Sleep Supplements for Anxiety and Racing Thoughts at Night: What Reddit Users Report
This ranking reflects what people who describe anxiety or racing thoughts at bedtime report in Reddit comments: 92 rated owner comments, ranked by a context rating that shrinks small samples toward the average. It is not a recommendation to try any of them. Sleep problems that last for months, or come with loud snoring, gasping or daytime sleepiness, need a doctor's assessment.
| # | Supplement | Context rating | Rated comments here | Positive | Negative | Overall score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L-theanine | 3.6 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 3.8 |
| 2 | Magnesium L-threonate (Magtein) | 3.4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 3 | Chamomile | 3.3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3.7 |
| 4 | Magnesium (form not stated) | 3.3 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 4.2 |
| 5 | Melatonin | 3.3 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 3.7 |
| 6 | Magnesium glycinate | 3.2 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 4.0 |
| 7 | Glycine | 2.9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3.9 |
Our guide to calming herbs for sleep includes NIH safety notes. For quick shortlists by sleep problem, see which sleep supplements Reddit rates highest. You can also compare all rated sleep aids on one page.
In their words
4/5 Calming“Taking L Theanine consistently every morning helped me stop caring.”
4/5 Morning grogginessDeeper sleep“Threonate helped with pre-sleep anxiety, i usually get very anxious when i lay down cause i know if i dont get a good nights sleep i'll feel like shit the next day.”
4/5 CalmingTaste & form“i found that chamomile tea helps calm me down so I drink it before sleep with my lights off and my little warm light lamp on while cozzying up on my bed and eventually when I feel like it I lay down and try to sleep, having this little…”
4/5“What helped me was targeting the source of my stress and ensuring I had a consistent pre-bedtime schedule (I take magnesium, always try to give myself at least 30 minutes with no screens or outside simulation to unwind before getting in bed).”
Mixed and negative reports
2/5 Side effects“I used magnesium threonate for two weeks and then started getting dull throbbing headache at night, where I used to just get an anxiety cortisol spike.”
2/5 Side effects“For example with a symptom cluster that includes constipation, stiff muscles, poor sleep, and some anxiety I'll suspect low magnesium, especially in a person eating a processed foods diet typically containing inadequate Mg.”
Before you try anything
- Start one supplement at a time so you can tell what made a difference.
- Check interactions with any medicine you take: safety and interactions guide.
- Background reading: Herbal Sleep Aids Compared.