Melatonin As A Sleep Aid: Does It Work?

While melatonin doesn't automatically work as sleep remedy, that doesn't mean it automatically fails either. For some disorders it works better than for others. One of the reasons is that some disruptions of sleeping patterns actually stem from other conditions, which melatonin can't really touch. So it might give some aid, even in these cases, but it can't touch the underlying cause. Still, it's always useful to talk to a physician in case he or she thinks it's worth a shot to use melatonin as a sleep aid.

One of the sleep disorders that is eased by melatonin supplements is a fairly temporary one, and has such an obvious cause that it's not always viewed as an actual sleep disorder. It's jet lag, and it occurs when a person travels across several time zones, yet their body is still operating on the patterns of sleep habitual to the original time zone. Melatonin as a sleep aid can be used quite effectively for many people finding themselves in this situation, and can help retrain their body to establish circadian patterns more appropriate to their new location.

It is less clear if melatonin will help in occurrences of loss of sleep in the elderly. It's often assumed that the reason why elderly people tend to get less sleep is that their bodies produce less melatonin. Yet even though these dietary supplements seem to help some of them, most studies are not conclusive. The same applies to Alzheimer's disease, where the underlying cause of the sleeplessness may not be the loss of melatonin at all. The supplement might ease the sleep problem to some degree, but isn't a guaranteed cure.

While much of the medical information from studies needs firming up, some of the most reliable results show that if a person is fifty five or older, melatonin as a sleep aid is more likely to be effective. The success of treatments still depends on using a special kind of melatonin supplement, the sustained release type, and there are undoubted good results within this age group. Unfortunately, the studies still don't show that melatonin is equally useful for other ages, or for all sleep disorders.

Related topics about Sleep Remedies
Sleeplessness Causes Could Be Medical
Other physical conditions might result in a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, or that condition might exist on its own. Either way, one of its effects can be insomnia. So visiting a doctor to find your sleeplessness causes will involve exploring all possible physical problems that might have led to the sleeplessness.

Try Herbal Sleep Remedies First
If you are in the middle of a long bout of insomnia, then you might automatically think of trying to find an insomnia medication, referring of course to sleeping pills, whether over the counter or prescribed. But it's actually better if you can try some sort of herbal sleep remedies first. Drugs can cause disruptions in the natural rhythms of sleep, and with such medications there is always the worry of side effects and even dependency.

The Best Sleep Home Remedies May Be Natural
You might cure sleeplessness with a regular schedule of sleep time and meals, as well as keeping the bed only for sleep. Do things in the evening that will slow your mind down rather than rev it up, which would probably preclude really vigorous exercise. And try not to ingest foods or drinks that will have an affect upon your sleep patterns.