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| Medication Name | Circadin 2mg Prolonged-Release Tablets |
| Medication Form | Prolonged-release tablet |
| Used For | Short-term treatment of primary insomnia in adults aged 55 and over |
| Who Can Use | Adults aged 55 and over |
| Active Ingredient(s) | Melatonin 2mg |
| Usual Dose | One tablet (2mg) taken after food, 1-2 hours before bedtime |
| Common Side Effects | Headache, dizziness, nausea, tiredness |
| Prescription Required | Yes |
| Patient Information Leaflet | Circadin 2mg Prolonged-Release Tablets PIL |
Circadin is used for the short-term treatment of primary insomnia in adults aged 55 and over.
Primary insomnia is persistent difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, or poor quality of sleep, with no identifiable underlying cause. It isn’t linked to a medical condition, a mental health problem or an environmental factor. It can show up in a few ways:
Sleep problems like this become more common with age, partly because the body’s natural melatonin production declines over time. Circadin is specifically licensed to address this, and isn’t intended for insomnia with an identified cause or for use in people under 55.
The active substance in Circadin tablets is melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone produced by the body. It signals to the body that it’s time to sleep, helping you drift off and stay asleep through the night.
Circadin tablets contain synthetic melatonin that works in the same way as the body’s own. What sets them apart from other melatonin formulations is the prolonged-release design. Rather than releasing all at once, each tablet gradually delivers melatonin over several hours, more closely mimicking the body’s natural release pattern.
This steady release is what makes Circadin tablets suitable specifically for primary insomnia. The result is improved sleep quality through the night.
Circadin 2mg tablets are suitable for patients aged 55 years and over who have been diagnosed with primary insomnia.
They’re not suitable for children or anyone under the age of 18.
Don’t take Circadin tablets if you:
Speak to your doctor before taking Circadin tablets if you:
Take one tablet (2 mg) after food, 1-2 hours before bedtime. Swallow it whole, don’t crush or cut it in half, as this affects how the melatonin is released.
Circadin tablets can be taken for up to 13 weeks. Don’t exceed the recommended dosage of one tablet per day.
There are no known harmful effects from stopping Circadin tablets early and no withdrawal effects have been reported.
Like all medicines, Circadin tablets can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them. The most commonly reported include:
Stop taking Circadin tablets and contact your doctor straight away if you experience:
If you get any side effects not listed here, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme.
Active ingredient: Melatonin 2mg
Other ingredients: Ammonio methacrylate copolymer type B, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, lactose monohydrate, silica (colloidal anhydrous), talc and magnesium stearate
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you’re taking before starting Circadin tablets, particularly antidepressants, oestrogens, sleep medicines, antibiotics, blood pressure medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines and carbamazepine.
Take it as soon as you remember, as long as it’s still before you go to sleep. If you’re already heading to bed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as normal the next night. Don’t take two tablets to make up for a missed one.
This can vary between individuals. Some people notice an improvement within the first few nights, while others may take longer. If your sleep hasn’t improved after a few weeks, speak to your pharmacist or doctor before completing the full course.
The recommended dose is one tablet per day and this shouldn’t be exceeded. Taking more than the recommended dose increases the risk of side effects, including drowsiness. If you accidentally take too much, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Circadin is itself a melatonin medicine. The difference is that it’s a licensed prescription treatment that has been assessed for safety and efficacy by the European Medicines Agency. Melatonin supplements sold in health food shops aren’t regulated as medicines and haven’t undergone the same approval process.
Circadin is indicated for adults aged 55 and over, so it isn’t licensed for people under 55. If you’re under 55 and struggling to sleep, speak with your doctor about alternative options.
There are several ways you can help treat sleep problems alongside or instead of medication. Going to bed and waking at the same time each day, avoiding screens in the hour before bed, keeping the bedroom cool and dark, cutting back on caffeine in the afternoon and avoiding alcohol close to bedtime are all known to support better sleep quality.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen are listed as a potential interaction with Circadin. If you need to take any painkillers regularly alongside Circadin tablets, speak to your pharmacist first.
Circadin tablets aren’t suitable during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.
Each tablet is designed to gradually release melatonin over several hours to support sleep through the night.
No. Circadin tablets need to be swallowed whole.
Oestrogens found in hormonal contraceptives are listed as a potential interaction with Circadin tablets. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Circadin if you use hormonal contraception.
The PIL recommends taking Circadin 1-2 hours before bedtime each night. You don’t need to take it at exactly the same time to the minute, but taking it consistently as part of your bedtime routine will give the best results.
Page content authored by Amjad Khan, last reviewed by Dr Hussain Ahmad on 11th May 2026.
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