5 Best Over-the-Counter Sleep Aid for Better Sleep
Published: Apr 27, 2025
Updated: Apr 27, 2025
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It’s normal for us to feel restless and find it hard to fall asleep once in a while. While the occasional one or two sleepless nights are acceptable, what happens if you are always unable to get a good night’s rest? Some individuals may turn to sleep supplements as a way to deal with this issue. Discover the best over-the-counter sleep aid and how it works.
Our Top Picks
Best for Adults with Anxiety: Hyland’s Calm Forte Sleep Aid Tablets
Best for the Elderly: Life Extension Melatonin 300 mcg
Best for Insomnia: ZzzQuil Nighttime Sleep Aid
Best for Menopause: Estroven Sleep Cool + Calm
Best for High Blood Pressure: Nature Made Wellblends Back To Sleep
Purpose of Sleep Aids
Sleep aids or sleep medications are taken by individuals who struggle with occasional sleepless nights or have recurring trouble falling asleep. This may include those with chronic insomnia or other sleep disorders.
When you don’t get enough sleep, it not only affects your energy levels but it predisposes you to several health problems, such as mood problems, poorer concentration times, and an increased risk for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and dementia [1].
What Are The Different Types of OTC Sleep Aids?
Stepping into a pharmacy means being greeted by the many shelves lined with over-the-counter sleep aids. With so many options available, it’s understandable that you would feel easily overwhelmed and not know what to pick.
A few common ingredients are typically found in these sleep aids, which we will take a closer look at below.
Diphenhydramine
Diphenhydramine is a type of medicine that is used to relieve itchiness, sneezing, or a runny nose caused by allergies. Besides that, it can also be used to treat symptoms of insomnia. It comes in forms such as tablets, capsules, liquid-filled capsules, dissolving strips, powder, or as a liquid [2].
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that our body produces naturally, but it can come in the form of a supplement as a short-term treatment for insomnia or trouble falling asleep. Melatonin is seen as a natural sleep aid to help regulate the sleep-wake cycle and improve sleep quality [3].
Doxylamine
Doxylamine is an antihistamine that is used to treat nausea, vomiting, allergic rhinitis, and insomnia. It can be taken as a tablet or in combination with other medications in the form of a liquid or liquid-filled capsules [4].
Ranking of Best Over-The-Counter Sleep Aids
1. Best for Adults with Anxiety: Hyland’s Calm Forte Sleep Aid Tablets
If you’re always feeling stressed, nervous or anxious before going to sleep at night, then you might just want to try Hyland’s Calm Forte Sleep Aid Tablets. This gentle, non-habit-forming sleep medicine is a homeopathic formula made with all-natural ingredients to promote relaxation and relieve restless sleep. The passionflower inside helps to treat anxiety and calm restlessness, making it especially ideal for adults who struggle with anxiety.
User Ratings: 4.3/5 Stars
Ingredients: Magnesia Phosphorica, Humulus Lupulus (Hops), Chamomilla (Chamomile)
Price: $15.99-$17.99
| Pros | Cons |
| Natural ingredients | Takes longer to work for some |
| Relieves stress and anxiety | |
| Non-habit forming |
2. Best for the Elderly: Life Extension Melatonin 300 mcg
As we grow older, our bodies will produce fewer amounts of melatonin. A lower amount of melatonin will cause us to feel less sleepy, affecting our natural sleep-wake cycle. Life Extension’s Melatonin 300 mcg supplement is a low-dosage formula that helps to gently encourage good quality sleep without being too much on your system. This is a great option for seniors who may be more sensitive to certain medications.
User Ratings: 4.5/5 Stars
Ingredients: Melatonin 300 mcg
Price: $7.50
| Pros | Cons |
| Low dosage | It may not be strong enough for some users |
| Supports natural circadian rhythms | |
| Easy to swallow |
3. Best for Insomnia: ZzzQuil Nighttime Sleep Aid
For those who are dealing with short-term insomnia, ZzzQuil Nighttime Sleep Aid could be a good sleep aid option for you. This nighttime sleep aid is formulated using diphenhydramine HCI as the main active ingredient. Diphenhydramine causes drowsiness, allowing you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer. It can be used for occasional sleeplessness and whenever you need a helping hand to help you get to sleep.
