Melatonin and Drug Interactions is a hot topic and I set up this page to tackle this issue.
Melatonin is one of the gentlest supplements,out there that you could ingest. It comes with little or no side effect and even in cases of melatonin over dose, the effect is minimal.
There is the issue though of melatonin and drug interactions.A drug interaction is simply when the ingestion of a drug reacts with another drug or with your system to produce a hazardous side effects.
Not all drugs would trigger a reaction withmelatonin supplements, as melatonin occurs naturally in the brain. In case you are on medication and you want to find out what drugs can possibly react withmelatonin and have side effectsin your body, this page should answer any question you have.
Melatonin and Drug Interactions.
Melatonin supplementis used to balance your sleep cycle rhythm when it is out of order. This could happen because of jet lag or working shifts. Based on this fact, it is not advised to combine melatonin supplements and sedatives as it may cause heavy drowsiness. My advice is that you should stay away from heavy machinery or driving if you feel drowsy.
Diabetic Drugs.
Melatonin supplements have the potential to increase your blood sugar while diabetic medications are used to lower your blood sugar level. When these two are combined, the diabetic drugs will have little or no effect.
Immunosuppressant.
Adequate sleep is good to help the body boost its immune system and melatonin supplements can help your sleep cycle readjust to its normal state when it has been altered. Immunosuppressant drugs are used by those suffering from immune system disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Combining these drugs with melatonin would make them ineffective as melatonin has the tendency to increase the strength of your immune system.
Anticoagulants.
Anticoagulants have also been found to interact with melatonin as melatonin slows down the process of blood clotting. Taking melatonin with anticoagulants increases the chances of less blot clot during bleeding.
Anti-Depressants.
People using antidepressants have also been cautioned against the use of melatonin as adequate information has not been gathered about it’s interaction with melatonin. Few studies have only reported that some people complained of serious drowsiness, confusion, memory loss, breathing difficulties, itching and vomiting the day after, due to the fact that antidepressants already increases the level of melatonin production by the body.
Pregnant women or peopletrying to get pregnantare also advised to stay away from melatonin supplements as they might have a birth control effect. Research is still in progress to find out if melatonin supplements might have any effect on the expected baby.
Breastfeeding mothers should be also cautious about melatonin and are been advised to talk to their doctors about taking melatonin supplements as their sleep cycle could be altered during the first 3 months.
If you take alcohol or drugs or even caffeine, it is advisable to stay away from melatonin as it might cause headaches and also cause a altered sleep pattern.
Here is a list of Melatonin and Drug Interactions.
Antipsychotic Drugs:
Aripiprazle (Abilify), Chlrprmazine (Thrazine), Clzapine (Clzaril, FazaCl), Fluphenazine (Prlixin) lanzapine (Zyprexa, Symbyax), Perphenazine (Trilafn), Paliperidne (Invega) , Quetiapine ,(Serquel), Risperidne (Risperdal), Thiridazine (Mellaril), Trifluperazine (Stelazine), Ziprasidne (Gedn)
Barbiturates:
Amobarbital (Amyta), Butalbital (Fioricet, Fiorinal), Pentobarbital (Nembutal), Phenobarbital(Luminal), Secobarbital (Seconal).
Benzodiazepines(Sedatives)
Alprazlam (Xanax, Xanax XR), Chlrdiazepxide (Librium, Limbitrl, Librax), Clnazepam (Klnpin) Clrazepate (Tranxene) ,Diazepam (Valium), Estazlam (PrSm), Flurazepam (Dalmane) ,Lrazepam (Ativan), Midazlam (Versed), Temazepam (Restril), Triazlam (Halcin), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien).
Antidepressants:
Amitriptyline (Elavil)Amoxapine (Asendin)Bupropion(Budeprion XL, Budeprion™ SR, Buproban™, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Wellbutrin, Zyban)Citalopram (Celexa)Clomipramine (Anafranil)Desipramine (Norpramin)Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq™)Doxepin (Sinequan)Duloxetine (Cymbalta)Escitalopram (Lexapro)Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Selfemra™)Fluvoxamine (Luvox, Luvox CR)Imipramine hydrochloride (Tofranil)Imipramine pamoate (Tofranil PM)Isocarboxazid (Marplan)Maprotiline (Ludiomil)Mirtazapine (Remeron)Nefazodone (Serzone)Nortriptyline (Pamelor)Paroxetine(Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva)Phenelzine (Nardil)Protriptyline (Vivactil)Selegiline(Emsam)Sertraline(Zoloft)Tranylcypromine(Parnate)Trazodone (Desyrel).Trimipramine (Surmontil) Venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR).
Calcium channel blockers:
Amlodipine (Norvasc),Diltiazem (Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cartia XT, Dilacor XR, Dilt-CD, Diltia XT, Dilt-XR, Taztia XT, Tiazac),Felodipine (Plendil),Isradipine (Dynacirc, Dynacirc CR),Nisoldipine (Sular),Nicardipine (Cardene, Cardene SR),Nifedipine (Adalat CC, Afeditab CR, Nifediac CC, Nifedical XL, Procardia, Procardia XL), Nimodipine (Nimotop)
Diabetic Drugs:
glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase).
Immunosuppressants.
azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax),muromonab-CD3(OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3),mycophenolate(CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids).
Anticoagulants:
aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).
If your medication is listed above I would advise you try some otherover the counter sleep aidor see your doctor for a proper consult.
More information on melatonin and drug interactions or melatonin supplements? Check mymelatonin supplementspage.
