Melatonin Tablets

  • Short-term relief from jet lag symptoms in adults
  • Helps reset your sleep-wake cycle after crossing time zones
  • Reduces daytime fatigue and sleep disturbances after flying
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1 x 10 Tablets
£14.39
Total:
£14.39
2 x 10 Tablets
Save 34 %
£9.45
Total:
ÂŁ18.90
3 x 10 Tablets
Save 48 %
£7.50
Total:
ÂŁ22.50

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Fast & Free Delivery Options

Variety of delivery options including next day & free delivery.

100% UK-based Pharmacy

Pharmacy, clinic and prescribers based in Greater Manchester.

Free Online Consultations

Start your treatment with a quick and free online consultation.

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Melatonin Tablets

Medication Name Melatonin 3mg Film-Coated Tablets
Medication Form Film-coated tablets
Used For Short-term treatment of jet lag in adults
Who Can Use Adults aged 18 and over
Active Ingredient(s) Melatonin 3mg per tablet
Usual Dose 1 tablet daily at bedtime; up to 2 tablets if needed. Maximum 5 days
Common Side Effects Headache, drowsiness
Prescription Required Yes
Patient Information Leaflet Melatonin 3mg Film-Coated Tablets PIL

What are Melatonin Tablets used for?

Melatonin tablets are used for the short-term treatment of jet lag in adults.

Jet lag happens when you fly across multiple time zones and your body’s internal clock falls out of sync with the local time at your destination. The more time zones you cross, the worse the symptoms tend to be.

Common symptoms of jet lag include:

  • Difficulty sleeping or waking at unusual times
  • Daytime tiredness and fatigue
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Digestive discomfort

Melatonin tablets can help reduce these symptoms and get your sleep pattern back on track.

If your symptoms don’t improve or get worse after 5 days, speak to a doctor.

How do Melatonin Tablets work?

Melatonin is a hormone your body produces naturally. It helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle, signalling to your body when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to wake up.

When you travel across time zones, your body’s melatonin production stays aligned with your home time zone, which is what causes jet lag.

Taking melatonin tablets at bedtime in your new location helps to shift your body’s rhythm in line with local time, reducing symptoms more quickly than simply waiting for your body to adjust on its own.

Who can use Melatonin Tablets?

Melatonin tablets are suitable for adults aged 18 and over. They’re not suitable for children or adolescents under 18.

Don’t take melatonin tablets if you:

  • Are allergic to melatonin or any of the other ingredients

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking melatonin tablets if you:

  • Have epilepsy or are prone to seizures
  • Have an autoimmune disease
  • Have diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance
  • Have moderately to significantly impaired liver function, or significantly impaired kidney function
  • Smoke, as this may reduce how well the tablets work
  • Have high blood pressure and are taking medication for it
  • Are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to conceive

How to Take Melatonin Tablets

Take 1 tablet daily at your usual bedtime on the day you arrive at your destination. Continue taking it at bedtime for up to 5 days. If 1 tablet isn’t providing enough relief, you can take 2 tablets on the following evening.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Swallow the tablet whole with water or another liquid like milk or fruit juice
  • Don’t take your dose before 8pm or after 4am
  • Don’t eat for at least 2 hours before or after taking your tablet
  • If you have diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, leave at least 3 hours after a meal before taking your dose
  • Melatonin tablets can be used for up to 16 separate trips per year, with each course lasting a maximum of 5 days

There are no withdrawal effects from stopping melatonin tablets.

Side Effects of Melatonin Tablets

Like all medicines, melatonin tablets can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them.

