I think there is a thread where this was mentioned somewhere on here already, but I do have a small warning to share regarding melatonin supplements. I believe that it is safe to say that anyone taking this supplement believes that their body is not naturally producing enough melatonin on its own - at least not at the desired time. Now artificial supplementation is a great temporary fix to get caught up on sleep and back on track. However, when doing this sort of thing long-term, there is very commonly a reverse reaction by the body.
To keep things simple, let's say that your body is currently only producing 50% of the necessary melatonin. So, so decide to supplement. Your body detects that it's levels have risen, so it begins to cut down on what it is producing - dropping down to 25%. It is not usually noticeable while on the supplement because the additional amount more than makes up for the additional lack. However, now you are dependent on the melatonin to fall asleep because if you stop taking it at this point, you would be worse off than before. This is true for any hormone supplementation. Personally, I would not use it for more than one month at a time, but I'm not sure if there is an actual official guideline out there.
During this month, I would try to identify the true cause of my sleeplessness. For instance, stress, physical or electronic (TV, computer, etc.) stimulation within an hour before bed, lack of routine, or disrupted sleep cycles are very common causes of insomnia. (Looking into sleep cycles is a great place to start, since often people go to bed an hour after they feel tired and have to wait until their body cycles back to fall asleep. Go to bed when you are tired, despite undone chores and you just may nod right off.) Sometimes all it takes to get back on track is catching up on sleep so that we are better able to manage stress; often, a stressful week at work can indicate the need for melatonin pills. I just don't think that they are a long-term solution.
On a side note, most hormone supplements are either synthetic or animal derived. Both options kind of weird me out, personally.
Anyway, that's just my take on the whole thing. I hope it helps someone. ~L
