Highlights 

• The ramelteon vs. melatonin match-up involves an FDA-regulated drug vs a supplement.

• Ramelteon (brand name Rozerem) is an FDA-approved melatonin antagonist for insomnia.

• Melatonin supplements are unregulated, with dubious safety profiles.

• Find out which of these two options works better for insomnia.

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According to the National Sleep Foundation, up to 30% of adults suffer from insomnia. The prevalence of other sleep disorders, like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, is also significant.

There are many insomnia treatments, and some involve sleep aids like Melatonin and ramelteon. Is ramelteon or melatonin better? In this article, we settle the ramelteon vs. melatonin question for good.

What Is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that’s secreted by the pineal gland to regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

In addition to inducing sleep, melatonin may also determine the duration and quality of sleep. Elevated melatonin levels through the night lead to fewer sleep interruptions.

Melatonin fulfills other roles in the body, as well, such as:

• It has anti-inflammatory effects.
• It’s a powerful antioxidant.
• It boosts the immune system.
• It may also play a role in erectile function.

It’s good to have adequate amounts of this hormone in your system. If the pineal gland in your brain fails to produce enough melatonin, you can supplement the hormone from an outside source.

Synthetic Melatonin

Chemists can make synthetic melatonin from tryptophan, a relatively common amino acid found in foods. The conversion process involves several chemical reactions, and the resulting melatonin is the equivalent of the natural hormone.

Melatonin supplements have become popular and accessible for many people struggling with sleep disorders.

What Is Ramelteon?

Ramelteon (brand name Rozerem) is a prescription sleep medication that helps people fall asleep more easily. It is not melatonin, but it works like it.

Ramelteon is what specialists call a melatonin agonist. It mimics the action of the naturally occurring sleep hormone, binding to the same receptors to which melatonin attaches, helping with sleep onset. It tricks the body into believing it’s dealing with melatonin and triggers drowsiness as a response.

If you take ramelteon before bedtime, you tweak your sleep-wake cycle to suit your needs.

Ramelteon’s Advantages

Compared to other sleeping pills, ramelteon does not affect the quality of your sleep; it simply helps you fall asleep faster. If you use ramelteon, you won’t wake up groggy and under the weather in the morning. For that reason alone, ramelteon may be the best sleep medication for many people.

Additionally, ramelteon does not cause dependence, and you can quit taking it at any time without triggering withdrawal symptoms.

Is Ramelteon the Same as Melatonin?

Ramelteon is not the same as melatonin, but the body can’t tell the difference. And when ramelteon molecules bind to the brain’s melatonin receptors, it triggers the sleep cycle.

Melatonin is a natural hormone. Ramelteon masquerades as the “real deal” and produces a targeted effect by “fooling” the body.

Furthermore, ramelteon is an FDA-approved solution for the treatment of insomnia. Synthetic melatonin is available in over-the-counter supplement form, and the FDA does not regulate supplements.

Another key difference between melatonin and ramelteon is ramelteon is available by prescription only.

Ramelteon vs. Melatonin: Side Effects

Both sleep aids have a range of potential side effects.

Ramelteon Side Effects

Ramelteon’s potential side effects can include dizziness, fatigue, and headaches. Some people may also experience hormonal imbalances, leading to changes in levels of prolactin and testosterone.

Some users have also reported nausea and diarrhea. In rare cases, ramelteon can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. It’s important to consult a healthcare provider for a complete understanding of the potential side effects and interactions with other medications.

Melatonin Side Effects

Melatonin can cause side effects like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Some people may experience daytime sleepiness, irritability, or mild depression.

Effects of Long-term Use

In both cases, there’s not much research about long-term use, and there’s a lack of data on their safety over extended periods. If you feel you need a long-term insomnia solution, talk to your healthcare provider for personalized advice. This is especially important for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medications.

Ramelteon vs. Melatonin: What Does the Research Say?

Does the FDA consider ramelteon a more legitimate treatment for insomnia than melatonin? What does the science say?

From the perspective of the FDA, synthetic melatonin cannot be a legitimate treatment for anything as long as it’s only available in supplement form. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work — it only means the FDA can’t approve it.

Many studies have assessed the efficacy of ramelteon and melatonin for insomnia. Some conclude that both compounds work and that the ramelteon vs. melatonin efficacy is similar. Their effects are moderate for most people, but they are relatively safe treatments, according to a 2022 study.

Other research has found that ramelteon is 17 times more potent than melatonin because ramelteon molecules bind to the receptors in the brain better than melatonin.

A 2016 literature review analyzed several studies. Some of these found that neither melatonin nor ramelteon improved insomnia symptoms better than placebo. Others found statistically significant improvements.

According to a 2011 study, melatonin and ramelteon both increase slow-wave and REM sleep. Ramelteon’s effects last for six hours, and melatonin’s last for two. Ramelteon also increases sleep duration, but melatonin does not.

Melatonin’s primary advantage is accessibility; it’s available without a prescription.

If you have chronic insomnia and your doctor prescribes ramelteon, you should take it exactly as prescribed.

Ramelteon vs. Melatonin Reddit Opinions

The ramelteon vs.melatonin Reddit debate doesn’t yield definitive conclusions. Here’s what we can glean from these discussions:

• Rozerem vs. melatonin is the battle of a targeted, regulated melatonin antagonist and an unregulated supplement.
• Melatonin’s effectiveness varies wildly from one patient to another.
• No one knows the exact melatonin doses unregulated supplements deliver.
• Some users state that melatonin works for them at 10-20 milligrams per night.
• Ramelteon seems to work for many patients.
• For some patients, ramelteon is the only drug that effectively regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
• For others, ramelteon also improves sleep duration.

Ramelteon has more favorable reviews and feedback posts than melatonin, but the unregulated nature of melatonin makes its effectiveness more difficult to gauge.

Can You Take Melatonin With Ramelteon?

Taking ramelteon and melatonin together is not a good idea. Both compounds target the melatonin receptors in the brain, albeit differently. Taking them together may cause the over-activation of the melatonin receptors.

People who take a ramelteon and melatonin combination may experience more severe side effects. Some of these side effects may be:

• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Impaired motor skills
• Difficulty concentrating
• Impaired thinking

If your doctor prescribes ramelteon, stop taking melatonin. Talk to your doctor if you feel you need to combine the two drugs.

Conclusion: Ramelteon vs. Melatonin: Which Works Better?

Melatonin is an unregulated supplement. Ramelteon is an FDA-approved solution for insomnia.

According to science and user reviews, ramelteon works. Melatonin is less reliable, and it does not extend sleep duration. Its supplement status may be the cause of its reliability issues — because there’s no regulation of the amount of active substance supplements contain, this can vary from brand to brand.

The bottom line is that for most people, while both sleep aids are considered safe, ramelteon is more reliable and potentially more effective than melatonin for insomnia.

eDrugstore Can Help

If you suffer from insomnia, FDA-approved ramelteon may be the solution. It’s a scientifically proven insomnia drug, and patient feedback on its efficacy is impressive.

We carry ramelteon, and our cost per dose is reasonable. We offer a free medical consultation with one of our U.S.-licensed physicians, who can write the prescription you need.

For more information about ramelteon, check out our ramelteon FAQ.

Get your ramelteon prescription today. When you shop with eDrugstore, shipping is fast and always free.

The post Ramelteon vs. Melatonin: Which Works Better for Insomnia? first appeared on Online Prescription Medications.