Does Melatonin Have Side Effects
Melatonin has relatively few side effects compared to other sleeping medications, but some people may wake up feeling dizzy, groggy, nauseous, or with a headache. In most cases, these symptoms can be alleviated by taking smaller doses or not taking melatonin at all. In rare cases, some people may experience mood swings, agitation, nightmares, fatigue, palpitations, or skin irritation when taking melatonin.
There are also some concerns about the effects of melatonin on reproductive hormones in both women and men. More research is needed on the effects of long-term melatonin use and the use of melatonin supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding. Always check with your doctor before taking melatonin, especially if you have allergies or are currently taking other medication.
Beam Organics Dream Night
- Price: $$$
If cozying up at night with hot chocolate sounds up your alley, then Beams Dream Powder may appeal to you. However, instead of mounds of sugar, it contains healthy ingredients intended to help you sleep better.
In addition to 3 mg of melatonin, each scoop contains 20 mg of nano hemp particles, 350 mg of reishi powder, 300 mg of L-theanine, and 31 mg of magnesium.
Each ingredient plays a role in promoting better sleep. For example, magnesium is thought to help regulate the nervous system, while reishi may help you manage stress and a regular sleep cycle.
- Price: $$$
Proper capsules contain extended-release melatonin, ashwagandha, valerian root, rafuma leaf extract, tart cherry extract, and GABA.
Ashwagandha and valerian are more commonly touted for their sleep-promoting qualities. But less commonly talked about is tart cherry extract, which is a natural source of melatonin. GABA is an amino acid that promotes relaxation. Your body also produces it naturally.
One cool bonus about signing up for a Proper subscription is the complimentary sleep consultation with a sleep coach.
Natural Vs Synthetic Supplements
Natural melatonin supplements are extracted from animals, namely their pineal glands. As expected, theyre not vegan or cruelty-free. Some experts also cite the potential risk of animal-derived melatonin, which may transmit toxins or viruses from the animals.
Synthetic melatonin supplements are lab-made. They don’t contain animal byproducts and are vegan-friendly. Theyre considered a safer alternative to natural melatonin supplements because there are no biological contaminants.
Also Check: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy
Physicians Choice Natrem Sleep Aid
If youre looking for a melatonin sleep aid with a little extra boost then Physicians Choice NATREM is our top pick.
NATREM uses clinically proven and patented Suntheanine® in which the national institute of mental health did a clinical trial and found that when taken before bed it produces a significant improvement in sleep quality.
NATREM uses 5mg of melatonin combined with valerian root powder, Suntheanine ®, Chamomile, and Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate .
NATREM isnt the cheapest melatonin sleep aid out there, but its certainly one of the best.
The Side Effects And Precautions For Melatonin Supplements
While we know that melatonin is a naturally available hormone present in the body, excessive intake of supplemental melatonin does have its side effects.
Melatonin overdose, however, is not so easily defined since there isnt a standard dose protocol to follow for everyone.
The evidence available suggests that melatonin is non-toxic, non-addictive, and safe. Short term use of melatonin looks to be safe for most people and is mostly well tolerated.
Yet, a small percentage of people have been known to experience the following .
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Daytime sleepiness
In children, there are fewer known side effects, mostly minor like headaches, increased bedwetting, daytime grogginess, etc. all of which will go on discontinuation.
Whether for adults or children, it is important to consult with a doctor before taking melatonin to avoid any adverse drug interaction or possible allergic reactions.
The 2015 guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended not to use melatonin on people with dementia .
Also, not enough research exists regarding its safety in pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Data on the long term effects of melatonin on children and adults are woefully insufficient so one must maintain an ongoing conversation with their doctor. Some concern has been raised saying that sustained use of melatonin may affect the onset of puberty in children, but they are inconclusive .
Recommended Reading: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Low Testosterone
Melatonin Supplements Softgels & Gummies From Nature Made
A melatonin supplement is a great way to help with occasional sleeplessness at bedtime. Melatonin can also help regulate the circadian rhythm, giving the individual a more restful sleep.
