What is Circadin?
Circadin is a daily treatment for primary insomnia for people 55 years or older. The active ingredient in Circadin is melatonin. It’s also prescribed to help people cope with jet lag.
Insomnia is a condition that affects the way people sleep. People with insomnia have a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting good quality sleep. Short term insomnia can last up to three months, and long term insomnia carries on for more than three months.
How does Circadin work?
Circadin uses synthetic melatonin to treat primary insomnia and jet lag. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in your body to influence healthy sleep patterns. It’s usually produced in your body at night to help you settle down enough to fall asleep.
Primary insomnia is caused by things like stress, your sleep environment (such as light, sound and temperature), your genes and ageing. On the other hand, secondary insomnia is caused by things like medical conditions, mental health issues (such as depression and anxiety), or any medications or drugs you might be taking. Jet lag happens when you travel across several time zones and your sleep schedule doesn’t sync up with your new time zone.
What doses of Circadin are there?
There is only one dose available for Circadin. Each extended-release tablet contains 2 mg of melatonin. If it’s not providing enough relief for your insomnia, our clinician may prescribe another treatment.