- With Mayo Clinic emeritus internist
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
Dr. Kenneth Berge has been involved in Mayo Clinic's Web publications since they began in 1995, advising editors and the public throughout his tenure.
He develops content for the Ask a Specialist segment and helps plan and edit other content and design. Dr. Berge has also been an editor of CD-ROMs and books produced by Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Berge, board certified in internal medicine, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1955 and early on had a special research interest in cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and hypertension. Dr. Berge served as a leader for a number of major National Institutes of Health clinical trials that established the fundamental roles for lifestyle modifications needed to prevent cardiovascular disease. Dr. Berge served in various capacities with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. He was vice chairman of the steering committee for the Coronary Drug Project and chairman of the steering committee on Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program from 1984 to 1993.
He won the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame Award in 1987 and was Mayo Clinic voting staff president in 1976. He is an emeritus professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
He became a fellow in the American College of Physicians in 1962 and was president of the Minnesota chapter of the American College of Physicians in 1981.
As a respected physician, researcher and teacher with more than 40 years of clinical experience, Dr. Berge, a native of Wahkon, Minn., brings a wealth of knowledge to the Web site. "My career as a primary care physician for more than 40 years has provided me with experience in communicating complex information to a wide variety of patients in a manner that they could understand. I also came to know their common concerns and questions," he says.
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Question
Melatonin side effects: What are the risks?
I'm considering taking melatonin to help me sleep. What do I need to know about melatonin side effects?
Answer
from Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
The hormone melatonin helps control your natural sleep-wake cycle. In fact, natural levels of melatonin in the blood are highest just before bedtime. If you're struggling with insomnia, melatonin supplements may help you fall asleep or stay asleep. However, there are no guarantees. Most studies show melatonin to be only minimally effective for insomnia. Melatonin may play a stronger role in fighting jet lag. Melatonin side effects may include daytime sleepiness, dizziness, headaches and abdominal discomfort. Confusion, sleepwalking or nightmares also are possible. Some studies suggest that melatonin increases the risk of seizures, but others disagree. Melatonin may interact with various medications. The optimal dose of melatonin isn't certain, and the long-term effects are unknown. Talk to your doctor before taking melatonin, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. If you decide to take melatonin, make sure the supplements are manufactured in a lab, not derived from animals.
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