Melatonin

Buy Melatonin Tablets Online With Quick Meds

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone which helps to control how and when you sleep. Melatonin levels rise at night then fall to normal levels during the day.

Melatonin tablets, containing a synthetic form of this hormone is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. This means you must be prescribed the treatment following a consultation with a prescriber. The tablets are licensed as a jet lag treatment or to help you regulate your sleep cycle. Jet lag commonly affects air travellers who cross multiple time zones.

As a GPhC regulated pharmacy, at Quick Meds, we offer melatonin tablets to all eligible patients. Head over to our website to complete the online questionnaire for prescriber review. Once your order has been approved, we can dispatch and deliver as soon as by the next working day through tracked, quick delivery.

Melatonin Tablets At A Glance

What Are Melatonin Tablets?

Melatonin tablets are a synthetic form of the natural hormone. This mimics the natural hormone and is used for short periods to help ease jet lag symptoms and other sleep problems.

Melatonin is naturally produced by the pineal gland - a small gland in the brain. The production of melatonin is tightly linked to light. When it gets dark, the pineal gland releases more melatonin and when it is light, production drops.

Melatonin helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, which is also known as your body clock. As melatonin rises in the evening, it signals to your body to wind down. This will then influence parts of the brain such as the hypothalamus to reduce alertness, lower body temperature and prepare for sleep.

When you have jet lag, your natural body clock has shifted. If you have travelled to a different time zone that is a few hours ahead, your body may not be ready for bed, even though it may be past your usual bedtime in your new destination. Taking synthetic melatonin, will add to your body's natural supply when the natural rhythm is out of sync.

Unlike traditional sleeping tablets that directly make you drowsy, melatonin signals to your body that it is night time. This triggers natural physiological changes to help you fall asleep. It supports the body's sleep-wake cycle rather than forcing sleep.

How Do Melatonin Tablets Work?

Melatonin lets the brain know that it's night time, helping to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Taking the tablets adds to your body's natural melatonin supply to prepare it for sleep. This extra melatonin will act as a night-time cue to your brain, encouraging sleepiness, similar to how the body naturally raises melatonin levels at night.

Melatonin supplements can be used when your sleep-wake cycle has been disrupted, such as after travelling across time zones. Travelling can shift your internal clock so that it is out of sync with your local light and dark patterns. Melatonin works by resetting your internal clock and help you sleep at the appropriate times.

It is important to take the tablets at the right time. For optimum effects, the tablets should be taken close to the target bedtime at the destination. This can help ease jet lag, particularly when crossing several time zones.

Using melatonin without good sleep habits may limit your benefits. For best results:

• Have a consistent routine - ensure you are going to bed and waking up around the same time each day

• Light exposure - increase bright light in the morning and reduce light and blue light in the evening. This helps your brain have a clearer morning and night time. Light is also the most powerful cue for helping to reset your internal clock.

• Use at the right time - align your use of melatonin with your new time zone.

• Healthy sleep practices - Sleep in a comfortable environment, avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime.

Who Are Melatonin Tablets For?

Who Can Take Melatonin?

Melatonin is suitable for adults who:

• Are travelling across time zones and need help adjusting quickly to their new destination

• Have short‐term sleep-wake rhythm disruptions

If you are having sleep problems but are not sure why, please speak to your doctor or appropriate healthcare professional.

Who Should Not Take Melatonin?

Melatonin is not suitable for:

• Individuals under 18 years old - please see you doctor if you are under 18 and require treatment for insomnia.

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women

• People with uncontrolled autoimmune disease, severe liver or kidney disease, or taking certain interacting medications.

If you are unsure whether melatonin is suitable for you, call us on 0121 628 5318 or fill in our online consultation and a prescriber will review this for safety and suitability.

Cautions and Extra Checks

If you are take any other medication, whether prescribed or purchased over the counter, it is important you disclose this on your consultation form.

This is especially important if you are taking :

• Anticoagulants

• Immunosuppressants

• Medication for diabetes

• Antidepressants

Melatonin tablets help with your sleep cycle, so if you drive or operate machinery, be aware of the possibility of sleepiness.

Avoid combining melatonin with other medicine that can also help you to sleep such as sleep aids or supplements.

Our clinicians at Quick Meds are optimally placed to offer advice on the compatibility of other treatments you may be taking.

How To Take Melatonin Tablets

When To Start (for Jet Lag)

When taking melatonin tablets for jet lag, it is recommend to take the dose at your new time zone bedtime.

Take your medication one to two hours before you would normally fall asleep. So if you normally sleep at 10pm, take your dose at 8pm. Do not take melatonin tablets before 8pm or after 4am.

