Melatonin is a hormone your brain produces naturally when it gets dark. It doesn't knock you out - it simply signals your body: "it's night, time to wind down." That's why it's available without a prescription. It's not a sleeping pill. It's a gentle nudge for your internal clock.
I live in Finland, and I first tried melatonin during the white nights - when it's still bright outside at midnight, and your brain completely refuses to cooperate. It helped. Now I take 3 mg occasionally, 1–2 hours before bed, as my doctor recommended. Works well for me.
One thing worth knowing, though: more is not better. A lot of people take 5–10mg, thinking it'll work faster. In reality, even 0.3–1mg may be enough to send the signal. Higher doses just leave you foggy in the morning - with no extra benefit.
I live in Finland, and I first tried melatonin during the white nights - when it's still bright outside at midnight, and your brain completely refuses to cooperate. It helped. Now I take 3 mg occasionally, 1–2 hours before bed, as my doctor recommended. Works well for me.
One thing worth knowing, though: more is not better. A lot of people take 5–10mg, thinking it'll work faster. In reality, even 0.3–1mg may be enough to send the signal. Higher doses just leave you foggy in the morning - with no extra benefit.