Compare our choices
Others tested
These were effective, but not as consistently as the choices above. I would still encourage others to try, as bodies react differently to the active ingredients in these over-the-counter sleeping pills.
Rebalance Dream Sleep Mints (melatonin-free; 31-pack) for $46: These melatonin-free mints are designed to dissolve slowly, with natural sleep-inducing ingredients like L-Theanine, L-Tryptophan, GABA, and slow-release Reishi Mushroom. You can take up to three lozenges each night, and it took me three to feel any calming effects. I like the idea of a slow-melting mint alternative, but I’m currently testing the version with melatonin to see how it compares to the non-melatonin version.
Photography: Molly Higgins
Olly Sleep Gummy for $17: Olly is a very trendy brand whose gummy supplements constantly go viral on social media like TikTok and sell out quickly. These are tasty: blackberry flavored with a hint of mint, and they contain 3 milligrams of melatonin; L-theanine, which relieves anxiety and promotes a healthy sleep cycle; and botanicals like chamomile, passionflower, and lemon balm extract. (Melatonin is generally considered safe for pregnant people, but a doctor should be consulted.) The first time I took these gummies, I felt the effects and fell asleep easily. I woke up around 2am, had two more and finally went back to bed. The next night, after taking two, I didn’t feel the drowsiness effects as strongly and I doubled the dose to four gummies (6 milligrams) and fell asleep after about an hour, but woke up again in the middle of the night and took more. With so many people (both on the internet and in my real life) swearing by these Olly gummies, I expected more.
Magnesium Water Drops from the Depths of Kona Sea Salt for $12: The Kona line of sleep and relaxation products uses magnesium sourced from deep ocean waters in Hawaii to promote better sleep and muscle relaxation. I’ve tried a variety of Kona Sea Salt’s Hawaiian water products, including Calm Mineral Spa Bath ($8) and Deep Ocean Magnesium Mist ($18), but found the drops to be the most effective, although I still regularly spritz the magnesium mist before bed. Just put one drop per ounce of drinking water, and it’s quickly absorbed by the body, with many purported benefits like regulating the sleep-wake cycle and promoting deeper sleep without a hangover. It doesn’t really have any taste except for a slight salty taste, but it didn’t deliver solid, consistent sleepy results like the other choices above.
I mean Vagus Nerve Pillow Mist For $38: This spray aims to create a calming atmosphere to help regulate and prepare the mind and body before bed. The vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve in the body, activates the body’s relaxation response to help regulate stress. Each spray of this mist delivers a hearty spray of a soothing essential oil blend of Juniper Berry, Lavender, Lemon Tea Tree, Chamomile, and Moroccan Rosemary to help relax the mind and body. The smell is almost hard to describe: it’s light, with faint herbal and citrus notes that made me want to douse all my pillows and bed linens. Maybe it was a placebo effect, but it triggered something in me that made me feel like I was in a spa, and I always felt noticeably more relaxed, more comfortable, and ready for bed.
Not effective (for me)
Photography: Molly Higgins
Grounding Cushion Cover for $140: I am so confused by this product. The pillowcase is believed to act as a conduit for the Earth’s natural electrons, which send you a burst of negative charges to keep you “grounded” while you sleep and thus lead to more restful sleep. According to the Earthing website, this electronic grounding is said to “rejuvenate, reduce inflammation” and help you “reconnect with the earth.” In reality, it’s a synthetic plastic and faux leather cushion cover infused with carbon pigment that needs to be plugged in while you sleep. There’s a huge safety warning and it even comes with a plug safety test to make sure it doesn’t cause an electrical fire while you sleep. So that’s reassuring. I found the leather far too hot, sticky and uncomfortable, and woke up feeling very unanchored.
Canary Nighttime Feeder (60-pack) for $18: I hate doing this because all Canary products are so tasty, but I haven’t felt the effects of these sleep gummies. These vegan tart cherry gummies use natural ingredients like ashwagandha, chamomile, and lemon balm for a more natural foray into relaxation. Although they are very tasty (like all the gummy supplements I have received from the Canary Islands), I did not experience any noticeable drowsy effects from taking them.