Common Side Effects (May Affect Up to 1 in 10 People)

  • Headache
  • Drowsiness

Uncommon Side Effects (May Affect Up to 1 in 100 People)

  • Irritability, nervousness, restlessness, anxiety or abnormal dreams
  • Dizziness
  • High blood pressure
  • Stomach pain, indigestion, nausea, dry mouth or mouth ulcers
  • Itching, rash or dry skin
  • Feeling unwell or weight increase

Rare Side Effects (May Affect Up to 1 in 1,000 People)

  • Altered mood, aggression or memory problems
  • Pins and needles or restless legs
  • Hot flushes or watery eyes
  • Vomiting, wind, bad breath or stomach inflammation
  • Muscle spasms or joint pain
  • Passing large volumes of urine
  • Prolonged or painful erection, or prostate inflammation
  • High levels of triglycerides (fats) in the blood

Serious Side Effects

Stop taking the tablets and contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

  • Chest pain
  • Fainting
  • Blurred vision or other visual changes
  • A pounding or irregular heartbeat
  • Blood in your urine
  • A severe allergic reaction, causing swelling of the tongue or mouth

If you get any side effects not listed here, tell your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Melatonin Tablets Ingredients

Active ingredient: Melatonin 3mg per tablet

Other ingredients:

  • Tablet core: magnesium stearate, colloidal silica anhydrous, maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium
  • Film-coating: hypromellose

Each tablet contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23mg), so it’s considered essentially sodium-free.

Warnings and Precautions

  • Don’t drive or operate machinery after taking melatonin tablets, as they can cause drowsiness and reduce alertness for several hours
  • Don’t drink alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can worsen jet lag symptoms such as headaches, morning fatigue and poor concentration – and may increase drowsiness
  • Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all other medicines you’re taking before starting treatment. The following can interact with melatonin:
    • Fluvoxamine (for depression or OCD), psoralens (for skin conditions), cimetidine (for stomach ulcers), oestrogens (in contraceptives or HRT) and quinolones (antibiotics) may increase the effect of melatonin
    • Rifampicin (an antibiotic) and carbamazepine (for epilepsy) may reduce the effect of melatonin
    • Warfarin (a blood thinner) may be affected by melatonin
    • Benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine sleep aids (such as temazepam, zolpidem or zopiclone) may have an increased sedative effect when taken with melatonin

If you take more than the recommended dose, the most likely symptoms are drowsiness, headache, dizziness and nausea. Contact your doctor, pharmacist or hospital if this happens.

Melatonin Tablets Reviews

Melatonin Tablets FAQs


These melatonin tablets are only licensed in the UK for the short-term treatment of jet lag in adults, not for general sleep problems or insomnia. If you’re struggling with sleep unrelated to travel, speak to your doctor or pharmacist, who can advise on the most appropriate options for you.

If you wake during the night and haven’t taken your melatonin tablet, you can still take it as long as it’s no later than 4am. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

These are film-coated tablets and shouldn’t be dissolved, crushed or chewed. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, speak to your pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Some people do get headaches while taking this medicine. If yours are severe or persistent, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Some people do experience drowsiness that carries into the next morning. It’s best to take your tablet as close to bedtime as possible and avoid scheduling tasks that require full concentration the following morning if you’re unsure how this medicine affects you. Speak to your doctor if next-day drowsiness is a recurring problem.

Melatonin tablets aren’t licensed or recommended for anxiety. They’re formulated specifically for jet lag relief and aren’t suitable as an anxiety treatment. If you’re experiencing anxiety, speak to your GP about suitable treatment options.

These tablets should always be taken whole. Cutting or crushing them may affect how the medicine is absorbed and could alter its effectiveness. Speak to your pharmacist if you have trouble taking tablets.

Constipation isn’t listed as a side effect of melatonin tablets in the patient information leaflet. If you experience it while taking this medicine, it’s likely unrelated to the tablets. Speak to your pharmacist if you’re concerned.

Driving or operating machinery isn’t recommended while taking melatonin tablets. If you’re unsure how this medicine affects you, avoid driving until you know it’s safe to do so.

Our Experienced UK-based Pharmacy Team

Clinical Consultant
MUDr, MRCEM, EBCEM, FRCEM
GMC no. 7176414

Pharmacist
MPharm
GPhC no. 2065469

Pharmacist
MPharm
GPhC no. 2046514

Page content authored by Amjad Khan, last reviewed by Dr Hussain Ahmad on 14th May 2026.

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