Goal-Based Guide

Best Supplements for Sleep

Sleep has a perfect 5.0/5 consensus score — every researcher we track treats it as the single most important health lever. Here are the supplements with the strongest expert consensus for improving sleep quality, onset, and duration.

This content is based on expert analysis of publicly available videos, not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement.

Top Supplements for Sleep

1

Magnesium

4.1 /5

4 of 5 experts actively recommend magnesium supplementation. Patrick and Hyman are the strongest advocates, each discussing it across multiple videos. Attia recommends 300-500mg daily for bone health and personally supplements with three forms. Johnson's Blueprint stack does not explicitly include magnesium.

Strong
2

Glycine

4.0 /5

All 5 experts recognize glycine's value, though with varying emphasis. Attia personally supplements with glycine nightly for sleep. Johnson includes glycine in his Blueprint longevity stack as a daily staple. Huberman lists glycine as an optional sleep supplement alongside GABA and myo-inositol. Patrick highlights glycine through collagen peptides for connective tissue repair and wound healing. Hyman recommends glycine for sleep quality and nervous system relaxation.

Strong
3

Ashwagandha

3.8 /5

4 of 5 experts actively use or recommend ashwagandha. Huberman is the strongest advocate with specific dosing protocols and cycling recommendations. Attia takes it personally as part of his nighttime routine. Johnson includes it in his Blueprint stack. Hyman recommends it for adrenal support and stress resilience. Patrick has no direct coverage.

Strong
4

Melatonin

2.8 /5

Melatonin is the most divisive supplement across our expert panel. Huberman explicitly cautions against supplemental melatonin for most adults, preferring behavioral tools and his magnesium-apigenin-theanine stack. Attia acknowledges melatonin's role in sleep regulation but treats it as a last resort after optimizing sleep hygiene. Patrick focuses on endogenous melatonin's metabolic and circadian functions rather than recommending supplements. Johnson takes melatonin nightly as part of his Blueprint protocol based on his team's evidence review. Hyman is the most favorable, recommending melatonin for circadian rhythm reset, sleep support, and even anti-inflammatory purposes.

Moderate

The Expert Sleep Stack

Based on Huberman's well-known sleep cocktail and corroborated by other experts:

  • Magnesium threonate or glycinate — 145-400mg, 30-60 minutes before bed
  • L-Theanine — 100-400mg, 30-60 minutes before bed
  • Apigenin — 50mg, 30-60 minutes before bed (Huberman's specific recommendation)
  • Optional: Glycine 1-3g for middle-of-night awakenings (Attia takes it nightly)

Common Mistakes

Taking melatonin as a first-line sleep supplement. Huberman explicitly cautions against it for most adults — it's a hormone with endocrine effects and commercial doses are 10-30x natural production.

Using magnesium oxide, which has poor absorption and causes GI distress. Use glycinate, threonate, or malate instead.

Relying on supplements while ignoring sleep hygiene fundamentals — dark room, cool temperature, consistent schedule, morning sunlight.

Counting magnesium threonate toward your daily magnesium requirement. Patrick warns it has too little elemental magnesium — use it for brain effects only.

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