A good night's sleep is something we all need, but it can be hard to switch off from all the stresses of our lives.
There are plenty of things you can do to improve our sleep, including cutting down on caffeine, not looking at screens an hour before you want to go to sleep and meditation.
There are also supplements and medicines you can take to help you get to sleep, but one pharmacist has warned these should only be used as a last resort, as they can cause nightmares and weight gain – reports Mirror Online.
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Ian Budd, clinical lead and prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4U, explained that one of the most popular sleep aids involves a synthetic version of the sleep hormone melatonin, which your body produces naturally at night to control how and when you sleep.
However, the synthetic versions of melatonin – which should only be taken for short periods if you're struggling with sleep problems – can be dangerous as they can cause "unpleasant side effects" including nightmares, night sweats, and weight gain.
Ian, therefore, recommends consulting your doctor before taking melatonin as a sleep aid.
He said: "Melatonin can be found in a medicine called Circadin. If you've been struggling with your sleep cycle for a while, it's likely you know that melatonin is a natural chemical in the body that helps you to fall asleep.
"But, make sure you know what you're getting into before you pick up your prescription, as Circadin can have some pretty unpleasant side effects such as abnormal nightmares, night sweats and weight gain.
"Sleep aids should only be used as a last resort, after first trying to make some lifestyle changes, such as improving your bedtime routine, cutting down caffeine intake and managing stress. We would recommend consulting with your doctor before using melatonin as a sleep aid to avoid any unwanted side effects."
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