Melatonin is used to help manage sleep in individuals who have difficulty sleeping (also known as insomnia).
This medicine is also used for the short-term treatment of jet lag (a temporary sleep problem that affects a person who quickly travels across multiple time zones).
Take Melatonin exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about whether you should take this medicine with or without food. Different brands of Melatonin may be taken differently.
This medicine is available as an immediate-release or prolonged-release tablet or as an oral solution.
If you are taking the immediate-release tablet it can be crushed and mixed with water directly before administration.
If you are taking the prolonged-release type of tablet, swallow it whole with a glass of water. Do not divide, chew or crush the tablet.
If you have been given the oral solution, use the oral syringe supplied with each bottle to measure out your dose. Refer to the package insert for directions on how the oral syringe should be used.
If you are taking Melatonin for insomnia and missed a dose at the usual time, you may take it as soon as you remember before you go to sleep that night, but after this time, no other tablet should be taken before the next scheduled dose.
If you are taking this medicine for jet lag and you forget to take your dose at bedtime and wake during the night, you may take the missed dose but not later than 4:00 in the morning.
DO NOT double a dose to make up for a missed dose.
Do not take Melatonin with fluvoxamine, a medicine used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (a disorder characterised by an uncontrollable urge to do repetitive and ritualised behaviours).
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- autoimmune disease (condition wherein your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues in the body)
- epilepsy (fits or seizures)
- liver disease
- kidney disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Inform your doctor if you smoke, as cigarette smoking may reduce the effect of Melatonin.
Practice good sleeping habits to reduce reliance on this medicine. These are some good sleeping habits which you should follow:
- Try to relax before bedtime. Do not engage in strenuous activities.
- Try to go to bed at about the same time every night.
- Have a light dinner. A heavy dinner may disturb your sleep.
- Avoid caffeine in the evening. Caffeine-containing food and drinks include coffee, tea, certain soft drinks and even chocolate.
- Avoid drinking alcohol before bedtime.
- Keep your bedroom quiet, dark and airy.
- Avoid taking naps especially in the late afternoon.
Melatonin may cause drowsiness or dizziness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, cough, sore throat, common cold, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and back, neck or joint pain.
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Melatonin with fluvoxamine, a medicine used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (a disorder characterised by an uncontrollable urge to do repetitive and ritualised behaviours).
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- other medicines for sleep disorder e.g. zolpidem, zopiclone, zaleplon
- certain antibiotics e.g. ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin
- medicines for high blood pressure e.g. nifedipine, verapamil
- blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin
- 5-methoxypsoralen (medicine for certain skin problems such as psoriasis)
- rifampicin (medicine to treat TB, an infection known as tuberculosis)
- cimetidine (medicine that reduces stomach acid production)
- birth control pills and other medicines for hormone replacement
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Melatonin.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee, tea and certain soft drinks.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children. Protect from light.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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