Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter
No holds barred, unscripted discussion on a wide range of sleep topics - from sleep disorders to current research and controversies in the field. No topic is off limits! Dr. Chris Winter is a clinician, a board certified neurologist and double boarded sleep specialist with 30 years of clinical experience. He is the author of The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child, and is a popular consultant and speaker, working for many professional sports teams. He is well known for his unique perspective and ability to demystify sleep, all of which he brings to Sleep Unplugged.
Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter
#199 - Sleep Fixes With Fine Print: The Only Risk That You Would Take
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Sleep fixes are everywhere—magnesium, melatonin, mouth taping, CPAP, turmeric, even that glass of wine before bed. And the truth is, most of them work. But what often gets left out is the fine print: the dosing, the timing, the patient selection, and the unintended consequences that can quietly turn a good idea into a bad outcome. In this episode we will:
- Examine how magnesium supplementation can drift into unsafe territory, especially in the setting of renal impairment
- Review the risks of mouth taping, including aspiration, skin complications, and worsening undiagnosed sleep apnea
- Explore the nuanced role of CPAP, including where it helps—and where it may not improve cardiovascular outcomes in milder cases
- Break down turmeric and “golden milk” trends, including dose creep and emerging concerns around hepatotoxicity
- Discuss the underappreciated risks of modafinil, including effects on contraception and potential teratogenicity
- Provide a clear-eyed look at hypnotic medications and how they alter the perception of sleep more than sleep itself
- Clarify why melatonin is best understood as a circadian signal—not a sedative—and how mistiming can backfire
- Highlight additional “sleep fixes” like alcohol, naps, weighted blankets, and sleep trackers that come with their own caveats
Original intro music Vigilanteology by Abhinav Singh (copyright 2026)
Original outro music Vigilanteology (reprise) by Abhinav Singh (copyright 2026)
Produced by: Maeve Winter
Music by: Dr. Abhinav Singh (@sleep_vigilante), all rights reserved
More
- Twitter: @drchriswinter
- IG: @drchriwinter
- Threads: @drchriswinter
- Bluesky: @drchriswinter
- The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child
Thanks for listening and sleep well!