User Ratings: 4.5/5 Stars
Ingredients: Diphenhydramine HCI 25 Mg
Price: $12.39-$34.42
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast-acting formula | Not recommended for long-term use |
| Non-habit forming | Sleep aid wears off fast |
| No melatonin |
4. Best for Menopause: Estroven Sleep Cool + Calm
Estroven Sleep Cool + Calm is a sleep supplement that is designed to help women with menopause get better quality sleep. It targets both hormonal imbalances and sleep disruptions with the combination of ingredients like melatonin and black cohosh. They help to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats for a more peaceful night’s rest.
User Ratings: 4.4/5 Stars
Ingredients: Melatonin, Soy Isoflavones, Black Cohosh
Price: $13.99-$24.99
| Pros | Cons |
| Relieves menopause symptoms | Takes a few nights to work |
| Natural and drug-free formulation | May cause headaches |
| Helps relieve night sweats and regulate circadian rhythms |
5. Best for High Blood Pressure: Nature Made Wellblends Back To Sleep
Do you often find yourself waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall asleep? This Nature Made’s Back to Sleep blend could help, especially for those with high blood pressure. With natural ingredients, it is made to be a non-habit forming sleep aid and one that does not interfere with blood pressure medication. It is a safe option for those who have hypertension and are concerned about the potential drug interactions.
User Ratings: 4.4/5 Stars
Ingredients: Melatonin 1 mg, L-theanine 100 mg, GABA 100 mg
Price: $19.99
| Pros | Cons |
| Safe for those with high blood pressure | Not value for money |
| Supports natural sleep cycle | Contains small traces of added sugar |
| Fast dissolving |
Safety and Side Effects
Over-the-counter sleep aids are generally made to be safe for individuals to take in the short term, but still, there are certain side effects that you should be wary of. Sleep medications and sleep aids that can be bought over-the-counter may have side effects such as daytime drowsiness, dry mouth, or blurred vision.
If you decide to take them, ensure that you are not operating any machinery or doing any activity that requires you to stay alert. It’s also important for you to follow the recommended dosage and always consult a healthcare provider before taking any sleep aids if you have other health conditions or are on other medications.
In general, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and many doctors do not recommend the use of sleep medications or sleeping pills to help treat poor sleep quality. Instead, the recommended treatment for trouble sleeping is to adopt healthy sleep habits or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) for adults with chronic insomnia [5], [6].
Conclusion
Sleep aids such as over-the-counter sleep medications can potentially help individuals with insomnia and other sleep disorders to relieve sleep problems. However, before taking any sleep medications, you are strongly advised to consult a healthcare provider to determine if you’re suited for it.
Besides using OTC sleep medications, you can also take steps to improve your sleep with the ShutEye® app. ShutEye® is a sleep tracking app that also offers natural sleep remedies ranging from soothing sleep sounds to personalized sleep tips to help you sleep better. Try it now!
FAQ
About authors
Amirah is a content writer passionate about topics related to mental health and wellness. Recently, she delved into the realm of sleep health, spurred by a personal recognition of her subpar sleep habits and a desire for improvement. Amirah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Communication Studies from the University of Nottingham.
References
American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2021) Missing the mark with melatonin: Finding the best treatment for insomnia [online]. Available at: https://aasm.org/missing-the-mark-melatonin-finding-best-treatment-insomnia
Clever, S. L. (n.d.) Sleep Aids [online]. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sleep-aids
Health Hub (2025) Melatonin (Circadin® brand) [online]. Available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medications/melatonin
Lamberg, L. (2017) AASM Releases Guideline on Pharmacologic Treatment for Insomnia. Psychopharmacology, 3(3) [online]. Available at: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.pp4a1
Medline Plus (2018) Doxylamine [online]. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682537.html
Medline Plus (2o22) Diphenhydramine [online]. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682539.html
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