Modified on: 27/05/2024
Can taking this substance with an electronic cigarette help you sleep better? Let’s find out together
Have you noticed lately that you have great difficulty in getting to sleep? Or perhaps you wake up often during the night and can no longer rest satisfactorily? No wonder your melatonin levels are out of sync, and you need to supplement your supply of this essential hormone. If you are a vaper, you have probably heard of the possibility of vaping melatonin.
In the following few lines, we will tell you about the effects of melatonin and find out whether vaping can be a safe and effective solution.
What are the effects of melatonin?
Melatonin has become one of the main remedies for those who have insomnia or other sleep-related disorders such as early awakening. Given that this substance has entered the world of e-cigarette users for some time before we understand whether vaping can be a safe and effective practice let us try to understand what it is and what effects it has on the body (including side effects).
Let’s start with a premise: melatonin is a hormone that the human body produces spontaneously to regulate the sleep-wake cycle; its levels in the body are almost zero during the day but rise with the sun setting to prepare us for rest. This natural balance, unfortunately, is often upset by factors such as stress and anxiety or irregular working hours. The result is that many people find it difficult to fall asleep, hence the need for external help.
Taking melatonin, in this sense, is one of the most popular remedies. Available in drops and tablets, this substance can be taken when levels of spontaneous production fall or become unbalanced. With this bit of aid, restoring the natural circadian rhythm and getting a good night’s rest is possible. Beware, however: in some cases, melatonin can cause unwanted effects such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and daytime drowsiness. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor before taking ‘do-it-yourself’ initiatives.
Read also: 80/20 electronic cigarette liquids: what they are and when you should choose them
Vaping melatonin for sleep: at present, it is best to be cautious
The dosage of melatonin you take has a direct influence on the effects it has on the body. Given this, you might think that vaping e-cigarette liquids containing melatonin is not too different from taking this hormone orally.
However, with vaping, the effects of this substance are much more rapid than with taking a tablet. As in the former case, it is absorbed by the pulmonary alveoli and diffused into the bloodstream. In the latter case, it is metabolised by the liver.
Since not enough studies have yet been conducted on vaping melatonin, many doctors question its efficacy because it is a larger chemical compound than liquid nicotine and other commonly used vaping liquids. Others, however, argue that it is difficult to get the dosage right, so vapers excessive amounts of melatonin.
To avoid problems, therefore, it would be best to avoid this practice and await further studies on the subject.
Electronic cigarettes and nicotine-free liquids: the first step to better sleep
Melatonin can help people sleep, but, at least for now, it is preferable to give up taking it through vaping and opt for classic methods (preferably under the supervision of a doctor).
However, if you vape habitually and have trouble getting to sleep, you should know that nicotine is undoubtedly not an ally of rest. On the contrary, this substance is a rather powerful stimulant, and it is no coincidence that many smokers of analogue cigarettes report problems such as insomnia and sleep disorders.
As you are well aware, vaping does not necessarily imply taking nicotine. If you started using an e-cig to kick the smoking habit, you are likely using an e-liquid base, tobacco liquids, tobacco flavourings and liquid nicotine. However, this substance can be gradually reduced until it is eliminated. In this way, in addition to trying to rid yourself of nicotine addiction and put the smoking habit in the drawer of unpleasant memories, you may also improve the quality of your rest.
Less nicotine means less agitation and, therefore, better sleep. This, combined with taking the correct melatonin dosage, could help you remedy one of the most common complaints among smokers.
Read also: Mechanical mods: what they are, how to use them and why they are not the right choice for beginners.
Bottom line
Although there is currently insufficient evidence on the efficacy of melatonin vaping, it is not certain that further studies will not reveal encouraging data in favour of this modality. If this were to happen, vapers would have the opportunity to combine business with pleasure during their last daily vape before bedtime.
In the meantime, however, vaping melatonin cannot be counted among the sleep-enhancing solutions. We at Terpy will keep you informed of all news on this topic in our blog.