SleepCited

Melatonin for Insomnia

A Strong

Based on 119 studies (12 meta-analyses, 12 RCTs) with 44,370 total participants. 81/119 studies show positive effects.

Key Statistics

119

Studies

44370

Participants

↑

Positive

A Strong

Grade

Referenced Papers

Compound Chaijin Jieyu Fang alleviates insomnia complicated with depression by reshaping actinobacteria to inhibit neuronal apoptosis. Other
Phytomedicine : international … 2026
Pediatric Insomnia. Review
Pediatrics in review 2026
Melatonin use in typically developing (TD) children: International Pediatric Sleep Association (IPSA) Expert Consensus Recommendations for Healthcare Providers. Other
Sleep medicine 2025 13 citations
Clinical practice guidelines for switching or deprescribing hypnotic medications for chronic insomnia: Results of European neuropsychopharmacology and sleep expert's consensus … Systematic Review
Sleep medicine 2025 13 citations
Insomnia in older adults: A review of treatment options. Review
Cleveland Clinic journal … 2025 12 citations
Nutritional Supplements for Healthy Aging: A Critical Analysis Review. Review
American journal of … 2025 6 citations
Over-the-counter products for insomnia in adults: A scoping review of randomised controlled trials. Review
Sleep medicine 2025 4 citations
The Efficacy of Melatonergic Receptor Agonists Used in Clinical Practice in Insomnia Treatment: Melatonin, Tasimelteon, Ramelteon, Agomelatine, and Selected Herbs. Review
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 2025 2 citations
Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder. Review
JAAPA : official … 2025 1 citations
[Nutrition in improving sleep quality and fighting insomnia]. Review
Nutricion hospitalaria 2025
Therapeutic Dilemma: Melatonin or not? Other
Paediatrics & child … 2025
Lactobacillus reuteri E9 Regulates Sleep Disorders Through Its Metabolite GABA. Other
Frontiers in bioscience … 2025
Unraveling the connection between the Mediterranean diet and sleep health: from biological mechanisms to clinical implications. Review
Sleep & breathing … 2025
Shift work sleep disorder. Review
Handbook of clinical … 2025
Melatonin, Melatonin Receptors and Sleep: Moving Beyond Traditional Views. Review
Journal of pineal … 2024 40 citations
Optimizing the Time and Dose of Melatonin as a Sleep-Promoting Drug: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Dose-Response … Meta-Analysis
Journal of pineal … 2024 31 citations
Herbal and Natural Supplements for Improving Sleep: A Literature Review. Other
Psychiatry investigation 2024 24 citations
Melatonin use in managing insomnia in children with autism and other neurogenetic disorders - An assessment by the international pediatric … Other
Sleep medicine 2024 24 citations
European expert guidance on management of sleep onset insomnia and melatonin use in typically developing children. Review
European journal of … 2024 19 citations
The therapeutic potential of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Polygalae Radix in insomnia management: Insights from gut microbiota and serum metabolomics … Other
Journal of ethnopharmacology 2024 13 citations
Shen Yuan extract exerts a hypnotic effect via the tryptophan/5-hydroxytryptamine/melatonin pathway in mice. Other
Journal of ethnopharmacology 2024 13 citations
Effects of magnesium and potassium supplementation on insomnia and sleep hormones in patients with diabetes mellitus. RCT
Frontiers in endocrinology 2024 9 citations
Temazepam or Melatonin Versus Placebo for the Treatment of Insomnia in Advanced Cancer: A Three-Arm, Double-Blind, Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized … RCT
Journal of palliative … 2024 5 citations
Biosynthetic Pathways of Tryptophan Metabolites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain: Insights and Implications. Other
International journal of … 2024 5 citations
A scoping review of over-the-counter products for depression, anxiety and insomnia in older people. Review
BMC complementary medicine … 2024 5 citations
Catching ZZZs: A Summary of the Most Common Herbal Medications Taken for Insomnia. Review
American journal of … 2024 3 citations
Comparison Between Efficacy of Oral Melatonin and Oral L-theanine in Improving Sleep in Cancer Patients Suffering From Insomnia: A Randomised … Other
Indian journal of … 2024 3 citations
Effects of the PREMEN-CALM® in the Management of the Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. RCT
Journal of dietary … 2024
The European Insomnia Guideline: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia 2023. Review
Journal of sleep … 2023 505 citations
Current Insights into the Risks of Using Melatonin as a Treatment for Sleep Disorders in Older Adults. Review
Clinical interventions in … 2023 41 citations
Medicinal cannabis improves sleep in adults with insomnia: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study. RCT
Journal of sleep … 2023 40 citations
Melatonin as a Chronobiotic with Sleep-promoting Properties. Review
Current neuropharmacology 2023 38 citations
Efficacy of melatonin and ramelteon for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: A systematic review and … Meta-Analysis
Journal of sleep … 2023 17 citations
Melatonin and Aging. Review
Sub-cellular biochemistry 2023 2 citations
Digital Addiction and Sleep. Review
International journal of … 2022 107 citations