Melatonin is usually taken for up to 5 days for jet lag. If you are still having trouble sleeping after a 5 day course, please speak to a healthcare professional.

Usual Dosing Schedule

The typical dose for jet lag is one 3mg tablet, taken once daily for up to 5 days.

Take with a full glass of water and avoid heavy food or stimulants close to bedtime. Do not exceed the maximum prescribed dose.

Missed Doses, Stopping and What If I Smoke or Drink Alcohol?

If you miss a dose, skip this dose and take your next scheduled dose at the usual time. Do not double the next dose.

Avoid alcohol or excessive caffeine as this may interfere with your sleep and the effects of the treatment.

If melatonin is not having the desired effect even after you have used it for a few days, speak to your doctor or healthcare provider.

How Effective Are Melatonin Tablets?

Evidence For Jet Lag And Sleep Wake Adjustment

Research indicates melatonin can be effective at preventing or reducing jet lag and is recommended for adults travelling across time zones. It is commonly used to effectively realign the sleep-wake cycle though individual responses can vary.

The benefits of melatonin can vary depending on the time the medication was taken and the number of time zones travelled.

Whilst it can support sleep, it is not a miracle cure. For optimum results, the treatment should be used alongside adjustments to sleep hygiene. This is done by creating the right environment with reduced light exposure, avoiding alcohol and stimulants close to bedtime and maintaining a regular sleep schedule.

Benefits Of Stopping Sleep Disruption

Reducing or eliminating disruptive sleep can restore almost every bodily system and can have benefits to blood pressure, the immune system, nervous system, and cardiovascular systems. :

• Physical health: improved cardiovascular, metabolic and immune function over time with good sleep

• Cognition and concentration: better attention, memory consolidation, and problem solving

• Mood and mental health: more stable mood, lower risk of mood disturbance

• Energy and daily functioning: fewer day times naps/fatigue and improved daytime alertness

For those who travel often, effective tools can speed adjustment to a new time zone and reduce the functional impact of jet lag. These tools include:

• Timed melatonin

• Planned light exposure

• Sleep scheduling

Side Effects And Safety Information

Common Side Effects

Like all medicines, melatonin can cause side effects. The most common are are:

• Feeling tired in the daytime

• Headache

• Feeling sick

• Feeling dizzy

• Dry mouth

• Dry or itchy skin

• Strange dreams or night sweats

These are generally mild in nature and resolve on their own as your body adjusts to commencing treatment. If they persist, you should speak to your healthcare provider for advice.

Serious Or Rare Side Effects And When To Seek Help

Rarer side effects include:

• Changes to your eyesight, such as blurred vision

• Mood changes

• Depression

• Worsening sleep issues, such as difficulty staying asleep

• Allergic reactions: swelling of the lips, mouth, throat, difficulty breathing

• Chest pain

If you experience any of these, seek immediate medical attention.

Interactions, Alcohol, Driving And Machinery

It is important that you avoid combining melatonin with sedatives or sleep aids, or heavy alcohol. This may increase drowsiness or may cause unwanted sleepiness at times you should be awake.

Take caution if you are driving or using heavy machines whilst using melatonin.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding And Special Conditions

There is limited data on its use in pregnant and breastfeeding individuals and should therefore not be used.

Melatonin should not be used in children unless under specialist supervision.

Melatonin Tablets From Quick Meds – Your Process

Online Consultation And Prescription

How to order your melatonin tablets with Quick Meds:

1. Navigate to www.quickmeds.co.uk and click on the Jet Lag treatment section.

2. Fill in the online questionnaire - answer the questions honestly and accurately. You will be asked about your sleep habits, other medicine you may take, your medical history and travel plans.

3. Make your payment

A prescriber will review your order and if appropriate, a prescription will be authorised. Your order will be packaged discreetly and delivered by as soon as the next working day.

If this medication is not appropriate for you, our prescriber can support you with alternative options and offer advice to help your symptoms.

Pharmacy Dispensing And Delivery

Ordering your medication with Quick Meds is fast and easy.

Once you have filled out your online consultation and placed your order, a clinician will assess this for safety and suitability.

Your order will then be dispensed and packaged in discreet packaging ready to send out for delivery. We offer standard delivery as well as next-day delivery if you require your treatment as soon as possible.

Clinical Standards And Regulation

Quick Meds is a UK-regulated online pharmacy, providing excellent service alongside very fast delivery. A team of qualified prescribers is always on hand to answer any questions or concerns you may have. We thoroughly follow GPhC and MHRA guidelines to prescribe safely and suitably.

We are committed to providing quality care for all of our patients and have strict date protection in place. Your safety is our top priority and we can ensure you will have a great experience with Quick Meds.