You’ve followed the usual tips for getting sleep — having a sleeping schedule, avoiding caffeine, practicing yoga, meditation, and managing stress.
Still, it’s been weeks and a good night’s sleep remains just out of reach. Should I try over-the-counter sleep aid?
Here’s everything you need to know if you’re thinking of using sleep-aids.
Melatonin
Natrol Melatonin is 100% vegetarian and offers a biphasic delivery system which releases melatonin quickly to help you fall asleep fast and then steadily to help you stay asleep all night.
Melatonin helps establish normal sleep patterns to promote a more restful, relaxing sleep and better overall health.
It can also be considered a natural sleep aid since it’s found naturally in our bodies.
ZzzQuil
When you’re having trouble getting that sound sleep your internal clock craves, add some Zzzs to your night with ZzzQuil.
This non-habit-forming sleep-aid helps you get some shut-eye, so you can wake up feeling refreshed. Available in Warming Berry Flavor.
Melatonin Vs ZzzQuil
Review
Reviewers of ZzzQuil say that this helps them quickly find sleep whenever they have difficulty sleeping.
They also report feeling refreshed in the morning and not groggy. Some even say they find ZzzQuil to be more effective than prescribed sleep medicine.
You can find ZzzQuil in liquid, capsule form, and chewable’s.
Melatonin, on the other hand, is a hormone found naturally in the body. Its main job is to regulate night and day cycles or our sleep-wake cycles.
Darkness causes the body to produce more melatonin, helping you sleep. And light decreases melatonin production.
It can be really helpful when dealing with jet lag and drastic changes in work hours.
Take it 20 minutes before bedtime, and always start with a small dosage first.
You can always increase your dosage if needed, but you shouldn’t exceed a dosage of 10 mg.
What is the difference between taking melatonin vs ZzzQuil?
ZzzQuil doesn’t contain acetaminophen, making it safer to use than Tylenol Pm and Benadryl, two other sleep-aids.
But the longer you use it the less effective it becomes.
Most melatonin supplements are more on the natural side, having natural ingredients. They also almost all come in pill form.
So if you have trouble with pills, the liquid version of ZzzQuil could be a better option for you.
ZzzQuil is also available in 3 different forms, liquid, chewable, and in tablets. Giving you a range of options to try.
We have also looked into what the best melatonin supplement is, and after hours of research, reading through 100’s of reviews, researching ingredients carefully we have decided one beat the rest.
Below are the prices for each and our #1 pick for the best melatonin sleep-aid.
If stress is the reason you are having sleepness lights, check out our pick for the #1 chewable that can cut down stress in 30 minutes.
Prices
Vicks ZzzQuil
Natrol Melatonin
Zhou Driftoff Our #1 Pick
Driftoff Premium Sleep Aid is vegan and non-GMO. The formula contains melatonin and valerian root, along with other herbal-based ingredients.
It also has ingredients that have a calming effect that eases anxiety and stress. Take it 20 to 30 minutes before bedtime and enjoy a good night’s rest.
Side Effects
Dosage
Most sleep-aids like ZzzQuil contain antihistamines. The only issue is that tolerance to antihistamines can develop quite quickly. So the longer you take them, the less likely they are to help you sleep.
Generally, they shouldn’t be used for any more than two weeks at a time.
When it comes to melatonin and dosage it is highly recommended, to begin with, a small dosage of 1mg – 3mg.
If the dosage isn’t enough you can go up to 5mg, but as a precaution, you should never exceed 10mg of melatonin.
In terms of ZzzQuil, If you take one 30 ml each night, it should last you 10 – 12 days.
Safety
Melatonin and ZzzQuil are mostly safe when used by mouth appropriately. Some people have used melatonin safely for up to 2 years, but as stated above it can come with some side effects.
Always check in with your primary doctor first before taking any of these supplements.
Especially if you are on other medication as well.
some of the ingredients in both of these sleep-aids can be a little disconcerting, so let’s look at what each of them does.
To some, these inactive and active ingredients can cause allergic reactions. Some assume that these fillers are very harmful, but the amount of it in these products is small and classified safe by the FDA.
So always check each supplement and make sure you aren’t allergic to these active and inactive ingredients.
Silicon Dioxide
Silicon dioxide is a natural chemical mix of silicon and oxygen that has uses in many food products as an anti-caking agent.
An anti-caking agent is a type of preservatives that prevent the product from sticking together and also extend its shelf life.
While the name sounds very scary, silicon dioxide is natural.
Silicon dioxide also exists naturally in our bodies and plants that we eat, such as:
- Dark, leafy greens
- Some grains like oats
- Brown Rice
- Beets and bell pepper
Crospovidone
Crospovidone is an inactive ingredient found in many medications.
It is a disintegrant, meaning it helps the supplement release its medicinal substances on contact with moisture, like stomach fluids.
Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is used to help keep tablets and capsules lubricated.
Propylene glycol is also used in various edible items such as coffee-based drinks, ice cream, whipped dairy products, and sodas.
The toxicity of propylene glycol is very low, and large quantities would be required to have noticeable effects on humans.
So much so it would be nearly impossible to reach toxic levels by consuming foods or supplements with propylene glycol.
These are just some of the ingredients that are in these products that are scary sounding.
Sometimes these additives can be confused with other more serious ones, but I make sure to do research to keep myself and those around me safe.
Always do your research and keep yourself safe. Tell us what you think of our review on melatonin vs ZzzQuil, I would love to hear what we could add to help you out more.
Check out our other post on supplements that help relieve stress.