Can I take melatonin with my medication?
33-year-old woman
I take Avamys, Aerius and Marvelon daily (at 6pm for Aerius and Marvelon, then at 8pm for Avamys). I often experience episodes of insomnia during times of stress/anxiety. I can then stay awake until the wee hours of the morning for several days, even weeks. Obviously, during the day, I am exhausted, but I find myself unable to sleep at night despite a regular routine. It's a vicious circle. I would like to know if I can take melatonin when I have episodes of insomnia (especially since I take other medications). If so, do I need to be careful about how I take it to avoid addiction? Should I start with a smaller dosage?
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Naji-tom Samaha · 2 years ago
Thank you for your question!
To answer your first question, yes, melatonin is safe to take with your other medications
However, in most cases, it is sleep hygiene that may be at fault, and the following good sleep habits should be tried first:
- At least 1 hour before bedtime, you should turn off any type of screen: computer, phone, TV, and handheld readers as well. Most of them emit a type of light that is stimulating.
- Regardless of bedtime, I suggest getting up at the same time each day, which will help establish a sleep routine eventually.
- Keep the bedroom for sleeping and intimacy only. No reading, work, or TV in bed. This way, the body will associate the bedroom with sleep as soon as you enter it.
- Avoid naps during the day, and avoid stimulants like coffee as much as possible, especially in the afternoon.
- If you have been in bed for 15 minutes and are not falling asleep, I suggest you get up, go to the kitchen or living room for a few minutes, and then return to the bedroom. This can have a reset effect.
- If you have a lot of worries, write them down in a notebook or journal at night, so you can be reassured that they won't be forgotten and that you can address them the next morning.
- Avoid looking at the time during the night, it is a great source of stress.
It can take 2-3 weeks to change a single habit, so try these gradually and be patient :)
If you ever want to try melatonin, it is suggested that you start with the smallest dose possible (example: 3 mg tablets), and I recommend limiting regular use to 2 weeks.
I hope I've been helpful, and please don't hesitate if you have any further questions!
Tom Samaha, pharmacist
33-year-old woman · 2 years ago
Thank you for your quick and detailed answer! :) I will try to put your advice into practice.
If I ever try melatonin, I see that it's best not to exceed two weeks of regular use
Can we just take it for a few days to help us get into a more stable rhythm? Is there a risk of becoming addicted? Will my insomnia get worse if I stop taking melatonin?
I have never actually taken it and I don't want to take it on a regular basis, but I have been overwhelmed by stress lately. But I don't want to make it worse with a medication either... 😅
Naji-tom Samaha · 2 years ago
Yes, you could try taking it for only a few days. Some references indicate a slow onset of action, ranging from 3 to 7 days. It is very unlikely to become addictive after a few days or 2 weeks.
That being said, Melatonin has no effect on stress or anxiety. If this is the source of your insomnia, melatonin is not relevant.
33-year-old woman · 2 years ago
Thanks for the clarification! I'm going to start by changing what I can in my routine before I try to use it. Thanks for answering my many questions! Have a great day!
Naji-tom Samaha · 2 years ago
It made my day, good day to you too!
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