Melatonin vs Alpha-Stim for Better Sleep

Some over-the-counter sleep supplements and prescription medications are associated with making you feel groggy and foggy the next morning. And if you’re already taking medication for other health conditions, adding one more to the mix may not be a good idea.

Below, we outline why Alpha-Stim® may be a better choice than melatonin for getting better, longer sleep.

Taking Melatonin May Make You Drowsy or Dizzy

Daytime drowsiness. Feeling dizzy or nauseous. Headaches. These are all common side effects of melatonin, according to the Mayo Clinic and the Sleep Foundation. Other less common side effects include:

Changes to your mood (feeling depressed or anxious)
Vivid dreams or nightmares
Confusion
Reduced alertness
Abdominal cramps

While a relatively common sleep aid, the adverse effects of melatonin tend to occur with higher doses or with options that are designed to provide extended release. Plus, part of the reason daytime drowsiness is cited as a common side effect is that melatonin can also remain active in the body for longer periods of time, especially in older adults.

Why is Alpha-Stim Better for Helping You Sleep?

While melatonin is suggested for insomnia, as the Mayo Clinic points out, there’s no clinical evidence showing its effect on sleep quality and duration: “Research suggests that melatonin might slightly reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, but its effects on sleep quality and total sleep time aren’t clear.”

Meanwhile, Alpha-Stim has been thoroughly researched and is backed by clinical evidence to show that it can:

Improve sleep duration
Improve sleep quality
Works better than common sleep medications

Plus, unlike the side effects that come with melatonin and other drugs for sleeping disorders, there are no such side effects with Alpha-Stim. This means you can sleep longer and better without any regrets the next morning. Some patients find immediate sleep improvements, while others take a few weeks.

And because the effects of Alpha-Stim build on the progress of the last session, many Alpha-Stim users see increased levels of relief over time. Moreover, because Alpha-Stim uses Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), Alpha-Stim users are free from the worry of dependence and withdrawal that you could experience with certain sleep medications.

Finally, while melatonin may address sleep problems, it cannot address the underlying causes of insomnia, including (but not limited to) anxiety, depression*, or pain. Alpha-Stim can!

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*Alpha-Stim is FDA cleared for anxiety, insomnia, and pain only, with approval for depression outside of the United States.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-melatonin/art-20363071
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/melatonin/melatonin-side-effects
Lichtbroun AS, Raicer MMC, Smith RB. The treatment of fibromyalgia with Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. 2001; 7(2):72-78.

Kirsch, D.L., Price, L.R., Nichols, F., Marksberry, J.A., & Platoni, K.T. Military Service Member and Veteran Self-Reports of Efficacy of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation for Anxiety, PTSD, Insomnia, and Depression. (2014). The Army Medical Department Journal, 46-54.