Melatonin
Melatonin is the body-clock hormone used for sleep difficulties and jet lag; the range here is Meloset 3mg tablets and Restfine and Sleepose 10mg tablets.
Melatonin: the hormone that times sleep
Melatonin is a hormone the brain makes in response to darkness. It helps set the timing of the circadian rhythm (the 24-hour internal clock) and with sleep, and light at night can block its production. Melatonin supplements are used when that timing is off: after flying across time zones, or when you fall asleep much later than you want to. It acts as a timing signal for the brain, which sets it apart from hypnotics such as eszopiclone and zaleplon.
Meloset, Restfine and Sleepose
Three products carry melatonin, all as tablets, and strength is the main difference. Meloset is the lower strength at 3mg, and it is listed for insomnia and jet lag. Restfine and Sleepose are both 10mg tablets, which is more than three times the amount in Meloset. Restfine is listed for sleep difficulties and adjusting sleep patterns, while Sleepose is listed for insomnia, sleep onset and jet lag. So if you are matching a listing to a purpose, Meloset and Sleepose both name jet lag, and Restfine is the one that names sleep pattern adjustment.
What the research says about use
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says melatonin may help with jet lag, with studies covering both eastward and westward flights, and with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, where someone cannot fall asleep until the early hours. In one trial in that condition, people took melatonin 1 hour before their desired bedtime and went to bed at a set time; they fell asleep earlier and functioned better in the day. Because melatonin works on timing, when you take a tablet matters as much as which strength you choose. Information on long-term use is still limited.
Side effects and interactions
Short-term use appears safe for most people. Headache, dizziness, nausea and daytime sleepiness are the effects most often reported. Melatonin can stay active longer in older adults, which can lead to daytime drowsiness. Allergic reactions are possible.
Melatonin can interact with blood-thinning medicines and may affect people with epilepsy. It is not recommended for people with dementia. Tablets are best stored cool, dry and out of direct heat.
Sources
- Melatonin: What You Need To Know | NCCIH — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Insomnia - NHS — NHS
Is Melatonin available to order in Hong Kong?
How are Melatonin prices shown?
It depends on the product, strength and pack size. Each of the three melatonin products listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Melatonin?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order melatonin. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What brand names does melatonin have?
Is Meloset 3mg or Sleepose 10mg better for jet lag?
Both are listed for jet lag, and they hold the same ingredient in different amounts. Meloset is 3mg and Sleepose is 10mg, so the difference is how much melatonin is in each tablet, not what it is.
When should melatonin be taken?
Timing matters more than for most medicines because melatonin acts on the body clock. In the delayed sleep-wake phase trial, it was taken 1 hour before the desired bedtime, alongside a fixed bedtime, and that routine sped up falling asleep.
Does melatonin make you drowsy the next day?
It can. Daytime sleepiness is one of the reported effects, and melatonin may stay active longer in older adults, which can add to the drowsiness. Headache, dizziness and nausea are also reported.
Is melatonin natural or synthetic?
The brain makes melatonin naturally, in response to darkness. Supplements can be made from animals or microorganisms, but most are made synthetically, so the tablets are a manufactured version of the same hormone.