Many people take melatonin supplements for insomnia. An analysis of nine sleep studies found that melatonin can help you fall asleep 7 minutes faster. Because of the small benefits, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) doesn’t recommend using melatonin to treat insomnia. And according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), there’s not enough strong evidence on the effectiveness or safety of using melatonin for chronic insomnia. However, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommends using timed-release melatonin as a first-line therapy for older adults with insomnia. Melatonin supplements can potentially help with other conditions. According to NCCIH ongoing research suggests it’s helpful for the following:
Jet lag.
Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD).
Sleep problems in children.
Anxiety before and after surgery.
The AASM Clinical Guidelines also recommend timed-release melatonin for the following conditions:
For the treatment of DSWPD.
For blind adults with non-24-sleep-wake disorder (N24SWD).
For children and teens with irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder (ISWRD) and comorbid neurological disorders.