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Variety of delivery options including next day & free delivery.
Pharmacy, clinic and prescribers based in Greater Manchester.
Start your treatment with a quick and free online consultation.
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| 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 |
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:
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.
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.
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:
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking melatonin tablets if you:
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:
There are no withdrawal effects from stopping melatonin tablets.
Like all medicines, melatonin tablets can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them.
Stop taking the tablets and contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
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.
Active ingredient: Melatonin 3mg per tablet
Other ingredients:
Each tablet contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23mg), so it’s considered essentially sodium-free.
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.
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.
Page content authored by Amjad Khan, last reviewed by Dr Hussain Ahmad on 22nd May 2026.