Melatonin in sleep disorders. Review
Neurologia 2022 78 citations
Physiological and pharmacological perspectives of melatonin. Review
Archives of physiology … 2022 69 citations
Efficacy of melatonin for chronic insomnia: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Meta-Analysis
Sleep medicine reviews 2022 48 citations
Melatonin in sleep disorders. Review
Neurologia 2022 47 citations
Treatment of Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders. Review
Current neuropharmacology 2022 40 citations
Melatonin use during pregnancy and lactation: A scoping review of human studies. Review
Revista brasileira de … 2022 30 citations
The Effects of the Exogenous Melatonin on Shift Work Sleep Disorder in Health Personnel: A Systematic Review. Systematic Review
International journal of … 2022 25 citations
Hypnotic and Melatonin/Melatonin-Receptor Agonist Treatment in Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Meta-Analysis
CNS drugs 2022 25 citations
Is Shift Work Sleep Disorder a Risk Factor for Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components? A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies. Systematic Review
Metabolic syndrome and … 2022 16 citations
Evaluation of the pharmacological effects and exploration of the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine preparation Ciwujia tablets in treating insomnia … Other
Frontiers in pharmacology 2022 9 citations
The use of dietary supplements for mental health among the Saudi population: A cross-sectional survey. Other
Saudi pharmaceutical journal … 2022 4 citations
Sleep and Diet: Mounting Evidence of a Cyclical Relationship. Other
Annual review of … 2021 149 citations
Neurocognitive effects of melatonin treatment in healthy adults and individuals with Alzheimer's disease and insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis … Meta-Analysis
Neuroscience and biobehavioral … 2021 90 citations
Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders: a Contemporary Review of Neurobiology, Treatment, and Dysregulation in Neurodegenerative Disease. Review
Neurotherapeutics : the … 2021 73 citations
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sleep. Review
Child and adolescent … 2021 61 citations
Evening wear of blue-blocking glasses for sleep and mood disorders: a systematic review. Systematic Review
Chronobiology international 2021 47 citations
Nutraceuticals for Sleep Disorders. Review
Combinatorial chemistry & … 2021 16 citations
[Nutrition impact on insomnia treatment]. Review
Nutricion hospitalaria 2021 3 citations
Sleep and pain: recent insights, mechanisms, and future directions in the investigation of this relationship. Review
Journal of neural … 2020 194 citations
Insomnia and menopause: a narrative review on mechanisms and treatments. Review
Climacteric : the … 2020 97 citations
Efficacy of melatonin for sleep disturbance in middle-aged primary insomnia: a double-blind, randomised clinical trial. RCT
Sleep medicine 2020 41 citations
Pharmacotherapeutic management of sleep disorders in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Review
Expert opinion on … 2019 49 citations
The effect of aromatherapy with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) on serum melatonin levels. Other
Complementary therapies in … 2019 29 citations
A combination of melatonin, vitamin B6 and medicinal plants in the treatment of mild-to-moderate insomnia: A prospective pilot study. Other
Complementary therapies in … 2019 26 citations
New perspectives on the role of melatonin in human sleep, circadian rhythms and their regulation. Review
British journal of … 2018 685 citations
Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Pediatric Prolonged-Release Melatonin for Insomnia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. RCT
Journal of child … 2018 133 citations
Insomnia in Elderly Patients: Recommendations for Pharmacological Management. Review
Drugs & aging 2018 131 citations
The Relationship Between Shift Work and Men's Health. Review
Sexual medicine reviews 2018 74 citations
The role of tryptophan metabolism in postpartum depression. Review
Metabolic brain disease 2018
European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia. Other
Journal of sleep … 2017 1691 citations
Clinical Practice Guideline for the Pharmacologic Treatment of Chronic Insomnia in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice … Other
Journal of clinical … 2017 1097 citations
A review of sleep disorders and melatonin. Review
Neurological research 2017 331 citations
Efficacy and Safety of Pediatric Prolonged-Release Melatonin for Insomnia in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. RCT
Journal of the … 2017 245 citations
Melatonin Natural Health Products and Supplements: Presence of Serotonin and Significant Variability of Melatonin Content. Other
Journal of clinical … 2017 226 citations
Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders. Review
Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.) 2017 132 citations
Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Drugs for Treating Behavioural Insomnia in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review with Methodological … Systematic Review
Paediatric drugs 2017 26 citations
Community Pharmacists' Knowledge Regarding Donepezil Averse Effects and Self-Care Recommendations for Insomnia for Persons with AD. Other
Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) 2017 5 citations
Insomnia: Pharmacologic Therapy. Review
American family physician 2017
Sleep Disorders: Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders. Review
FP essentials 2017
MT1 and MT2 Melatonin Receptors: A Therapeutic Perspective. Review
Annual review of … 2016 557 citations
Tryptophan Intake in the US Adult Population Is Not Related to Liver or Kidney Function but Is Associated with Depression … Review
The Journal of … 2016 76 citations
Pharmacological interventions for sleepiness and sleep disturbances caused by shift work. Other
Sao Paulo medical … 2015 131 citations
Jet Lag and Shift Work Disorder. Review
Sleep medicine clinics 2015 75 citations
Is melatonin useful for jet lag? Meta-Analysis
Medwave 2015 6 citations
Melatonin: functions and ligands. Review
Drug discovery today 2014 191 citations
Pharmacological interventions for sleepiness and sleep disturbances caused by shift work. Meta-Analysis
The Cochrane database … 2014 131 citations
Nutritional supplements for the treatment of ADHD. Review
Child and adolescent … 2014 42 citations
Meta-analysis: melatonin for the treatment of primary sleep disorders. Meta-Analysis
PloS one 2013 447 citations
Circadian rhythm abnormalities. Case Report
Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.) 2013 172 citations
To sleep or not to sleep: a systematic review of the literature of pharmacological treatments of insomnia in children and … Systematic Review
Journal of child … 2013 56 citations
Melatonin: comprehensive profile. Review
Profiles of drug … 2013 26 citations
Melatonin and its analogs in insomnia and depression. Review
Journal of pineal … 2012 322 citations
Pharmacotherapy of insomnia. Review
Expert opinion on … 2012 116 citations
The effects of glycine on subjective daytime performance in partially sleep-restricted healthy volunteers. Other
Frontiers in neurology 2012 27 citations
The Movement Disorder Society Evidence-Based Medicine Review Update: Treatments for the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Review
Movement disorders : … 2011 1083 citations
Tasimelteon for insomnia. Review
Expert opinion on … 2011 22 citations
Perioperative melatonin use. Review
Anaesthesia and intensive … 2011 18 citations
Effects of a tart cherry juice beverage on the sleep of older adults with insomnia: a pilot study. RCT
Journal of medicinal … 2010 157 citations
Jet lag, circadian rhythm sleep disturbances, and depression: the role of melatonin and its analogs. Review
Advances in therapy 2010 136 citations
Melatonin agonists and insomnia. Review
Expert review of … 2010 58 citations
Ready for takeoff? A critical review of armodafinil and modafinil for the treatment of sleepiness associated with jet lag. Other
Nature and science … 2010 3 citations
Circadian rhythm disorders. Review
Seminars in neurology 2009 17 citations
The roles of melatonin and light in the pathophysiology and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Review
Nature clinical practice. … 2008 139 citations
Melatonergic drugs in clinical practice. Review
Arzneimittel-Forschung 2008 89 citations
Jet lag: therapeutic use of melatonin and possible application of melatonin analogs. Review
Travel medicine and … 2008 84 citations
Efficacy and clinical safety of ramelteon: an evidence-based review. Review
Sleep medicine reviews 2008 46 citations
A clinical approach to circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Review
Sleep medicine 2007 201 citations
Self-reported efficacy and tolerability of ramelteon 8 mg in older adults experiencing severe sleep-onset difficulty. RCT
The American journal … 2007 41 citations
Shift work sleep disorder: burden of illness and approaches to management. Review
Drugs 2006 110 citations
Melatonin: Nature's most versatile biological signal? Review
The FEBS journal 2006 56 citations
Somatostatin, retinoids, melatonin, vitamin D, bromocriptine, and cyclophosphamide in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients with low performance status. Other
Cancer biotherapy & … 2006 29 citations
Role of melatonin in the regulation of human circadian rhythms and sleep. Review
Journal of neuroendocrinology 2003 719 citations
Anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Review
Primary care 2002 43 citations
[Melatonin and epilepsy]. Review
Revista de neurologia 2002 35 citations
Melatonin in sleep disorders and jet-lag. Review
Neuro endocrinology letters 2002
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders: pathophysiology and potential approaches to management. Review
CNS drugs 2001 135 citations
Herbs and nutrients in the treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia, migraine, and obesity. Other
Journal of psychiatric … 2001 42 citations
Melatonin and climactery. Review
Medical science monitor … 2000 11 citations
Melatonin and clinical application. Review
Reproduction, nutrition, development 1999 64 citations
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders. Other
Current treatment options … 1999 23 citations
Melatonin and jet-lag. Review
European journal of … 1999
Disorders of the sleep-wake cycle in adults. Review
Postgraduate medical journal 1998 17 citations
Melatonin. Review
American family physician 1997
Melatonin and insomnia. RCT
Journal of sleep … 1996 95 citations

