The Best CBD Melatonin Capsules for Sleep: Reviews & Guide (2024)

By | Updated on January 9, 2024

Evidence Based 15

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Many people take melatonin-infused CBD products to relieve insomnia and improve their overall sleep quality.

But with such a wide variety of available products, it’s not always easy to make a choice. Many products contain less CBD than advertised, while others are simply too weak to produce the desired effect.

To make your search easier, we compared dozens of products based on third-party lab test results, hemp quality, potency, formula, customer reviews, price, and other criteria. Here are the best products we found.

4 Best CBD Melatonin Capsules

We separated out top picks into helpful categories to help you find the best CBD melatonin capsules for your specific needs.

  1. Best Overall: Lazarus Naturals sleep + melatonin capsules | Full review
  2. Best Formula: Medterra Good Night capsules | Full review
  3. Best THC-Free: cbdMD PM softgels | Full review
  4. Best With Terpenes: Purekana Sleep Aid CBD softgels | Full review

CBD Glossary

  • Hemp: cannabis variety with high CBD and low THC levels (no more than 0.3%).
  • Terpenes: aromatic plant compounds with various beneficial properties (1).
  • Minor cannabinoids: CBN, CBG, CBC, and other beneficial cannabinoids found in smaller amounts in hemp. They may work in synergy with CBD.
  • Full-spectrum: whole-plant hemp extract containing multiple cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. This form of CBD is about four times more potent than pure CBD (2).
  • Broad-spectrum: whole-plant hemp extract similar to full-spectrum CBD, but with THC removed (may contain trace amounts).
  • CBD isolate: pure CBD without any other hemp compounds.

Lazarus Naturals Sleep+Melatonin Capsules (Best Overall)

lazarus naturals sleep + melatonin capsules

5/5

Potency50 mg
Melatonin Dose5 mg
Capsule Count10-40
Total cannabinoids500-2000 mg
Cost per mg $0.03-0.04
TypeFull-spectrum
Third-Party TestsView report

Pros: 

  • Exceptionally low price
  • Full-spectrum CBD
  • Multi-ingredient sleep formula
  • USDA organic hemp

Cons:

  • Melatonin dose is a bit high

Out of all the melatonin CBD capsules we reviewed, Lazarus Naturals’ sleep+melatonin capsules are the clear winner.

Their specialized sleep formula contains melatonin, 30 mg full-spectrum CBD, 10 mg CBG, and 10 mg of the “sleep cannabinoid” cannabinol (CBN). There’s also the popular sleep herbs passionflower and lemon balm.

More importantly, these capsules cost only 2.5 to 4 cents per mg of cannabinoids, which is cheap. The employee-owned Lazarus Naturals combines unbeatable prices with high quality, making it a popular choice for CBD.

My experience: I took two capsules about an hour before bed. By the time I was under the sheets, I was feeling more relaxed than normal and fell asleep easier.

Medterra Good Night Capsules (Best Formula)

5/5

CBD Potency25 mg
Melatonin Dose1.5 mg
Capsule Count60
Total CBD1500 mg
Cost per mg $0.04
TypeIsolate
Third-Party TestsView report

Pros: 

  • Impressive multi-ingredient sleep formula
  • Certified by the US Hemp Authority
  • Reasonable melatonin dose

Cons:

  • Not full-spectrum CBD

The Good Night capsules from Medterra have the most impressive formula for sleep (with melatonin). Aside from CBD, they contain several popular, evidence-based sleep aids, including ashwagandha, zinc, magnesium, and cannabinol (CBN).

Founded in California in 2017, Medterra is a reputable CBD brand whose products are sold online and in dozens of stores across the country. It’s certified by the US Hemp Authority and holds over 20,000 positive customer reviews.

CbdMD CBD PM Softgel Capsules (Best THC-Free)

5/5

CBD/CBN Potency50 mg
Melatonin Dose3 mg
Capsule Count30
Total CBD/CBN1500 mg
Cost per mg $0.03
TypeBroad-spectrum
Third-Party TestsView report

Pros: 

  • Low price
  • Multi-ingredient sleep formula
  • Award-winning product

Cons:

  • Low minor cannabinoid levels
  • Not vegan (contain gelatin)

If you’re looking for a THC-free option, cbdMD’s PM softgels are a great choice. Each capsule contains 40 mg of broad-spectrum CBD, 10 mg of the sleep cannabinoid CBN, 3 mg of melatonin, and a blend of sleep-supporting herbs, including chamomile, valerian root, hops, lemon balm, and passionflower.

CbdMD’s PM capsules and oil won the 2020 consumer-voted “Product of the Year” award for the best CBD sleep aid.

CbdMD is a popular brand known for its THC-free* formulations. All of its products are comprehensively tested by a third-party lab and sourced from organic Colorado and Kentucky hemp.

*THC-free is defined as below the level of detection using valid scientific analytical tools.

Purekana Sleep Aid CBD Softgels (Best With Terpenes)

5/5

CBD Potency25 mg
Melatonin Dose2 mg
Capsule Count30
Total CBD750 mg
Cost per mg $0.11
TypeFull-spectrum
Third-Party TestsView report

Pros: 

  • Full-spectrum CBD
  • Rich in terpenes
  • Reasonable melatonin dose

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Not vegan (contain gelatin)

A recent high-quality pilot study found that a combination of CBD and eight terpenes increased restorative sleep in six people with insomnia (3).

Purekana’s sleep aid CBD softgels stand out for being rich in terpenes. The third-party tests for these capsules show large amounts of the calming terpenes myrcene, linalool, and terpinolene, which are ideal for a sleep formula.

Arizona’s Purekana is a popular brand whose products are made from hemp cultivated in Kentucky and Colorado.

