What Is Melatonin?

Potential Medication Interactions

Melatonin supplements could interact with many medications. Patients who take sedatives should not use them along with melatonin. Individuals who take fluvoxamine also need to avoid taking melatonin. Using melatonin supplements during treatment with diabetes medicines could reduce the effectiveness of these medicines and lead to an increase in blood glucose. Interactions are known to exist between melatonin and blood thinners such as warfarin, acetylsalicylic acid, and heparin. Patients on these medicines should check with their doctor before taking melatonin supplements. Individuals who take nifedipine should check with their healthcare provider if it is safe for them to use melatonin as well. Patients can ask their healthcare provider to review their current medication list for potential medication interactions with melatonin. They should ask the pharmacist to double-check for interactions before any medication is dispensed.

Continue reading to learn about dosage recommendations next.

Dosage Recommendations

The recommended dosage of melatonin is based on the patient's age. Pediatric patients can safely take up to six milligrams of melatonin. Doctors suggest starting with a dose of 0.5 milligrams for this age group. The dose should be taken thirty to sixty minutes before bedtime. Adults should start with a dose of 0.2 milligrams, and they can work up to a maximum dose of five milligrams. Patients in this age group should take melatonin supplements sixty minutes before bed. For older adults over sixty years old, the recommended starting dose is one milligram. The suggested maximum dose is six milligrams.