Impossible to Overdose: Unlike standard sedatives, melatonin cannot stop your breathing because it doesn't target the brain's respiratory centers. It is exceptionally safe, even at high doses.

Watch the Fall Risk: For older adults, the main risk isn't toxicity; it's the potential for falls or fractures, likely due to morning drowsiness.

The "Orphan" Drug: The reason high-dose melatonin isn't a standard cancer treatment isn't a lack of science—it's a lack of profit. Because it cannot be patented, drug companies won't fund the final approval trials.

A Different Drug: At high doses (20mg+), melatonin stops being a sleep aid and starts acting as a metabolic disruptor, specifically targeting the wasteful way cancer cells burn energy.

Support is Certain, Survival is Plausible: We know for sure that melatonin helps patients feel better during chemo (less fatigue, less nerve pain). We are still waiting on definitive proof that it helps them live longer, though early trials and specific subgroups (like Stage IV lung cancer) show very promising signals.

Synergy, Not Replacement: The best data suggests melatonin works best with standard treatment, not instead of it. It may even make dangerous immune therapies safer to use.