If you have trouble falling asleep at night, you may be one of the estimated 15 to 20 percent of people who suffer from insomnia, notes SleepEval.com. One treatment for insomnia is melatonin, a supplement that can be used to help you fall asleep or fight jet lag. Melatonin can be purchased without a prescription at many drug stores.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone normally found in the pineal gland. This hormone is thought to play a role in the maintenance of the circadian rhythm, which is the natural cycle of hormones that helps regulate the body's natural urge to sleep and wake up. Products that contain melatonin can be used to help people fall asleep and they may also be used to help treat jet lag as this chemical may help the body adjust to different sleep/wake schedules.
Forms and Dosing
Melatonin can be found in many different sleep aids. Often melatonin is found in capsules or tablets. It can also be found in creams or in lozenges designed to be dissolved under the tongue. The standard dose of melatonin is 1 to 3 mg of the hormone taken one hour before bed. If you are still having trouble following asleep, you may up the dose to between 5 and 6 mg.
Side Effects
Sleep aids that contain melatonin are available over the counter. These sleep aids can cause some side effects, however. Some people develop a headache, dizziness and abdominal cramps when taking melatonin, according to MedlinePlus, an online resource of the National Institutes of Health. Melatonin can also cause drowsiness after it is taken, so avoid operating any heavy machinery after taking it. Some people also report having nightmares or unusually vivid dreams after taking melatonin, as well as feeling drowsy the next morning.
Safety
Because melatonin is considered by the Food and Drug Administration to be a supplement instead of a medication, the safety and effectiveness of products that contain melatonin are not as tightly regulated as they would be if they were considered to be drugs. MedlinePlus notes that melatonin-containing sleep aids should not be used by children or pregnant women as it can disrupt hormone levels. Melatonin may also not be appropriate for people who have diabetes, high blood pressure, depression or seizures.
