Insomnia associated with valerian and melatonin usage in the 2002 National Health Interview Survey.
OBJECTIVE
Many people use dietary supplements or herbal products to help them sleep. We analyzed the associations between melatonin use and insomnia and between valerian use and insomnia in a representative sample of the United States population.


METHODS
The data reported upon here were collected in the 2002 Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey. This was a survey of 31,044 personal interviews that constituted an age-representative and socioeconomically representative sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States.


RESULTS
Of the survey sample, 5.9% used valerian and 5.2% used melatonin. Of those using valerian, 29.9% endorsed insomnia as 1 reason for CAM use, and, of melatonin users, 27.5% endorsed insomnia as 1 reason for CAM use. Relatively greater use occurred in individuals under age 60 years. The decision to use such substances was made in consultation with a health care provider less than half of the time.


CONCLUSIONS
Large segments of the United States population used valerian or melatonin for insomnia within the year preceding the survey, and usage typically fell outside the purview of the health care system.
Bliwise
Donald L
DL
Program in Sleep, Aging and Chronobiology, Department ofNeurology, Emory University Medical School, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. dbliwis@emory.edu
Ansari
Farzaneh Pour
FP
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014632:Valerian / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin