Sugar and Starch Free, No Problem

I remember when melatonin first became a big thing (or at least a big thing to me). It was probably somewhere in 2020 when I first heard of it; my friends suggested I try it after suffering from a long bout of insomnia. 

I had started taking Sucraid for CSID and quickly discovered my number one symptom was difficulty sleeping at night. I was talking to a couple of friends about the problem who had started taking melatonin for their sleep-related issues, and they said it had solved their issues almost overnight.

I took it, and it helped me fall asleep quickly, but as I discovered and researched more things involving melatonin, I quickly realized I shouldn’t take it as a long-term solution.

Remember, always consult with your doctor if you need to find alternatives for sleeping disorders.

A few things through my own research made me look for other options, and these included:

1. Disruption of Natural Sleep Patterns: Melatonin can disrupt the production of your body’s natural hormones, so relying on a supplement can interfere with your ability to regulate your sleep-wake cycle naturally.
2. Dependency: There’s a slight risk of becoming dependent on melatonin supplements to fall asleep. Over time, your body will build up a tolerance to melatonin, which might require you to take higher doses to achieve the same effect as when you first started taking it.
3. Side Effects: Melatonin is generally well-tolerated by most people, but it can have a few side effects for certain individuals, such as drowsiness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or irritability.
4. Possible Interaction with Medications: Many supplements may interact with certain medications, which is why you should always consult with a healthcare provider before taking anything. Melatonin can interact with blood thinners, immunosuppressants, and birth control pills.
5. Unknown Long-Term Effects: Melatonin is a relatively new supplement, having only been on the market since the 1990s. This means more research is still needed to learn about the long-term effects of regular melatonin use. 
6. Quality and Dosage Concerns: The quality and dosage of melatonin can vary between many products, and some of the supplements may even contain impurities or inaccurate labeling regarding the dosage. When you buy vitamins and supplements, always make sure you’re choosing a reputable brand and following the correct dosage recommendations to minimize adverse effects.

In conclusion, melatonin can be effective for some people as a short-term solution for sleeping problems. However, always proceed with caution and consult a healthcare professional before using a vitamin or supplement.

I’ll be writing a blog post about a few non-pharmacological alternative approaches to improving sleep, and I hope you’ll stay tuned in to see some beneficial options.