Taking melatonin with other medicines and herbal supplements

Some medicines and melatonin can affect each other and increase your risk of side effects.

Lots of medicines may increase or decrease the drowsy-making (sedating) effects of melatonin.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any of these medicines before taking melatonin:

• antidepressants such as fluvoxamine or amitriptyline
• benzodiazepines such as temazepam (for insomnia) or diazepam (for anxiety or muscle pain)
• medicines that lower blood pressure
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac
• oestrogens, used in contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• opiates such as codeine or morphine for pain control
• psoralens, for skin disorders such psoriasis
• quinolones or rifampicin, types of antibiotic
• carbamazepine, for epilepsy
• cimetidine, for stomach problems such as ulcers
• thioridazine, for schizophrenia
• warfarin, a medicine to prevent blood clots
• zaleplon, zolpidem or zopiclone, for insomnia

Do not take any herbal remedies that make you feel sleepy while taking melatonin.

They can increase the sedating effects of your medicine and make you feel much more drowsy.

There's not enough information to say that other, non-drowsy herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take with melatonin. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.