Melatonin is released by the brain in the evening and tells the body it’s night. Bright screens, late shifts and irregular bedtimes suppress or shift it, which is why sleep can drift even when you’re exhausted.
A short course of melatonin, taken 1–2 hours before the bedtime you want, helps pull the pattern back. It’s not a sedative and it isn’t habit-forming. Our pharmacists can now supply it privately to adults after a consultation.
It works best alongside the boring stuff: the same wake time every day (even weekends), no caffeine after lunch, dim light and no screens in the last hour, and getting up rather than lying awake. If sleep has been poor for months, ask your GP about CBT-I, which has the best long-term evidence.
15-minute pharmacist consultation, supplied under a Patient Group Direction. Book a time at your branch or walk in.
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