A Smoother Feeling Sleep? Reviewing Timed Release Melatonin By Life Extension

Melatonin is one of the world’s most famous sleep-boosting compounds, and for good reason: In my experience at least, it helps me fall asleep faster and stay that way. Many of my favorite sleep supplements are stacks that contain melatonin (like Dream Water and Iron Dream) while others (like Onnit’s New Mood) stack very well with it. However, I have yet to find a standalone melatonin supplement (melatonin as the only active ingredient) that I really like (though a gummies version isn’t a bad option). Some leave me groggy in the morning, while others seem to not really work at all.

When I heard about Life Extension’s time-release melatonin formula, I was intrigued; maybe a slower-releasing formula would help smooth out my experience. Read below to find out!

Stated Use

Take one tablet 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime, or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner. Melatonin is secreted from the pineal gland at night, and should be taken at night for optimal results.

Active Ingredients

  • Timed Release Melatonin by Life Extension LabelMelatonin (3mg) — This is one of my favorite sleep enhancers. It helps me fall asleep faster and experience more restful sleep. I really like melatonin because its effects don’t diminish with repeated use (and studies back up my experience).

    I’ve reviewed a few melatonin-only supplements before, with mixed results. However, many of my favorite sleep supplements are stacks that contain melatonin.

Additional Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, hydoxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl-cellulose, aqueous film coating (purified water, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, glycerin), stearic acid, vegetable stearate, croscarmellose sodium, silica.

My Experience

I took Life Extension’s melatonin within an hour before bed each night, though the exact timing in that hour didn’t seem to matter too much. Every night I took it, I fell asleep quicker than normal and experienced deep (but not crazy) deep sleep. Instead of my past experiences with some melatonin product, this sleep felt even, not too deep in some places and too light in others. I awoke feeling refreshed and ready for the day, though I might still anticipate a bit of grogginess if taking this supplement with under seven hours of sleep ahead of you.

I’ve taken melatonin supplements with more of the active ingredient and less, and the experiences have been all over the place (at least with standalone melatonin supps). But something about the timed release formula of this 3 mg pill really did the trick for me.

Pros:

  • Easy to take and time.
  • Straightforward supplement with a timed-release mechanism.
  • Reduced time to fall asleep.
  • Improved overall sleep quality.

Cons:

  • Might still contribute to some grogginess depending on individual tolerance to melatonin.
  • Not as powerful as some melatonin-containing stacks with synergistic ingredients.

The Final Word

Six Hour Timed Release Melatonin by Life Extension is (so far) the best standalone melatonin supplement I’ve tried. The gradual release pill smoothed out my sleep while still giving me the benefit of reduced time to fall asleep. The company also produces a 10mg formula I’d like to try out in the near future.

This will likely be my go-to melatonin supplement to stack with other sleep supplements in the future (which I always caution should be done carefully, as you never know how your body will react exactly; it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regime).

Caitlyn

Having written hundreds of articles on SupplementYourSleep.com, Caitlyn knows what she's talking about when it comes to getting the best night's sleep. When not sleeping, reading about sleep, or writing about sleep, you can usually find her at the gym. Want to get in touch? The best way is to leave a comment on one of her articles.