Questions, answered

There's no melatonin or antihistamine in it, so there's no melatonin hangover to shake off. Ashwagandha and L‑theanine can add to drowsiness in some people. If you ever feel foggy on it, write to us; we actually want to know.

2 capsules, about 1 hour before bed, nightly. No food needed — take them on an empty or full stomach.

Honest answer: not the first night like a sleeping pill. Go by the trials behind the actives, not by us: L‑theanine 200 mg was measured at four weeks (PMID 31623400), affron 28 mg a day at 28 days (PMID 34438361), and KSM‑66 600 mg a day over 60 days — that trial measured stress, not sleep, in adults under chronic stress (PMID 23439798). Judge it over weeks, not nights. Individual results vary — that's why the guarantee on your first paid order runs 90 nights from delivery.

It probably didn’t stop. Across 19 trials (PMID 23691095), melatonin’s effect — about seven minutes faster to fall asleep, about eight minutes more sleep — stays in the range of minutes with continued use; longer, higher-dose trials showed somewhat larger effects. What wears off is the honeymoon: the first good nights on anything new are partly expectation. Small Hours rests on different evidence: its ingredients were studied over weeks of daily use, not single nights — affron for 28 days (PMID 34438361), L‑theanine for four weeks (PMID 31623400). So night one isn’t the test; judge it over weeks of nightly use.

No melatonin in it. KSM‑66 Ashwagandha, L‑Theanine, and affron saffron — three actives, each listed in milligrams in the Supplement Facts, each at the dose used in its own published trial. Small Hours supports restful sleep.†

You can. The trials didn't: each active was given daily without a break — L‑theanine for four weeks (PMID 31623400), affron for 28 days (PMID 34438361), KSM‑66 for 60 days (PMID 23439798). None of these three tested cycling, and none ran longer than 60 days. If you subscribe and want a break, cancel at least 24 hours before your next billing date and subscribe again when you're ready — no fees, no hoops.

Medication: not a formality — ashwagandha can interact. Same text as the label: Do not use if pregnant or nursing, under 18, if you have liver disease, or if you take immunosuppressants. Ask a doctor before use if you take any medication, especially sedatives, antidepressants, thyroid, blood‑pressure, diabetes or blood‑thinning drugs, or if you have a thyroid, autoimmune, kidney or other medical condition, or have surgery scheduled. Stop use and see a doctor if you develop yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, abdominal pain, unusual tiredness or itching, or any other adverse reaction. Keep out of reach of children. Full safety information →

Other supplements: usually yes. There's no magnesium in Small Hours, so your own can stay. Already on ashwagandha or theanine separately? Swap rather than stack; that's kind of the point of one bottle.

Alcohol: it'll work against you. A drink or two won't hurt the capsules, but alcohol wrecks the second half of the night on its own — no supplement fixes that. If you're testing whether Small Hours works for you, dry nights give you cleaner data.

Do not use if pregnant or nursing, under 18, if you have liver disease, or if you take immunosuppressants. Ask a doctor before use if you take any medication, especially sedatives, antidepressants, thyroid, blood‑pressure, diabetes or blood‑thinning drugs, or if you have a thyroid, autoimmune, kidney or other medical condition, or have surgery scheduled. Stop use and see a doctor if you develop yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, abdominal pain, unusual tiredness or itching, or any other adverse reaction. Keep out of reach of children. Full safety information → It's a supplement, not a treatment.

You've probably seen the posts — people saying ashwagandha made them feel nonchalant, emotionally flat, like they stopped caring. We won't argue with anyone's experience: some people do report this. Side effects reported in trials are usually mild (loose stools, nausea, drowsiness); large doses can upset the stomach, and long-term safety is not known (NIH ODS, LiverTox). Here's our position: calm is not flat. KSM‑66 supports a calmer stress response† — it isn't meant to mute the rest of you. Small Hours uses KSM‑66 root extract — the studied dose, not a mega-dose — taken at night, not around the clock. The rule is simple: if you ever notice your feelings going quiet in a way you didn't ask for, stop. That's a real signal, not user error.

Not yet — the first lot isn't ready. Every lot will be tested by an independent lab. Its certificate will be posted at protocolday.com/jar.

Your choice. Subscribe & Save is one bottle every 30 nights at 20% off — $39.20 instead of $49 — and that price stays locked for as long as you stay on. It renews automatically every 30 days until you cancel. Cancel from your account or with one email, at least 24 hours before your next billing date: no minimum, no fee, no phone call. Prefer no subscription? One bottle, $49 — no plan, no follow-up charges.

From your account — log in with the link in your order confirmation email — or with one email to hello@protocolday.com and we'll do it for you. Cancel at least 24 hours before your next billing date. No calls, no fees, no hoops.

One ask — take it nightly, then decide. The 90‑Night Guarantee covers one bottle, one 3‑bottle pack, or the first delivery of a subscription from your first paid order: 90 nights from delivery, then 30 days to ask. One email and we refund it in full, and you keep what's left — we don't want opened supplements back. If it doesn't agree with you physically, stop taking it and email us — you don't have to wait for your 90th night; that goes for a renewal you've already been billed for too, once, on request. Apart from that, subscription renewals and repeat packs aren't covered. One guarantee per customer. On a subscription or a pack repeat, that same email cancels future billing too.

Free shipping within the US. Orders are processed within 1–2 business days and typically arrive 3–5 business days later via USPS/UPS. US only for now.

Not yet — US only for now. Join the email list and we'll let you know when that changes.

There's a page written for you: what to say, what to show them, and how to hand it over. If you want it, there's also the short gifting guide by email.

Not yet. Small Hours is our first formula. A morning one is planned, with no date — we won't announce it until it exists. Want to hear first? Join the email list.