Signs Your Melatonin Is No Longer Working & What To Try Instead

Plenty of people regularly turn to melatonin in an effort to get a better night's sleep. But how well does it actually support sleep quality, and how can you know if it's still working for you?

Melatonin is a hormone that signals to your body that it's time to go to sleep, Rountree explained to mbg during a sleep summit webinar last year.

"It doesn't knock you out [...] It's an indicator that now you can go into that circadian rhythm," he said. This means that in the case of jet lag or another sudden disruption to one's sleep schedule, it can be really beneficial.

Lipman agreed, noting on a recent episode of the mbg podcast, "When I see someone who has a sleep rhythm problem, if you want to get back into rhythm, melatonin is a good way to [do so]." However, he added, if rhythm isn't really the challenge, and your issues are more about sleep quality, melatonin might not do the trick.

He then noted that under those circumstances, it's not uncommon to see people upping their dose of melatonin (to amounts much higher [3 mg plus] than physiological melatonin levels). However, as you increase your dose, it could potentially affect your body's ability to naturally produce melatonin.

When it comes to a melatonin-free supplement that enhances sleep quality and maintains safety and efficacy over time, both Lipman and Rountree are fans of mbg's sleep support+ formula.*

Made with magnesium bisglycinate, PharmaGABA®, and relaxing jujube, it's a supportive sleep supplement that is safe to take before bed every evening.*

"Melatonin is not that great for people who are just poor sleepers," Rountree said. "It's not like magnesium, which has this whole other effect on the depth of sleep and quality of sleep."*

He added of the powerful, science-backed formula: "Magnesium is one of the first things you want to reach for when you're having trouble calming down; PharmaGABA® is a plant extract that's also been shown to bond to the same brain receptors that help us calm down and relax; and jujube is probably one of the top 10 Chinese herbs used in a variety of formulas for sleep."*