Melatonin Supplements for Sleep Disorders – Product Guide

Melatonin supplements are used for relief from insomnia, jet lag, shift-work sleep disorder and other conditions which can impair healthy sleep patterns. This compound is a natural hormone released within the brain when low levels of light are detected.

It’s release signals to the brain and body that it is time for sleep, inhibiting the systems that promote alertness and wakefulness. According to user reports, taking a melatonin supplement before bed improves subjective sleep quality.

Melatonin supplements are typically sold in pill form and contain synthetic melatonin (N-Acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), which is identical chemically to melatonin produced by the pineal gland. [5]

You can also buy melatonin liquid drops, chewable gummies, patches or sublingual tablets. Dosages of 2 – 3 mg are the most commonly used, taken 1 hour to thirty minutes before bedtime.

Melatonin

Sleep Supplement

Sleep

Calmness

Daytime Alertness

How It Works:

• Reduces insomnia, jet lag & daytime fatigue
• Promotes restful sleep & calm mood
• Supports brain function, wellbeing & anti-aging

Dosage:

Between 0.5 - 5 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Melatonin Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Melatonin Supplements

Melatonin is a neurohormone made and released by a small organelle in the brain called the pineal gland that controls human circadian rhythms. [1]

This is a 24-hour cycle that involves behavioral, physical and mental changes influenced by light and darkness. Your circadian rhythm depends on predictable levels of melatonin to facilitate sleep, improve daytime alertness, and regulate metabolic functions.

Melatonin’s ability to promote sleep and regulate circadian rhythm cycles are attributed to stimulation of the MT(2) and MT(1) melatonin receptors in the hypothalamus. [2]

When the normal production of melatonin is disrupted due to jet lag, excess exposure to light or other conditions, it can interfere with sleep patterns. In these cases, using a melatonin supplement can help to improve sleep latency, which is the amount of time it takes to fall asleep at night.

Melatonin has recently been recognized clinically as a potent antioxidant with therapeutic value for age-related health problems, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. [3, 4] It is being researched for its effects on cardiovascular health, endometriosis, anxiety and more.

Melatonin Supplement Review

People taking melatonin supplements report staying asleep all night and waking refreshed without experiencing the grogginess caused by prescription sleep aids.

Shift workers also say that melatonin supplements help them get to sleep faster when working all night. Senior citizens also give positive melatonin supplement reviews for relief of age-related insomnia or nighttime waking.

Melatonin Supplement Benefits

In addition to treating insomnia, sleep disorders and jet lag [6] [7], melatonin has shown to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and anti-apoptotic actions on body tissues and organs.

In laboratory studies, melatonin exhibits antioxidant behavior that protects cells from free radical damage. [8]

In addition, a comprehensive review of studies involving melatonin supplement benefits on human subjects found that melatonin may help delay or reduce symptoms of glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and hypertension.

Moreover, the majority of melatonin research documents, “very low toxicity of melatonin over a wide range of dosages”.

Melatonin and Alzheimer’s Disease

In animal studies, melatonin’s antioxidant properties have been shown to be beneficial in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Oxidative stress has been provev to be an “early event in the pathogenesis of AD.”

Melatonin supplements do cross the blood-brain barrier and decrease markers of oxidative stress. Some researchers argue that it should be considered a viable and potential therapeutic agent used for reducing risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other similar dementias. [10]

Melatonin and Breast Cancer

A review of experimental data shows that melatonin decreases estrogen and estradiol levels, which play a role in the development of breast cancer tumors.

Women with hormone-dependent mammary cancer have elevated levels of estrogen and estradiol that are thought to contribute to breast cancer growth.

Researchers suggest that melatonin may have benefits for preventing hormone-dependent breast cancer, but more research is needed to validate this claim. [11]

Melatonin and Migraines

Studies indicate that melatonin supplements may alleviate or possibly prevent migraines. For reasons not yet known, endogenous melatonin levels are lower in migraine patients than it is in patients who have never had a migraine.

When migraine sufferers were given three mg of melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime for three months, 75 percent of the patients enjoyed a 50 percent reduction in migraine attacks and reduced severity of migraine pain when they did occur. [12]

Melatonin Supplement Side Effects

Melatonin use in adults is rated as Likely Safe by the Natural Medicines database. There is a low risk of side effects when used appropriately. However, some individuals report:

• Daytime fatigue
• Mild headache
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Lower body temperature

Less common side effects of taking melatonin supplements involve stomach pain, mild nervousness, heart palpitations and transitory depression.

Some people have also reported having vivid dreams when taking melatonin-based sleep aids, which is likely due to the hormone’s ability to induce restful, REM sleep. [13]

Melatonin Interactions with Medications

Melatonin supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of the following medications:

• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotic medications
• Antihypertensives and beta-blockers (blood pressure medications)
• Anticoagulants (blood thinners)
• Immunosuppressant drugs
• Steroids

Be aware that caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes can reduce melatonin levels even if you are supplementing your diet with melatonin. [15]

Melatonin Supplement Dosages

Doctors recommend using a low dose of melatonin when starting supplementation to determine how much is needed to treat insomnia or other sleep disorders. Taking more melatonin than is necessary may be counterproductive to alleviating long-term sleep problems or jet lag.

Melatonin should be taken about an hour before you go to bed. For treating jet lag, take melatonin before you go to sleep on the day you reach your destination. Keep taking melatonin supplements for about three to five days to restore your normal circadian rhythm.

When taking this supplement to treat other medical problems not related to insomnia, ask your physician about when and how you should use it. If you are on scheduled doses and miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you realize you have missed one. [14]

Melatonin Supplement Brands

Companies offering melatonin supplements generally provide 2 mg, 3 mg and 10 mg tablets or liquid softgels. Some sell dissolving melatonin tablets that melt on your tongue while other brands have melatonin “gummies” for people who cannot take softgels or tablets.

A few melatonin supplement manufacturers combine three mg of melatonin with 200 mg of L-theanine [16] to regulate sleep cycles and relax the mind at bedtime.

Additionally, vitamin B6 is sometimes combined with melatonin supplements because this particular B vitamin helps the pineal gland produce melatonin.

Rate This Article

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)