If you want to achieve better sleep and mitigate occasional sleep issues, incorporating a melatonin supplement may be the right choice for you. At Nature Made, we make it easy for you to buy melatonin online and discover which products work best for you.
At Nature Made, we offer a wide range of sleep supplements right on our website. If you are thinking about taking melatonin as a dietary supplement, browse our different options so you can find the right melatonin product for you.
Mega Food Melatonin Berry Good Sleep Gummies
Made with organic wild berries and tart cherries MegaFood, Melatonin Berry Good Sleep gummies is a vegan formula that contains no high-fructose corn syrup, gelatin, artificial colors or sugary coatings. It is also non-GMO Project Verified, tested for 125+ herbicides and pesticides, free of gluten, dairy, soy.
Read Also: Nugenix Estro-regulator Review
How We Chose The Best Melatonin Supplements
Here are some of the factors that we considered when making our list of the best melatonin supplement brands.
- Strength Each melatonin supplement has a different strength. Measured in milligrams, the bottle will often tell you how much melatonin is in each serving.
- Ingredients Does the brand just use pure melatonin, or do they include other sleep-promoting vitamins, minerals, or essential oils within the supplement?
- Form Traditionally, people think of melatonin supplements as coming in a pill form. Now, melatonin can come in sprays, gummies, and liquids.
- Value How much does a bottle of the supplement cost and how does the amount of melatonin in each supplement compare? Quality Does the supplement brand utilize third-party testing or is it cGMP certified?
- Strength 6 mg per capsule
- Size 60 capsules
- Ingredients L-Theanine, valerian, chamomile, passion flower, lemon balm, hops, GABA, melatonin
Why buy:Nested Naturals’ Luna sleep aid is GMO-free, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and third-party lab tested. We like that in addition to melatonin, Luna utilizes other naturally sourced, relaxation-inducing ingredients like chamomile and lemon balm.
- Strength 10 mg per capsule
- Size 100 capsules
- Ingredients Melatonin
What Are Melatonin Supplements
Melatonin supplements are natural sleep aids designed to kick-start the bodys natural production of melatonin.
They contain synthesized forms of the organic melatonin hormone molecule, and supply you with an easy way to improve rest periods.
They dont replace the bodys natural stores or interfere with the natural process, but instead they boost the initial level of melatonin and give a boost to the bodys production of this key sleep hormone.
In other words, melatonin supplements are designed to help your body do what its supposed to do naturally.
This can be very helpful for those who have trouble falling asleep, or anyone who doesnt get enough restful sleep.
Also Check: Breakthrough Bleeding On Bioidentical Hormones
The Best Melatonin Supplement
A good nights rest can boost your mood, productivity, and overall health. However, some people need help falling or staying asleep, and melatonin supplements can help.
Melatonin is a chemical released by the brain to aid in the timing of circadian rhythms and sleep. A melatonin supplement helps your body wind down and enter the sleep cycle more easily. This allows you to enjoy a deeper, more restful sleep, which means you can wake up feeling refreshed and recharged.
To help you find the right melatonin supplement, we’ve put together this buying guide. We’re also sharing a few recommendations at the end, including our top choice, Vitafusion Extra-Strength Melatonin Gummies. This fast-acting formula remains a favorite among travelers and those working overnight shifts.
Natrol Melatonin Sleep Gummies
Delivering 10 milligrams of melatonin per serving, Natrols Melatonin Sleep Gummies offer a stronger sleep aid compared to others on the market. Free of artificial sweeteners, colorants and preservatives, this non-GMO formula is made with organic sweeteners and helps you fall asleep faster, restore your natural sleep patterns and stay asleep longer.
Read Also: Estradiol Transdermal Patch Cost
Nature Made Melatonin: Best Overall
Nature Made Melatonin is the best overall melatonin supplement that we found. This supplement comes in three different dosages: 3 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg. Nature Made is the number one pharmacist-recommended amino acid vitamin and supplement brand and has the largest U.S. Pharmacopeia verified products. This ensures the purity and potency of their supplements.
