Supplements

Sleep supplements contain ingredients that promote better sleep by helping you fall asleep, stay asleep, or sleep more deeply. The ingredients used in supplements vary but often include plants and plant extracts, minerals, amino acids, and a hormone called melatonin.

Short-term use of sleep supplements is safe for most people, but as with all supplements it is important to consult your doctor before trying something new. Otherwise-safe supplements can interact with other medications or cause serious problems for people who are pregnant or who have certain health conditions.

While many people find that sleep supplements help them sleep better, they do not work for everyone. The ingredients that are most common in sleep supplements often receive mixed results even in scientific studies, meaning that they help some people but not others. Since ingredients and dosages vary significantly between sleep supplements, some people need to try multiple varieties before finding one that works for them.

The best way to choose a sleep supplement is by making sure that its intended effects align with your unique needs. Different ingredients provide different results, and supplements that help with jet lag may not be useful for people who can’t sleep because of their racing thoughts. Your doctor can help you determine the underlying causes of your sleep issues and guide you towards a sleep supplement that could relieve them.

The different ingredients used in sleep supplements, and different dosages of the same ingredient, cause sleep supplements to have a varied list of potential side effects. However, as long as the dose is moderate and a doctor has ensured that the supplement does not interact with any medications or health conditions, most sleep supplements have mild side effects that may include next-day drowsiness, digestive issues, or headaches.