If you are wondering, how much melatonin should you take for sleep?, the short answer is 0 mg unless it has been prescribed for you following an appropriate clinical assessment. In the UK, melatonin is a prescription-only medicine (POM). It is not an over-the-counter supplement, so it is not something which is available for self-selection.
- What Is the Licensed Melatonin Dose in the UK?
- Who Can Get Melatonin Prescribed in the UK?
- Why Isn’t Melatonin Dose Simply a Matter of Choosing 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg?
- Why Does Melatonin Require an Assessment?
- What If You Are Already Prescribed Melatonin?
- What Are Your Options If You Are Struggling to Sleep?
- How much melatonin should you take – Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the usual melatonin dose for sleep in the UK?
- Can I buy melatonin over the counter in the UK?
- Is 10 mg of melatonin better than 2 mg?
- What should I do if my prescribed melatonin isn’t working?
- Can I take an extra melatonin tablet if I wake up during the night?
- References
If you are already prescribed melatonin, you should follow the instructions provided by your prescriber. If you are considering it for sleep, then its important to understand how melatonin is prescribed and used in the UK.
In this article, I’ll explain the licensed dose, who may be prescribed melatonin, why the dose is not simply a matter of choosing between different strengths, and what to do if it doesn’t seem to be helping.
What Is the Licensed Melatonin Dose in the UK?
For adults aged 55 and over prolonged-release melatonin is licensed for the short-term treatment of primary insomnia.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Typical product | Melatonin 2 mg prolonged-release tablets |
| Licensed indication | Short-term treatment of primary insomnia characterised by poor quality of sleep in adults aged 55 and over |
| Licensed dose | 2 mg once daily |
| When to take it | 1-2 hours before bedtime, after food |
| Duration | Up to 13 weeks |
| UK status | Prescription-only medicine |
The licensed dose is 2 mg once daily, taken 1–2 hours before bedtime after food, and treatment can continue for up to 13 weeks for this indication.
Who Can Get Melatonin Prescribed in the UK?
If you are wondering if your GP will be able to prescribe melatonin for your sleep issues, then it is important to understand that melatonin is not generally a first-line treatment for insomnia. As a clinical pharmacist working in the NHS, I do not routinely see GPs starting melatonin for general insomnia.
Adults aged 55 and over
This is the main licensed indication for 2 mg prolonged-release melatonin.
However, not everyone over 55 with insomnia will be prescribed it. Sleep problems need to be assessed properly, and non-drug approaches remain an important part of managing insomnia.
From my experience working as a clinical pharmacist in the NHS, melatonin is not something I routinely see initiated for general insomnia in primary care. Its use tends to be selective and depends on the individual clinical situation and local prescribing pathways.
Children and young people
Melatonin may also be prescribed for children and young people with persistent sleep problems, particularly where an underlying neurodevelopmental or medical condition contributes to clinically significant sleep disturbance.
In my experience, melatonin is more commonly prescribed for children and young people than for general adult insomnia. However, it is not usually started routinely by a GP. Treatment is generally initiated following a careful specialist assessment of the child’s sleep symptoms and any underlying factors that may be contributing to the sleep problem. Dosing and ongoing treatment are then adjusted according to clinical need and response by a specialist.
Why Isn’t Melatonin Dose Simply a Matter of Choosing 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg?
Different sleep problems may require different approaches. Trouble falling asleep, waking repeatedly during the night and having a disrupted body clock are not necessarily the same thing.
The formulation also matters. A prolonged-release preparation behaves differently from an immediate-release product. Additionally, higher doses are not automatically more effective either. In some specific circumstances, specialists may gradually increase the dose depending on response and side effects, potentially up to 10 mg daily. A maximum dose used within a supervised prescribing pathway is not the same thing as an appropriate starting dose.
Why Does Melatonin Require an Assessment?
Sleep problems can have many different causes such as:
- anxiety or depression
- chronic pain
- obstructive sleep apnoea
- restless legs syndrome
- medication side effects
- an irregular sleep pattern or lifestyle factors
This is one reason treatment should not focus solely on finding the right number of milligrams.
Melatonin can also interact with other medicines, which is another reason an individual’s wider medication history should be considered before treatment is started.
What If You Are Already Prescribed Melatonin?
If melatonin has already been prescribed for you, follow the instructions provided by your prescriber.
Do not assume that a different strength is interchangeable with your prescribed medicine, particularly when comparing prolonged-release and immediate-release formulations.
Prolonged-release tablets should generally be swallowed whole and not crushed or chewed, as this can affect how the medicine is released.
If your melatonin does not seem to be helping, don’t automatically assume you need a higher dose.
Timing, formulation, the underlying cause of your sleep problem and other medicines can all affect how well treatment works.
A review with your prescriber can help establish whether the treatment needs to be reconsidered.
What Are Your Options If You Are Struggling to Sleep?
Melatonin is only one possible approach to sleep problems.
For persistent insomnia, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) is a structured approach that can help improve poor sleep.
Other factors worth considering include caffeine and alcohol intake, shift work, stress, anxiety, pain and underlying medical conditions.
If poor sleep is persistent or affecting your daytime life, identifying the underlying cause is often more useful than simply looking for a stronger sleep medicine.
How much melatonin should you take – Summary
There is no single melatonin dose that is appropriate for everyone.
In the UK, the standard licensed dose of melatonin for short-term primary insomnia in adults aged 55 and over is 2 mg of prolonged-release melatonin once daily, taken 1–2 hours before bedtime. But that does not mean everyone with insomnia should take melatonin. Melatonin is a prescription-only medicine, and the appropriate treatment depends on the individual and the reason it is being considered.
If you are already prescribed melatonin, follow the instructions provided for your treatment. If you are considering it for sleep, the important question is not simply “what strength should I take?” but whether melatonin is appropriate for the type of sleep problem you are experiencing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the usual melatonin dose for sleep in the UK?
Melatonin 2mg modified-release is licenced for short-term treatment of primary insomnia in adults aged 55 and over. Melatonin is a prescription only medicine and not available over the counter. Additionally, it is not generally a first-line treatment for insomnia.
Can I buy melatonin over the counter in the UK?
No. Melatonin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK.
Is 10 mg of melatonin better than 2 mg?
Not necessarily. Higher doses may be used in specific circumstances under specialist supervision, but more milligrams do not automatically mean better sleep.
What should I do if my prescribed melatonin isn’t working?
If your prescribed melatonin isn’t working, then you should speak to your prescriber. Do not change your dose without speaking to your prescriber.
Can I take an extra melatonin tablet if I wake up during the night?
Only if you have specifically been instructed to do so by your prescriber. Do not take additional doses based on general online advice.