The pills are easy to swallow and 100% drug-free. Nature Made Melatonin has almost five-star ratings on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and CVS websites. Customer reviews say that it has helped improve their sleep quality dramatically and doesnât make them feel dizzy or tired in the morning. In addition, the supplement is very cost-effective. The prices range from $4.64 to $12.99, depending on the dosage and where you are purchasing it.
Vitafusion Extra Strength Melatonin Gummies
Comprised of five milligrams of melatonin, Vitafusions Extra Strength Melatonin Gummies offer a stronger sleep aid to those who have difficulty falling asleep on their own. A fan-favorite jet lag solution, this top-rated melatonin gummy also helps improve your quality of sleep so you can wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested.
Read Also: What Causes Breakthrough Bleeding When On Bioidentical Hormones
Pure Relief Nighttime Cbd Gummy Bears
Pure Reliefs CBD Nighttime Gummy Bears combine 30 milligrams of CBD and melatonin to give you everything you need for a good nights sleep. THC-free, these top-rated gummies dissolve feelings of stress, anxiety and worry as they support a healthier sleep pattern so you can wake up restored and well-rested.
Melatonin Is No Replacement For Good Sleep Hygiene
Practicing good sleep hygiene involves having a collection of pre-sleep habits and routines that encourage, rather than impede, healthy sleep. Avoiding electronics before bed, restricting your bedroom activities to sleeping and sex, limiting caffeine later in the day, and adhering to an appropriate sleep schedule are all steps that can help you sleep better.
Before you start taking melatonin, you should make sure you are practicing good sleep hygiene. This may alleviate the need for a supplement altogether, but it will also make melatonin more effective by providing the right circumstances for you to drift off.
Also Check: Nugenix Estro-regulator Reviews
Best For Sensitive Stomach: Dr Lyons Calming Aid With Melatonin
Combining nature and science, Dr. Lyons calming supplement is designed to offer maximum potency with a gentle, dog-safe formula based on natural ingredients. To make sure your pet is calm, especially in stressful situations, the formula relies on melatonin, thiamine, and l-tryptophan, as well as relaxing herbs such as chamomile and ginger that calms an upset tummy. The supplement comes in the form of soft chewables with chicken liver flavor your dog will love them! This supplement is formulated for dogs 18 weeks and older.
Pros
The Connection Between Melatonin And Sleep
Melatonin is referred to as a sleep hormone as it plays an important role in signaling the body to relax and sleep. It is a central part of the bodys sleep-wake cycle. It promotes healthy sleep and regulates our circadian rhythm as its production in the body increases with the evening darkness , .
Simply put, darkness stimulates the pineal gland to produce melatonin while light stops its production. This facilitates a smooth transition to sleep and promotes consistent rest.
You May Like: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Cover Testosterone Therapy
Other Health Benefits Of Melatonin
Along with helping your body fall asleep, melatonin is thought to have some other pretty significant health benefits.
- Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that may help fight free radical damage.
- There have been studies showing supplements with melatonin content can support eye health and reduce the risk of eye disorders like age-related macular degeneration.
- Some people find that melatonin helps with heartburn and stomach ulcers, likely because it is an antioxidant.
- Taking a melatonin supplement can help reduce tinnitus symptoms.
- In healthy men, research has found melatonin can increase levels of human growth hormone.
There is growing research that shows higher doses of melatonin could help protect against cancer or reduce the symptoms of cancer, especially when someone is going through treatment. Melatonin might also reverse chemotherapy resistance in some types of cancers.
Ranking The Best Melatonin Supplements Of 2021
Wouldnt it be great if you could easily slip into a deep, restful sleep when you go to bed? Melatonin is a supplement that promises just that: an easy, natural, safe, and effective way to improve your sleep length and sleep quality.
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by your body that helps induce sleep, but some people with trouble sleeping have dysregulated melatonin levels. A supplement can help correct this problem.
Here are the best melatonin supplements on the market, ranked. Afterwards, well dive into the details of how melatonin works and what it can do for you.
