How Does Melatonin Work for Sleep?

Your body naturally produces a hormone called melatonin when it’s dark outside. So, ultimately, many scientists believe that melatonin tells your body when to sleep and when to be awake.

If you have chronic insomnia, your body may not be producing enough melatonin throughout the night. In theory, taking a dose of melatonin before bedtime may help you get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer.

A handful of studies show that melatonin can improve sleep quality, duration and onset. The effect is most beneficial in older people and for people taking drugs like Ativan or oxazepam (Serax).

Pharmacist’s Tip: take 3-6mg of melatonin 120 minutes before bedtime to get a better night’s sleep.