BodyHealth Sleep for $42: Before bed, you take three capsules (which is a lot of pill to swallow) that are fortified with “Perfect Amino” (which has no information on what it actually is), taurine, vitamin C, L-theanine, L-glycine, 5-HTP (I-5-hydroxytryptophan, which is often used for depression, with less evidence for helping insomnia); L-glutamine and GABA (amino acids) and 3 milligrams of melatonin. These horse pills were SO difficult to ingest and gave me acid reflux symptoms every time I took them. They may have contributed to increased sleepiness, but I was too focused on my heartburn to notice.
What else can I try besides sleeping pills?
Before running to the store for a quick fix, Monica Baena, adult gerontology nurse practitioner at the George Washington Center for Sleep Disorders, recommends establishing good sleep hygiene. This includes sticking to a set sleep schedule, creating a bedtime routine, and avoiding screen time, alcohol, and bright lights before bed, as well as making sure to get physical activity during the day and taking care of any other health conditions that may be contributing to insomnia.
Part of the importance of creating a bedtime routine is making sure your bedroom is optimal for your personal sleep preferences, whether that’s temperature or using a sleep mask or sound machine, anything that will make your environment more conducive to restful sleep.
What are the risks of sleeping pills?
“There is potential for dependence and tolerance to sleeping pills — these medications are intended for short-term use,” says Hannah Sagedy, a physician assistant at the George Washington Center for Sleep Disorders. Although sleeping pills can sometimes be helpful in initiating and maintaining sleep, Sagedy describes some of their more serious potential side effects, like drowsiness and memory problems. They can even increase the risk of abnormal sleep behaviors like sleepwalking or sleepwalking.
Generally, people should not drive or operate machinery while using sleeping pills or mixing them with alcohol, and everyone, especially pregnant people or those with pre-existing health conditions, should consult their doctor before using them. The FDA only approves prescription insomnia medications like Ambien, as well as over-the-counter medications, which are often just variations of the same two active ingredients: doxylamine and diphenhydramine. However, over-the-counter medications are not regulated in the same way as prescription medications. Certain active ingredients, such as doxylamine, have been shown to increase the risk of dementia.
What are some common ingredients in over-the-counter sleeping pills?
Although these should be used in moderation, certain ingredients are believed to help promote healthy sleep and appear in most of the sleep aids on this list. Let’s do a crash course.
- Doxylaminefound in over-the-counter medications like Unisom, is one of the most commonly used medications for insomnia and is also used for nausea during pregnancy and allergic rhinitis. It stays in your system longer than other sleeping pills, so it’s more likely to cause that “hangover” feeling of lingering sleepiness the next morning.
- Diphenhydramineused in over-the-counter medications like Benadryl and ZzzQuil, is also one of the most common over-the-counter sleep aids and can also be used for allergies. Diphenhydramine and doxylamine work similarly and have similar side effects.
- Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the brain that helps regulate your internal clock. Increased levels of melatonin help signal that it’s time for your body to sleep. Baena explains that “melatonin is a hormone released by the pineal gland in the brain. It is linked to the time of day and increases when it is dark and decreases when it is light. This helps synchronize your circadian rhythms.” Sagedy warns that melatonin can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and strange dreams. Melatonin has been shown to regulate the sleep-wake cycle, but because it is considered a dietary supplement in the United States, it is less strictly regulated by the FDA than a prescription or over-the-counter medication. Melatonin is generally considered safe for pregnant women and children in low doses, but a doctor should be consulted before use.
- Other common ingredients include: vitamin B6believed to help with melatonin production; magnesiumwhich helps regulate the nervous system and the production of melatonin; L-theaninean amino acid that promotes relaxation; And GABAan amino acid that helps calm the brain.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe today.
