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ABC News
ABC News
Health

Amid explosion in popularity of melatonin to help kids sleep, parents told not to buy it online

Jayce TGA
The number of chronically sleep deprived children in Australia has doubled in the past 15 years. (Supplied: Motion Array)

Experts have noticed an "exponential rise" in children being given melatonin to help them sleep but say parents shouldn't buy it online.

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain after dark that regulates the circadian rhythm or body clock. In Australia, it's a prescription medication for people under the age of 55.

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