Relaxium Sleep is a dietary supplement that markets itself aggressively as a clinician-developed sleep aid, but the evidence behind it is thin and, in some cases, problematic. The product contains a handful of ingredients with varying levels of scientific support, none in particularly impressive doses, and the one clinical study conducted on the formula drew a warning letter from the FDA. Whether it’s “good” depends on what you’re comparing it to, but here’s what you should know before spending your money.
What’s Actually in Relaxium Sleep
Each two-capsule serving of Relaxium Sleep contains four notable ingredients: 5 mg of melatonin, 100 mg of magnesium (from a blend of oxide, citrate, and bisglycinate forms), 125 mg of ashwagandha extract, and a proprietary valerian root blend called “Valerest” totaling 228.9 mg. The formula also includes passionflower, hops extract, chamomile, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Some of these ingredients do have research supporting their role in sleep. Melatonin is the most studied, and 5 mg is a moderate dose. Magnesium plays a role in nervous system relaxation, though 100 mg represents only about 24% of the daily recommended intake and isn’t a particularly high supplemental dose. Ashwagandha has evidence for reducing stress and cortisol levels, which can indirectly help with sleep. Valerian root has been used as a sleep aid for centuries, though modern research on it remains mixed.
The problem isn’t that the ingredients are useless. It’s that you can buy each of them separately for a fraction of the price, often at higher and more transparent doses. The proprietary “Valerest” blend obscures exactly how much valerian you’re getting per capsule, which makes it impossible to compare with doses used in clinical research (typically 300 to 600 mg of valerian extract).
The Clinical Study That Backfired
Relaxium Sleep’s marketing leans heavily on the claim that it’s “clinically studied.” There was, in fact, a clinical investigation conducted on the product, known as Protocol ABRI-002. It enrolled 40 participants with sleep disorders and measured outcomes like total sleep time, awake time, and subjective sleep quality using wrist-worn activity trackers and sleep diaries.
In April 2025, the FDA issued a warning letter to the American Behavioral Research Institute, the organization that sponsored the study. The agency found that the study was conducted without submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, a required step when testing a product for its ability to treat a medical condition like insomnia. Running a clinical trial without this authorization is a serious regulatory violation, not a minor paperwork issue. It means the study bypassed the safety and ethical review process the FDA uses to protect human research subjects.
The study’s results have been referenced in Relaxium’s marketing materials, but they haven’t been published in a major peer-reviewed sleep journal. A 40-person trial without proper regulatory oversight doesn’t carry much scientific weight, regardless of what the results showed.
The Creator’s Credentials
Relaxium Sleep is marketed as being developed by “Dr. Eric Ciliberti, M.D.” His name appears prominently in advertisements and on the product’s website, typically alongside language suggesting deep expertise in sleep medicine. Federal records from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services list his medical specialty as ophthalmology. He is an eye doctor, not a neurologist, psychiatrist, or board-certified sleep medicine physician. That doesn’t mean his formula can’t work, but the marketing creates an impression of sleep-specific medical authority that his credentials don’t support.
How It Compares to Simpler Options
A one-month supply of Relaxium Sleep typically costs between $40 and $50. For comparison, you could buy a bottle of melatonin (the same 5 mg dose), a magnesium supplement at a higher dose, and a standalone valerian or ashwagandha product for roughly half that price. You’d also know exactly how much of each ingredient you’re taking, since there would be no proprietary blends hiding the numbers.
If melatonin alone helps you fall asleep, there’s little reason to pay a premium for a multi-ingredient blend. Many sleep researchers suggest starting with a much lower melatonin dose (0.5 to 1 mg) and increasing only if needed. The 5 mg in Relaxium is higher than what many people require, and higher doses don’t necessarily produce better sleep. They can, however, cause grogginess, vivid dreams, or next-day drowsiness.
Potential Side Effects
Relaxium Sleep is generally well tolerated by most people, but its ingredients aren’t risk-free. Melatonin can cause headaches, dizziness, and daytime sleepiness. Valerian occasionally causes stomach upset or headaches. Ashwagandha can cause digestive discomfort and, in rare cases, has been linked to liver problems at high doses or with prolonged use.
The more important concern is drug interactions. Melatonin can interact with blood thinners, blood pressure medications, diabetes drugs, and immunosuppressants. Valerian and ashwagandha both have mild sedative properties that can amplify the effects of anti-anxiety medications, sleep prescriptions, or anything else that depresses the central nervous system. If you take any prescription medication, especially for mood, blood pressure, or blood sugar, check with a pharmacist before adding this or any sleep supplement to your routine.
The Bottom Line on Effectiveness
Some people who take Relaxium Sleep do report better sleep. That’s not surprising, because melatonin and magnesium genuinely help certain types of sleeplessness, particularly difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep due to irregular schedules, stress, or mild deficiency. The question isn’t whether the ingredients can do anything. It’s whether this specific product, at this price point, with these doses and this level of evidence, is a smart purchase.
The supplement has no properly conducted clinical trial behind it. Its creator’s medical background is in a completely unrelated field. Its proprietary blend prevents you from knowing exactly what you’re getting. And every active ingredient in the formula is available individually at lower cost with full label transparency. For most people, buying standalone melatonin (at a lower starting dose) and magnesium will deliver the same or better results at a fraction of the cost. If those don’t help, the issue is likely something a supplement can’t fix, and a sleep study or behavioral changes would be a better next step.