Research
If youre tired of tossing and turning all night every night, look no further than VitaBalance Nature Sleep.
More than a third of adults in the US dont get enough sleep. Trouble is, lack of sleep does more than hurt your ability to be productive at work. It can cause anxiety, poor memory, heart and blood pressure problems, moodiness, and even weight gain.
Thats why we love Nature Sleep. Its a relaxing blend of melatonin, valerian, and chamomileall known for their sleep-inducing propertiesplus three lesser-known sleep aids: magnesium, goji berry, and lemon balm.
The result?
Your mind can actually relax, letting go of all the days stresses, easing you into a deep sleep, and keeping you there till morning.
So you can wake up refreshed, ready to hit the day running.
All natural. Gluten-free. Manufactured in an FDA-registered facility that follows GMP guidelines.
Recommended Reading: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone
See If It Contains Added Nutrients That May Provide You With More Health Benefits
Some brands only offer pure melatonin. This is okay if your only goal is to get some sleep. Other brands fortify their melatonin supplements with different vitamins and minerals. You may want to go with these to enhance your natural hormone production and boost your body’s health while you sleep.
Common nutrients that are added into melatonin formulations included vitamin B6 and 5-hydroxytryptophan to further increase our bodies’ melatonin stores. Magnesium is sometimes added to help promote deep, restorative sleep. On the other hand, some products even contain passionflower and other plant extracts that induce a calming effect.
There are melatonin supplements available with additional vitamins and minerals that help balance your hormones and support your body’s growth and repair. Moreover, there are also supplements that include adaptogens in it such as ashwagandha, plant extracts like lemon balm or chamomile, amino acids like L-theanine that help decrease anxiety and improve one’s immunity.
Melatonin Buying Guide For Kids
Children need significantly more sleep than adults do. Weve all seen young children melting-down in the middle of aisle three because its passed their nap time. Older kids are much the same. If youve ever tried to wake a teenager up for school in the morning, youre pretty familiar with the angst that might ensue.
If youve got a tired child in your home thats unable to catch up on their zs, we genuinely feel for you. When children lack the sleep they need, they can become forgetful, become irritable, have difficulties with maintaining motivation, have increased stress levels.
Sleep can become disturbed for any number of reasons in children. The best thing to do is help them try to get back to their regular sleep routine whenever possible. One option for helping your child get back to proper sleep is through the use of melatonin for kids.
Recommended Reading: Nugenix Estro Regulator Side Effects
How Do Melatonin Gummies Work
Melatonin gummies are made with melatonin, a natural hormone that is produced by your body and helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. There is an increased risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression in individuals who do not get enough restful sleep on a regular basis.
Melatonin gummies will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep through the night. When taken prior to bedtime, melatonin gummies can help you sleep up to six or seven hours at night.
What’s The Best Time To Take It
Timing when you take melatonin supplement is very important for regulating the biological clock known as the circadian rhythm. Melatonin production increases in the evening hours when the sun begins to set, and decreases when our eyes are exposed to sunlight.
It takes about 30-60 minutes for melatonin to take effect, so it is most often recommended to take a supplement in this timeframe before going to bed. For jet lag, it is advised that you should take a dose around 10 pm local time at the destination you will be arriving in.
Read Also: Mtf Clinic
The Best Dose Of Melatonin For Sleep
Bodyweight, metabolic rates, and overall health influence how melatonin behaves in the body. Although heavily researched, there still is no universal dosage thats been found to satisfy the equation.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, everything ranging from 0.2mg up to 3mg daily is allowed for healthy adults with occasional sleeplessness.
For adults on high blood pressure medication, the recommended dose varies from 2.5mg to 5mg daily.
Some studies tested doses as high as 12mg of melatonin. However, this increased dosage is not recommended for longer than four weeks.
The best melatonin dosage for sleep in children ranges from 1mg to 6mg before bedtime for up to one month. Melatonin is allowed in children older than 3. The dosage for attention disorders usually starts at 1mg, with a slight increase if needed.
Melatonin products are always taken 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.