Medication guide
Melatonin
- Generic name
- Melatonin
- Common brand names
- Natrol Melatonin, Nature Made Sleep
- Medication class
- Endogenous hormone supplement
Overview
Its medication class is Endogenous hormone supplement. Common uses include Sleep-onset assistance. Product forms and labels can differ, so follow the specific package instructions and ask a pharmacist or qualified healthcare professional about individual questions.
How to Take it
- Route
- Oral tablet/capsule/lozenge/systemic.
- Time of day
- Usually once daily with a main meal for better tolerance/absorption.
- With food/water
- Take with full water (120–240 mL), often with food if GI upset occurs.
- Preparation
- Swallow intact; keep consistent with meals and separate from interacting minerals when relevant.
- Safe dose
- Follow label age and indication-specific dose.
- Max dose
- Do not stack with other products containing the same active.
- Frequency
- As labeled, typically once daily or as-needed short courses.
- Other recommendations
- Check interactions with prescription medicines; monitor bowel or sleep changes.
Common uses
- Sleep-onset assistance
Common side effects
- Daytime sleepiness
- headache
- dizziness
- nausea
- vivid dreams
- mood changes
- and low blood pressure
Important warnings
- Use short-term, lowest effective dose and avoid dependence mindset. Avoid driving, alcohol, sedatives, anticonvulsants, and antidiabetics without monitoring timing and effects. In pregnancy/lactation, older adults, or autoimmune disease, review risks with provider.
General interactions information
Sedation with alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, and some antidiabetics (timing effects)
Sources / references
- Melatonin: What You Need To Know
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
These references offer further reading. A source link does not establish that a clinician has reviewed every statement in this guide.
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