Dosage & Usage

Commonly Used Dosages

general:
0.5-3 mg, 30-60 min before bed
jetlag:
0.5-5 mg

Upper limit: No established UL; 5 mg typically considered maximum

Dosages Studied in Research

Dosage Duration Effect N
Compound Chaijin Jieyu Fang (CCJF) traditional Chinese medicine formula; dose not specified -- Positive --
Melatonin (various doses), CBT-I (behavioral), pharmacologic options (z-drugs, other) -- Positive --
None -- Positive 51
None -- Positive --
10-25% dose reduction per week for tapering -- Positive 21
Scheduled melatonin, scheduled sleep-wake times, bright light therapy -- Positive --
various pediatric doses (evidence-based and consensus-based guidance) -- Positive --
low doses melatonin (unspecified); melatonin for jet lag (adults) -- Positive --

Best taken: 30-60 minutes before bed

Safety & Side Effects

Reported Side Effects

  • ⚠ Daytime drowsiness
  • ⚠ Headache
  • ⚠ Dizziness
  • ⚠ Nausea
  • ⚠ Vivid dreams or nightmares

Known Interactions

  • ● Blood thinners (warfarin) — may increase bleeding risk
  • ● Immunosuppressants — melatonin may stimulate immune function
  • ● Diabetes medications — may affect blood sugar levels
  • ● Sedatives and CNS depressants — additive drowsiness

Tolerable upper intake: No established UL; 5 mg typically considered maximum

Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Melatonin help with Insomnia?
Based on 119 studies with 44,370 participants, there is strong evidence from multiple clinical trials that Melatonin may support Insomnia management. Our evidence grade is A (Strong).
How much Melatonin should I take for Insomnia?
Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 0.5-3 mg, 30-60 min before bed. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.
Are there side effects of Melatonin?
Reported side effects may include Daytime drowsiness, Headache, Dizziness, Nausea. Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.
How strong is the evidence for Melatonin and Insomnia?
We rate the evidence as Grade A (Strong). This rating is based on 119 peer-reviewed studies with 44,370 total participants. The overall direction of effect is positive.

Related Evidence

FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The evidence grades presented are based on our analysis of published peer-reviewed research and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.