Prescription-only sleep medicine found in children’s gummies

Health & FitnessFamily & Parenting
18 Aug 2025 • 11:06 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Parents have been urged to stop giving their children Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies after tests found an undeclared prescription-only medicine for sleep disorders.
  • The gummies, marketed as a magnesium supplement, were found to contain between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin per individual gummy.
  • Melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, is a prescription-only medicine in the UK for sleep disorders, with a recommended starting dose of 1mg for children.
  • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised parents to dispose of the product and is working with online retailers to remove all listings.
  • Taking too much melatonin can cause side effects including headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea, and parents are advised to report any suspected adverse reactions.

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