Can You Take CBD and Melatonin Together for Sleep?

Millions of people use CBD and melatonin for sleep. Is taking both better than taking just one?

Not necessarily. We break down the science of these sleep aids to help you pick the right one to help you get your beauty sleep.

Key Takeaways

• Your body produces melatonin to help you fall asleep.
• When that production is disrupted, sleep can be undermined.
• Melatonin supplements can help support sleep, especially in these situations.
• CBD can support and enhance sleep quality, duration, and onset.
• It can support sleep in many ways, such as by supporting factors like stress that might undermine sleep.

See More: How Long Does It Take for CBD to Make Me Feel Relaxed?

Combining CBD and Melatonin

Meredith Farrow, founder of Clean Remedies, says:

"CBD and melatonin are two of the most popular sleep aids out there. Some people take them together, but it might not be better than taking one or the other alone."

If you ever find yourself staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night, you're not alone. For something that comes naturally, quality sleep can sometimes seem surprisingly tricky.

That's a problem, because sleep is absolutely crucial for health and well-being. Sleep disturbances or sleep disruptions can easily undermine your sleep quality, which can have various consequences.

On the other hand, sleep improvement can provide widespread, lasting potential benefits.

All that is precisely why so many people take CBD and melatonin as sleep aids. Each compound has distinct potential benefits when it comes to sleep. Research shows that CBD in particular can help support sleep.

But what about taking CBD and melatonin together?

Some people do this. Some evidence suggests that taking both can be useful. But there are also some things you should consider before doing so.

Bonus: Is Hemp and CBD the Same Thing?

The Secrets to Better Sleep

First, we need to explore the science behind sleep. Believe it or not, sleep is actually quite complex. Many things can impact it.

Circadian Rhythm

Sleep comes from within. Your body runs on a sleep-wake cycle. It's your body's circadian rhythm.

This cycle usually lasts for about 24 hours. It's absolutely crucial for a good night's sleep. Signs that it isn't include grogginess, daytime drowsiness, and sleep disturbances.

Sleep Hormone

At the center of your circadian rhythm is melatonin, a hormone produced naturally by your brain. In your pineal gland, to be precise.

As evening approaches, your brain interprets certain signals and starts producing more melatonin. Melatonin levels rise in the bloodstream, causing a range of adjustments.

In effect, melatonin regulates sleep. As it's produced, it instructs your body to prepare for sleep. Your eyes become less responsive to light, and your body temperature lowers.

Ideally, you start to feel sleepy. Then it's off to dreamland.

Sleep Hygiene

Unfortunately, this system can be pretty sensitive. Various factors can throw it off balance, affecting your natural melatonin production and potentially undermining sleep.

The most important thing by far is light, especially blue light. Exposure to light tells your brain to stop melatonin production.

In the morning, when you want to get up, that's a fantastic response. But artificial light sources can trigger the same reaction, and may therefore interfere with your sleep.

Your sleep cycle also thrives on regularity. Keeping sleep onset, or the time you fall asleep, roughly at the same time can support good sleep.

On the other hand, irregular schedules can undermine sleep.

Stress is another classic impediment to sleep. If you've ever lain awake late into the night, kept up by some stressful thought or another, you know why.

These are just two factors of many. Plenty of things can undermine sleep. Temperature, digestive issues, an empty stomach, stress, and mood are all other examples.

All these factors contribute to a concept called sleep hygiene. Good sleep hygiene can improve sleep quality.

So what does that mean?

It means sticking to a consistent sleep schedule. Avoiding light, especially blue light, before bed. Making sure your bedroom is optimized for sleep. Managing stress, such as with supplements like CBD.

Of course, that's all easier said than done. Sometimes, you might want a sleep aid to support your sleep.

How Melatonin Works

Your body's natural melatonin production is what usually supports your natural sleep patterns. But sometimes that production can be disrupted.

One of the most common examples of this is jet lag. After traveling across time zones, your body's natural hormone production might not align with the times you actually need to go to sleep and wake up.

In these cases, research suggests melatonin supplements may be able to help support sleep. They're a natural sleep aid. Studies have found that melatonin can improve sleep quality, cause faster sleep onset, and help people stay asleep longer.

Considerations

Melatonin products certainly have potential. But they might not be useful to everyone struggling with sleep.

After all, melatonin supplements often help by supporting your body's melatonin production. If that production is operating normally, extra melatonin might not necessarily help.

In fact, it can sometimes do exactly what you don't want. Some people find that when they stop taking melatonin, their body's production of this usually naturally occurring compound becomes even more disrupted.

