Precautions & side effects when taking Circadin 2mg Melatonin

Does Circadin have any Side Effects?

Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone, however it is a powerful substance and can cause side effects in some people. If you are concerned about any unpleasant effect this drug might cause in you, stop taking it and consult your prescribing health care practitioner. The most commonly reported side effects associated to the use of melatonin are:

Headache and migraine
Unusual dreams
Dry mouth
Increased sex drive
Gastrointestinal problems such as ingestion, constipation or diarrhoea
Back pain
Inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis)
Weakness (asthenia)

Circadin tablets have been designed to help you sleep and as such may cause drowsiness. Please take this into account as this might impair your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

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Who should not take Circadin 2mg?

Melatonin is not recommended for people with:

Autoimmune disease such as lupus
Decreased liver or kidney function
Lactose intolerance
Children under the age of 18
Pregnant or nursing women

Melatonin Precautions and Interactions

Before seeking a prescription for Circadin melatonin tablets, please inform your doctor about any medications you already take, be they prescription only medicines or purchased over the counter as well as any herbal or natural supplements.

Certain drugs inhibit melatonin breakdown in the liver which could lead to an increased concentration of melatonin in the blood increasing the likelihood of side effects:

Estrogens (female sex hormones, found in female contraceptives or HRT medicines)
Ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics of the quinolone family
Cimetidine
Psoralen, such as 5- or 8-methoxypsoralen, a psoriasis treatment

If you are being treated with the antidepressant fluvoxamine, you should not take melatonin.

As the hormone may cause drowsiness, this effect can be accumulative if you additionally take antidepressants, benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) or other sleeping pills like zopiclone.

Rifampicin and carbamazepine can accelerate melatonin breakdown which would make the medicine less effective.

Please ensure you list all names and dosages of all medicines you take when consulting your doctor for a melatonin prescription.

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