How We Choose CBD Melatonin Capsules

All of the products we recommend are chosen based on several criteria, including:

  • Third-party testing: these tests prove that CBD products contain correct levels of CBD and are free of contaminants.
  • Formula: we looked for capsules that contain CBD and melatonin and other ingredients that can aid sleep.
  • Hemp source: high-quality CBD products are made from organic hemp plants grown in the United States or Europe.
  • Reputation: reputable companies have many positive reviews and a strong reputation in the CBD industry.
  • Potency: we don’t recommend products that contain too little CBD to give you an effect.

How to Use

CBD melatonin capsules should be taken about 30-60 minutes before bed to give them time to start working. Generally speaking, CBD capsules will start to work within 30 minutes on an empty stomach, but up to an hour or longer if you ate recently (4).

Did you know? We highly recommend taking capsules/softgels after or alongside fat-containing foods such as milk, peanut butter, eggs, or avocado. Research has shown that fats enhance the oral absorption of CBD by as much as 4 times (5).

Dosage

CBD affects everyone differently, so there’s no one universal dose that will work for everyone. It depends on your body weight, the severity of your sleeping problems, the kind of product you’re using, and other factors.

If you’re new to CBD, we recommend the expert-backed “start low and go slow” approach (6). Start with 5-15 mg or the amount recommended by your product and pay attention to the effects over the next two hours. If you don’t notice anything, you can try gradually increasing the dosage over time until you start to feel the desired effects.

Melatonin Dosage

Another important consideration is the amount of melatonin in each capsule. Research on the ideal melatonin dosage is inconclusive. Generally speaking, doses ranging from 1 mg to 10 mg appear to be safe & effective for adults (7). That’s fairly close to the melatonin dosages used in CBD capsules.

However, some studies suggest that older adults should opt for the lowest possible melatonin dosage (8). As such, starting with smaller amounts is always good to see how you react before moving up to larger doses.

Safety & Side Effects

CBD has been extensively researched, showing that it’s a safe compound (9). Even the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded in its 2018 report that CBD is “generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.” (10)

While CBD can cause side effects, they’re usually mild and include: (11)

  • Feeling tired or drowsy
  • Dry mouth
  • Diarrhea
  • Low blood pressure
  • Lightheadedness

CBD can also potentially increase or decrease the effects of some prescription drugs. However, most of CBD’s side effects were reported by studies using large oral doses of CBD isolate. This means regular CBD users are unlikely to experience them.

Still, we recommend checking with your doctor before taking CBD.

Melatonin Safety

Melatonin is also considered a generally safe supplement. Its most common side effects are similar to CBD: headaches, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness (7). Other rare side effects include mild anxiety, short-lasting feelings of depression, and confusion.

A recent meta-analysis of high-dose (above 10 mg) melatonin also reported that it “appears to have a good safety profile” and did not seem to increase the risk of serious side effects (12).

Melatonin can also interact with some medications. Again, it’s best to consult your doctor before taking a melatonin and CBD product, particularly if you’re taking prescription medications.

CBD & Melatonin FAQs

Sources

  1. Russo, Ethan B. “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid‐terpenoid entourage effects.” British journal of pharmacology 163.7 (2011): 1344-1364.
  2. Pamplona, Fabricio A., Lorenzo Rolim da Silva, and Ana Carolina Coan. “Potential clinical benefits of CBD-rich cannabis extracts over purified CBD in treatment-resistant epilepsy: observational data meta-analysis.” Frontiers in neurology 9 (2018): 759.
  3. Wang, Michael, et al. “A Cannabidiol/Terpene Formulation That Increases Restorative Sleep in Insomniacs: A Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized, Crossover Pilot Study.” medRxiv (2023): 2023-06.
  4. Borodovsky, Jacob T., et al. “Smoking, vaping, eating: Is legalization impacting the way people use cannabis?.” International Journal of Drug Policy 36 (2016): 141-147.
  5. Birnbaum, Angela K., et al. “Food effect on pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol oral capsules in adult patients with refractory epilepsy.” Epilepsia 60.8 (2019): 1586-1592.
  6. Lucas, Catherine J., Peter Galettis, and Jennifer Schneider. “The pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids.” British journal of clinical pharmacology 84.11 (2018): 2477-2482.
  7. Savage, R. A., et al. “Melatonin. 2022 Aug 8.” StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing (2022).
  8. Vural, Esmée MS, Barbara C. Van Munster, and Sophia E. De Rooij. “Optimal dosages for melatonin supplementation therapy in older adults: a systematic review of current literature.” Drugs & aging 31 (2014): 441-451.
  9. Bergamaschi, M. M., R. H. Queiroz, and A. W. Zuardi. “en Crippa, JA (2011). Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa Constituent.” Current Drug Safety 6.4: 237-249.
  10. WHO. Cannabidiol (CBD) Critical Review Report. June 7, 2018.
  11. Huestis, Marilyn A., et al. “Cannabidiol adverse effects and toxicity.” Current neuropharmacology 17.10 (2019): 974-989.
  12. Menczel Schrire, Zoe, et al. “Safety of higher doses of melatonin in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis.” Journal of pineal research 72.2 (2022): e12782.
  13. Auld, Fiona, et al. “Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders.” Sleep Medicine Reviews 34 (2017): 10-22.
  14. Costello, Rebecca B., et al. “The effectiveness of melatonin for promoting healthy sleep: a rapid evidence assessment of the literature.” Nutrition journal 13.1 (2014): 1-17.
  15. Saleska, Jessica Londeree, et al. “The Safety and Comparative Effectiveness of Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid Formulations for the Improvement of Sleep: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.” Journal of the American Nutrition Association (2023): 1-11.

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