“There’s this misperception that because we can buy it over the counter, it means it’s safe,” says Kuhlmann. He describes it as a toss-up on how much melatonin you are actually ingesting versus what the product is actually advertising, not to mention any other additives being used and how that will react with your body chemistry. And the crowd is now … worried.
Kuhlmann also expressed to me that he personally “wishes that melatonin would be available as a prescription, not to limit access, but it could help with the quality of melatonin people are able to get.” This is yet another reason why it’s much better to get a doctor involved than to throw caution to the wind and get a product that might not be effective or could even be counterfeit. Brands may try to sell you their “secret sauce” with all sorts of claims, and that’s not just for melatonin, but for all supplements. Be oh so careful about this.
Two things I always watch for with supplements, even with guidance from my doctor: Does it have a CGMP certification, and is there any data to back up the marketing claims? CGMP stands for “Current Good Manufacturing Process,” which are FDA guidelines put in place for a product’s safety. This includes where and how it was made, as well as what it was made of. But even with this kind of baseline, it’s hard to tell what additives are used in a supplement and how that can counteract its effects or react with your body chemistry.
So, Can I Take Melatonin or Not?
I tell you these things out of an abundance of caution. If your doctor gives you the go-ahead to use melatonin, follow their advice. Kuhlmann says he advises his patients to start at 3 milligrams but to never take more than 10 milligrams. For kids, he also urges speaking to a pediatrician and/or a sleep medical professional.
Melatonin also can’t do all the heavy lifting, and timing is crucial. As part of maintaining good bedtime habits, he also emphasizes the importance of taking it on time, at the same time, nightly. This will help establish the wind-down routine your brain follows via its circadian rhythm; as we established earlier, melatonin is supposed to lead this process.
If you’re keen on keeping melatonin in your bedtime routine, WIRED reviewer Molly Higgins tested and recommends Onnit’s Instant Melatonin Spray, which comes in two flavors: mint and lavender. (She tested the latter.) The standard serving size—six oral sprays—equals 3 milligrams of melatonin, which she found immediately made her sleepy. She did find she needed to increase her dosage over time to attain the same result, but, as we established above, it’s best to stay within the 10 milligram threshold.
For those of you who are just researching options, consider these alternatives. Diet and exercise, as tired as you may be of hearing that, really are essential to getting good, quality sleep. Case in point: You took a CrossFit class for the first time and are ready to conk out right after you manage to get dinner and a shower. Something else to consider: Perhaps relying on melatonin or a sleep supplement is treating a symptom you’re dealing with, as opposed to the actual issue impacting your sleep.
Bedtime Habits
Photograph: Martin Cizmar
LectroFan
High Fidelity White Noise Machine
It’s hard to overstate the importance of sleep hygiene and bedtime routine habits—a sleep supplement won’t be the end-all and be-all. Also, no caffeine after a certain time of day—you know your body best, but I’d say early afternoon at the very latest. Also, I’m sorry to my fellow readers and late-night scrollers, but devices need to be put away an hour or more before bedtime. Blue light that radiates from devices’ screens mimics that of sunlight, and your brain can’t discern the difference. All it knows is there’s still “daylight” that you need to be awake for, and that prolongs the falling-asleep process.
Other alternatives to supplements in the pursuit of better sleep can include sound machines (my favorite is above), where various frequencies of noise lull you to sleep. We’ve also tested sleep gadgets pretty extensively to not only get us to sleep, but also maintain deep sleep.
And maybe melatonin is a different sort of band-aid over the reality of your sleep situation, meaning that your mattress may need to be replaced. We have plenty of mattresses we’ve tested for every kind of sleeper, along with the best sheets and pillows. Supplements may not be the answer, after all, but more of a sleep space upgrade—all things to consider!
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