The Stack.
As conversations around sleep wellness continue to grow in India, more consumers are turning to sleep supplements in search of quick solutions. However, the increasing popularity of melatonin products has also raised important questions about awareness, dosage, and long-term sleep health. According to Shreya Jain, and Kshitij Rihal, Co-Founder of The Stack, there is a significant gap between how melatonin is regulated globally and how it is perceived and consumed in India today.
For Shreya Jain and Kshitij Rihal, building a sleep-focused wellness brand was deeply personal. Both had experienced sleep challenges themselves and understood how poor sleep affects mood, energy levels, physical performance, and overall wellbeing. While exploring different sleep solutions, they experimented with melatonin supplements but found the experience disappointing. Shreya recalls waking up feeling groggy, almost like having a hangover, while even her sleep-tracking data showed little improvement in sleep quality.
This experience prompted the founders to investigate melatonin more closely. They discovered that melatonin is not simply another dietary supplement but a hormone. In several countries including the UK, Australia, and Japan, melatonin is available only through a prescription. In contrast, India offers melatonin freely in multiple formats, often at doses significantly higher than what the human body naturally produces.
According to the founders, this difference in regulation highlighted an important gap in consumer awareness. Through the Anti Melatonin Sleep Club, The Stack is not campaigning against melatonin itself but encouraging consumers to question whether they fully understand what they are consuming and whether it is appropriate for their individual needs.
The founders believe the growing popularity of melatonin reflects people's search for convenient and immediate solutions to sleep problems. As awareness about sleep health increases, consumers are naturally looking for products that promise quick results. Melatonin gummies, in particular, are easy to consume, widely marketed, and often positioned as a simple bedtime habit.
However, Shreya Jain and Kshitij Rihal believe marketing has outpaced education. Many consumers are unaware of what melatonin actually is, how it functions in the body, or what constitutes an appropriate dosage. Without sufficient guidance, people often purchase whatever is readily available without understanding the long-term implications.
According to the founders, awareness about melatonin dosage remains limited in India.
Several countries that permit over-the-counter melatonin maintain strict dosage limits. Belgium and Germany limit products to 0.3 mg, while France allows up to 2 mg. India, however, currently has no prescribed dosage ceiling, and products commonly contain between 5 mg and 10 mg of melatonin.
The founders point out that these doses can be many times higher than the amount naturally produced by the body at its peak. They also note that consumers may not realise that similar products would require a doctor's prescription in countries such as the UK and Japan. For The Stack, informed decision-making begins with helping consumers understand these differences before making sleep supplements a regular part of their routine.
Rather than relying immediately on supplements, Shreya Jain and Kshitij Rihal encourage people to first strengthen their sleep habits. Simple practices such as maintaining a consistent bedtime, getting adequate sunlight during the day, reducing screen exposure before sleeping, and creating a cool, dark sleeping environment can significantly improve sleep quality when followed consistently.
The founders believe supplements should complement healthy habits rather than replace them. Lifestyle choices remain the foundation of good sleep, while nutritional support can play a secondary role. This philosophy is reflected in The Stack's own sleep formulation, which includes ingredients such as magnesium and glycine. The founders describe it as nutritional support designed to improve sleep architecture and sleep quality rather than acting as a shortcut to better sleep.
As India's wellness industry continues to expand, Shreya Jain and Kshitij Rihal believe brands have an important responsibility to prioritise science over marketing claims.
According to the founders, wellness companies should exercise discipline by choosing ingredients supported by strong scientific evidence rather than focusing solely on products that promise immediate effects. They believe brands influence what consumers choose to put into their bodies every day, making transparency and responsible communication essential. For The Stack, success is measured not only by product sales but by encouraging people to ask more informed questions about their sleep health and the supplements they use.
With the Anti Melatonin Sleep Club, The Stack hopes to shift the conversation from quick fixes to long-term, science-backed sleep wellness, empowering consumers to make better-informed decisions for healthier sleep and overall wellbeing.
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