Deeps Sleep Patches

If you spend most of the day fighting the urge to take a nap, you may be part of the one-third of Americans who are getting less sleep than recommended.

Enter Deeps sleep patches, which the company says are “scientist-formulated” to help you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up without feeling groggy.

The brand features testimonials like the following on its website.

But how do these patches actually work?

The company’s website states that its formula (which was purportedly created after a year and a half of work with scientists and doctors) includes, among other ingredients, melatonin and valerian for sleep, and ashwagandha and L-theanine for stress.

And while this combination importantly contains a popular and effective sleep aid in melatonin, the company claims its product is unique due to the delivery system.

According to Deeps’ blog, the patch requires three to four times less melatonin than oral options because the hormone is put directly into the bloodstream as opposed to having to go through the stomach lining. Additionally, the company claims that the patch slowly releases the ingredients throughout the night, allowing users to stay asleep and wake up the next day without feeling groggy.

But is this theory behind the patches actually backed by science?

Unfortunately, Deeps does little to provide the answer itself, as the company’s webpage dedicated to “science” doesn’t provide or even cite any studies.

Deeps sleep patches also contain other ingredients besides melatonin. Without a robust study examining the efficacy of the company’s patches, how will Deeps — or anyone else — know if/how those ingredients interact with melatonin?

Deeps did not respond to our request for comment.

But TINA.org did a little digging and found that while some small studies examining daytime sleep have pointed to the potential benefits of using a sleep patch for certain individuals, other sources have noted that more research is needed to determine if it is truly different from other forms of melatonin supplements.

The bottom line

While it’s possible sleep patches may provide some additional benefits, the research is new and far from conclusive. Remember, just because something is purportedly formulated by scientists and “clinically studied,” doesn’t mean it’s been clinically proven to work as advertised.

Find more of our coverage on sleep products here.