Alfentanil
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Drug reference
Melatonin
Benzodiazepine · Hypnotic, Sleep disorder agent
BenzodiazepineHypnotic, Sleep disorder agent
CDSCO approvedSchedule H
EXCRETION
—
not curated
INTERACTIONS
12 major
SEVERE in our sources
PREGNANCY
Manufacturer advises avoid.
FDA category + note
Top interactionssee all 12 →
- AlfentanilSevereTextbookG&G 14e
- BuprenorphineSevereTextbookG&G 14e
- CodeineSevereTextbookG&G 14e
- FentanylSevereTextbookG&G 14e
Mechanism
Melatonin p. 511 is a pineal hormone.
Indications
short-term treatment of insomnia in adults over 55 yearsshort-term treatment of jet-lag in adultsrapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson’s patients (unlicensed)Jet lagInsomniareduce jet-lag symptomshasten reentrainment with day-night cycle (intercontinental travellers)beneficial effects in shift workers and individuals with delayed sleep phase syndromesubjective improvement in sleep quality in elderly insomniacsdisturbed biorhythms and sleep disorders (marketed in India)cluster headacheREM Sleep Behavior DisorderDelayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (to hasten sleep onset and increase sleep efficiency when endogenous melatonin levels are low)Non-24-h Sleep-Wake Rhythm DisorderParkinson’s disease (when associated with low melatonin levels)Cervical spinal cord injury (when associated with low melatonin levels)Jet Lag Disorder (to enhance sleep efficiency, only if taken when endogenous melatonin concentrations are low)
Dosing
- Adult
- l INDICATIONS AND DOSE Major depression ▶ BY MOUTH ▶ Adult: 25 mg daily, dose to be taken at bedtime, dose to be increased if necessary after 2 weeks, increased if necessary to 50 mg daily, dose to be taken at bedtime Dementia . patients over 75 years of age l CAUTIONS Alcoholism . bipolar disorder . diabetes . excessive alcohol consumption . hypomania . mania . nonalcoholic fatty liver disease .…
Side effects
Serious
- not a dependable hypnotic
- little effect on latency and duration of sleep (especially in non-elderly insomniacs)
- no more effective than placebo in short-term for sleep disorders
- long-term safety not known
Pregnancy & lactation
Pregnancy
Manufacturer advises avoid.
Drug interactions
Buprenorphine
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Codeine
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Fentanyl
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Hydrocodone
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Methadone
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Methylnaltrexone
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Morphine
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Nalmefene
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Naloxone
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Naltrexone
Severe
Textbook
Increased rates of accidental overdose and death.
Caution is advised, especially for patients with a history of drug abuse.
Source: G&G 14e
Other Cns Depressants
Severe
Textbook
Typically fatal if combined in overdose.
Use with extreme caution; avoid if possible.
Source: G&G 14e
Related guidelines
Primary headache disorders
NICE · Neurology · 2021
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
FOGSI · Obstetrics & Gynaecology · 2019
Acute coronary syndrome in chronic kidney disease
CSI · Cardiology · 2020
Empirical antimicrobial use in common syndromes
ICMR · Infectious Diseases · 2019
Substance use disorders
NIMHANS · Psychiatry · 2022
Other Benzodiazepine drugs
Ask House about Melatonin
Continue into a citation-backed clinical answer with the drug context already attached.
Sources: KD Tripathi 7e, Goodman & Gilman 14e, Harrison 22e, BNF·Verified: 2026-05-13 · House clinical team