Melatonin
Description
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced in the body that helps to regulate your wake-sleep cycle. It is used in the treatment of insomnia, jet lag, etc. This medicine is not recommended for use if you are known allergic to it.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Melatonin
- Day time drowsiness
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Depressed mood
Uses of Melatonin
What is it prescribed for?
- Insomnia (Sleeplessness)
- Jet Lag
- Shift work sleep disorder
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to melatonin or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Use in Children
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients below 18 years of age due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. However, your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits significantly outweigh the risks. In such a case, the patient should be monitored closely for any adverse effects.
Seizures
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with seizures due to the increased risk of adverse effects. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Liver Disease
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases due to the increased risk of adverse effects. Regular monitoring of liver function tests is necessary for such patients. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Other medicines
Melatonin may interact with many other medicines and may cause severe adverse effects. Hence, it is advised that you inform the doctor about all your current medicines including any herbs and supplements before beginning treatment with this medicine.
Driving or Operating machinery
Use of this medicine may cause blurred vision or dizziness in some patients. It is advised that you do not perform any activities such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery if you experience any of these symptoms during treatment with this medicine.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Teriflunomide
Fluvoxamine
Warfarin
Ifosfamide
Disease interactions
Glaucoma
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with glaucoma due to the increased risk of adverse effects. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Depression
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with depression due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Liver Disease
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Regular monitoring of liver function tests is necessary for such patients. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take this medicine with or without food. Do not take in larger amounts than advised/prescribed. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not stop taking the medicine before completion of the course/without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine helps to send messages to the brain and other areas of the body to regulate the sleep and wake cycles in the body.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics
Schedule
Schedule H
Melatonin [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 18 September 2018]. Available from:
Melatonin - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 18 September 2018]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 12 Jun 2019
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.