread has confirmed it. My poor sweet girl is waking up with super painful cramps and I’m the mom that just thought she was fussing and tired. No more melatonin for us. This should SERIOUSLY be labeled as a painful and serious side effect.

I am 100% convinced that melatonin does cause leg cramps (Charlie horse). I take only 1 -1.5 mgs a couple of nights a week, not to fall asleep, but to stay asleep. I do not wake up in the morning groggy on this amount like other people do who take a lot more. It works at this level and I find it unnecessary to take more. When I do take it, I either walk up in the middle of the night in agony in both calves or more frequently, about an hour or so before I normally wake up. I try to massage them as quickly as possible to ease the pain. When I don't take melatonin, I do not get leg cramps at all. Melatonin does work, but like others here, I wonder if it is worth it. Since I have been taking it, I notice sometimes it stays cramping in the day too if the pain was very severe in the night. I think it might be a better idea to stop taking it and maybe only use it occasionally.

Reading all the responses, thank you all for responding. I took melatonin for the first time last night as prescribed by my doctor - 5mg. I also took Abilify too for the first time. It was not a good combo for me. Worst sleep I’ve had in a long time and I’m happy if I get 4-5 hours a night.

Really severe leg cramps in the middle of the night and even the next day my one leg is killing me. Lots of aches and pains that I haven’t had. Very vivid dreams still. I will try to reduce the Melatonin dose and try again but not for awhile. Also stopping the Abilify for now (it’s OK with my doctor, she knows).

Just want to sleep

Goodness!!! I just realized that there is a connection so I searched to see if I was the only one! Glad to know I am not crazy!! I have lived with pain my whole life but never in my lower legs (feels like shin splints), feet, and Charlie horses. I noticed when I don’t take Melatonin all of this goes away!! Thank you for your question!! Hope others find this too!

I was taking melatonin for several months when I noticed really bad aching between my shoulders and in my arms and legs. I saw online that there might be a connection. When I stopped the melatonin, the aches went away, immediately. I tried it again, just to be sure. The aching came back, so I stopped. I haven’t had an morning ache for weeks now.
Then, with these responses, I just now realized I’m not having crazy charley horses, either. I was getting them everywhere: hands, feet, inner thigh, front of my thigh, calves.
The melatonin helped me sleep but, seriously it’s not worth the pain.

First night after I took two 10mg of melatonin I woke up with a muscle spasm in my back. Just on the left side. Did not initially relate it to the melatonin.

Second night which was last night I took the same dose. Woke up and almost my whole back is aching and having muscle spasms.

Melatonin is the only thing different i put in my body. I looked to see if there was a connection and found this thread.

Moral of the story melatonin will cause painful muscle spasms, it varies where they occur.

Two days of melatonin. I’m done, gonna have to find other ways to rest better.

I haven’t had leg cramps (Charlie horses) for decades... UNTIL I started taking melatonin! The first night I tried a fast dissolve 12 mg tablet I woke up in the middle of the night with a full leg cramp so strong it took my breath away. The second night, same thing! I’ve also been experiencing horrible dreams while on it; something I never had to deal with. 100% sure it’s the pill. PS- I’m vegan & gluten-free and exercise regularly. It’s not my diet-it’s the melatonin! Thanks to everyone who took the time to post.

Just recently started taking 10mg of Melatonin and also waking up with pretty bad leg cramps. So strange.

I’ve been using melatonin for sleep for the past couple of years with some leg cramps right after use but i never associated them with the melatonin. I switched to a different brand and went from 3 mg to 5 mg—this was just last night.

I can absolutely affirm melatonin causes leg cramps. It was the only thing I changed about my nightly routine and last night the leg cramps moved from foot to foot, from calf to calf and even in one hamstring. They were long lasting and painful. Repositioning didn’t help. Between leg cramp attacks, my feet were moving slightly but involuntarily (tremors). I found this discussion by trying to see if I was experiencing symptoms of Parkinson's or MS.

Finally I got up and ate a banana. After about another half hour of this ‘suffering’, the symptoms started to ease off, starting with the tremors. I’m most definitely reporting this to the pharmacy and taking the rest of the bottle back. I’m rethinking my use of melatonin altogether.

Yes!!!
I’ve been searching the internet like crazy for an answer.
Melatonin is the only thing that helps me sleep, but lately it has been making my feet and legs ache and cramp.
I can’t figure out why it would cause this side effect ?

I've taken Melatonin off and on, usually just when I can't get to sleep. Pretty much use it as a sleeping pill. I've used various brands, some with supplements like Valerian Root. I never tied my leg cramps and the Melatonin together before until recently. Seems that every time I take the Melatonin lately I wake up with leg cramps. I take a daily multiple plus Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and a B12 complex, so I'm sure it's not a lack of something. I'm voting for the Melatonin causing them and maybe find an alternative to my insomnia.

I take melatonin occassionally and have taken it twice this week and had severe cramps in my feet. This wasn't your typical charlie horse and had to jump out of bed several times to work it out. This past summer I had them so bad I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. I took a magnesium pill and it help? I eat bananas every day so I know I'm not low in magnesium. I also had my levels tested and they were good. I also exercise regularly and drink water. Just seems to coincidental that they came back when I took the melatonin.