Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body at night to help you sleep. "It wears off naturally in the morning so you wake up," Dr. Ian Smith says.
Melatonin supplements are available over-the-counter as sleep aids, and the doc says that they can be very effective. But is it bad to take melatonin every single night if you're having sleep problems? It's possible, according to Dr. Ian.
"Sometimes when you take melatonin, it helps. It helps you calm down at night, it helps you go to sleep." That being said, remember that all supplements have side effects. You have to be careful of taking too much of anything that's a supplement if it's not under a doctor's supervision, Dr. Ian says.
"If you take it all the time, the concern is that you're going to suppress your body's natural ability to make melatonin and now you've become dependent on the melatonin," he continues.
Take a melatonin supplement in small quantities if you need it, Dr. Ian says. But if you feel the need to take it every night, you should see a sleep doctor instead. They can help you pinpoint and address your sleep problem properly.
Always consult your doctor before starting a new medication or supplement.