That's not all. Potential side effects of melatonin include dizziness, nausea, and daytime sleepiness.

How CBD Works

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural compound produced by the hemp plant. It's also widely used for sleep.

Endocannabinoid System

CBD isn't psychoactive. It won't make you high, as THC would.

But CBD does interact with your body's endocannabinoid system. That's a sprawling network of receptors and signals spread throughout your body.

The endocannabinoid system supports many different bodily functions, including mood, pain, and sleep.

You can probably see where this is going. Research suggests CBD can support sleep in various ways. And millions of people take CBD for sleep.

Sleep Quality

Most people have experienced a bad night's sleep. Sometimes you can drift off for the full nine hours, but wake up still feeling cranky.

That shows the importance of sleep quality. As we discussed, many things can undermine it.

Fortunately, research suggests CBD can support it. Multiple studies have found that participants who take CBD report better quality sleep. Participants in one study said taking CBD made them feel healthier overall, too.1 

Research also suggests that CBD can enhance sleep length.2

Fall Asleep Faster

Of course, sleep quality and length only matter once you've actually fallen asleep. Sometimes that's easier said than done.

Research suggests CBD can help with insomnia.3

One possible reason is that CBD may help with factors that undermine sleep. Things like pain and stress, which are influenced by the endocannabinoid system.

According to Harvard Medical School, by helping with these issues, CBD may help with sleep itself.

The best part? CBD may help regardless of your body's natural melatonin production.

Can You Take Melatonin and CBD Together

Melatonin and CBD have distinct potential benefits, advantages, and disadvantages. Still, some people do take both together.

This isn't necessarily bad, at least in the short-term. It's best to check with your healthcare provider if you're considering taking melatonin in the long-term.

Additionally, more research needs to be done to figure out if taking both actually helps more than just taking one or the other. Doing so may increase the side effects, too.

Remember, melatonin is most helpful when your body's natural melatonin production is undermined. CBD can be helpful in many different situations.

When confronted by a problem, it's often best to choose the right tool for the job, rather than trying every tool simultaneously.

Where to Get CBD for Sleep

If you decide to try CBD for sleep, it's important to use high-quality CBD products. One thing to look for is evidence that your manufacturer uses independent testing to confirm the safety and potency of their products.

Clean Remedies sends all of its CBD products to a third-party lab for testing. You can see the results of these tests by scanning the QR code included with your product.

There are plenty of options to choose from. Standard CBD oil is a classic, versatile option. You can add it to your favorite wind-down drink, like an herbal tea.

However, some edibles are specifically designed to support sleep.

For example, Clean Remedies' Sleep & Soothe CBD Gummies blend natural hemp-derived CBD with other sleep-supporting ingredients, like GABA, L-Theanine, and CBN.

This is a great product for anyone that has trouble relaxing or sleeping in the evening," says Clean Remedies founder Meredith Farrow. "I take two gummies on nights that I'm really stressed out and one gummy on other nights."

Conclusion

Both melatonin and CBD are widely used for sleep, and each can potentially support sleep. However, melatonin supplements are often most helpful when your body's natural production of melatonin is disrupted. CBD can support sleep in many different ways.

Some people do take CBD and melatonin together. Scientists are still researching whether it's advantageous to take both together, rather than taking just one or the other, depending on which you think would help best.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should You Not Take With Melatonin Supplements

Experts generally recommend against taking melatonin with sedatives or certain medications. If you're unsure, check with your doctor.

When Is the Best Time to Take Melatonin for Sleep?

Always follow the guidance provided by your product or doctor. Generally, people take melatonin one or two hours before their intended bedtime.

Does CBD Help With Sleep?

Yes! Research shows that CBD can help with sleep. It can support sleep quality, duration, and onset.

Keep Reading: Does THC Boost Your Metabolism?

-

Clean Remedies is a woman-owned, independent family business that uses clean and natural hemp extract to create products that are free from harmful chemicals, cruelty-free, and made in the USA, meant to benefit your well-being and meet our own high standards of efficacy. For CBD facts, product discounts, and more, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Sources

1. Eight Weeks of Daily Cannabidiol Supplementation Improves Sleep Quality and Immune Cell Cytotoxicity - PMC , Long-Term, Self-Dosing CBD Users: Indications, Dosage, and Self-Perceptions on General Health/Symptoms and Drug Use - PMC
2. CBD lengthens sleep but shortens ripples and leads to intact simple but worse cumulative memory - ScienceDirect
3. Cannabidiol (CBD) and Insomnia: Literature review