Melatonin Vitamins

Melatonin Vitamins

Complementary and alternative medicine is growing more popular around the world every year. Many people are now adding dietary supplements to their everyday routines to help them address medical conditions and improve their overall well-being. If you're interested in adding a melatonin product to your diet, Walgreens can help you find the perfect product with a large selection of formulas from trusted brands.

What Is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a natural chemical or hormone that is manufactured inside of the brain by the pineal gland. In the body, melatonin plays a very important role, as it helps to keep the body's internal clock regulated. It's this internal clock that promotes normal sleep patterns and tells your body when it's time to rest and to wake up. Additionally, melatonin is involved in female reproductive health, helping to trigger the release of other hormones that control a woman's menstrual cycle. Some scientists also believe that melatonin may strengthen the immune system and that it may function as an antioxidant, protecting the body from free radicals.

What Is Melatonin Used for?

A melatonin supplement is formulated to provide the body with an extra dose of melatonin to increase levels of the natural chemical. Because melatonin is so important to sleep, many researchers speculate that raising levels of the chemical in the body could benefit people with a variety of sleep disorders. Clinical studies have revealed promising results for the use of melatonin for regulating sleep in blind people who cannot see sunlight and for helping young children with autism and other mental health disorders sleep better at night. Research also shows that melatonin may be beneficial for individuals with short-term insomnia and jet lag. Scientists are still studying the effects of melatonin, and more research is needed to completely verify the benefits of using melatonin for any type of sleep problem.

Other Uses of Melatonin

Scientists are currently studying how melatonin may help with other medical concerns beyond sleep disorders. While there is not enough evidence to know for sure if melatonin is beneficial for any of these conditions, people may take melatonin supplements to help ease symptoms caused by certain health problems. Some of the potential uses for melatonin include reducing the frequency of cluster and migraine headaches, addressing symptoms of anxiety and depression and reducing the symptoms of certain neurological or nerve disorders, including epilepsy and tardive dyskinesia. Melatonin may also be used by women experiencing side effects from menopause or menstrual problems.

How to Choose Melatonin

Before using melatonin, it is important to talk to your doctor or health care provider to ensure that a supplement is right for you and to find out how much melatonin you should take each day. This is especially important if you have a medical condition and are taking treatment medications. Once you have your doctor's recommendations, you can compare the available melatonin supplements to find the one with the right dosage for your needs. Melatonin products come in many different forms, including tablets and capsules that are swallowed with water, sublingual tablets that dissolve under the tongue, lozenges that melt in the mouth and liquid formulas that you drink. Some melatonin supplements are combined with vitamins for additional potential benefits.