Melatonin Safety and Its Lack of Effect on Night Eating

Adverse‑Event Profile (American Academy of Sleep Medicine)

• The 2017 American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline reported no clinically significant difference in the rate of adverse events between melatonin and placebo across a range of doses and treatment durations, indicating a favorable safety profile. 1

Impact on Sleep Parameters and Appetite (American Academy of Sleep Medicine)

• The 2008 American Academy of Sleep Medicine guideline noted that melatonin produces modest reductions in sleep onset latency, with minimal influence on wake after sleep onset or total sleep time, and explicitly did not identify increased appetite or nocturnal eating as adverse effects. 2

Safety in Older Adults (Praxis Medical Insights)

• In elderly individuals, melatonin is associated with a low incidence of adverse effects and is not classified as a potentially inappropriate medication, unlike benzodiazepines. 3

Drug‑Interaction and Dose Considerations (Praxis Medical Insights)

• Caution is recommended when melatonin is co‑prescribed with anticoagulants such as warfarin or in patients with epilepsy because of possible pharmacologic interactions. 5
• Lower oral doses (approximately 0.3–1 mg) are generally more effective than higher doses, which may lead to next‑morning grogginess due to receptor desensitization. 5