Circadin (Melatonin)
- Helps the body adjust it's natural sleep pattern
- Contains the natural hormone, Melatonin
- Used to treat Jet Lag and changes in shift work schedules

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What is Circadin (melatonin)
Circadin is the brand name for melatonin, which is a naturally occurring hormone in your body that helps to control your sleep patterns. Circadin (melatonin) is a medicine to ease the symptoms of jet lag in people who are travelling over several time zones.
It is a prescription-only medication.
You can buy Circadin online from Medicine Direct after an online consultation with a certified doctor. After reviewing your answers in our simple online questionnaire, one of our registered health professional will prescribe this medicine for you. You can then order it from our registered online pharmacy. Place your order by 2pm and you will receive free next day delivery.
What is Circadin (melatonin) used to treat?
Circadin tablets are used to ease the symptoms associated with jet lag, which occurs when people travel across several different time zones in a short period of time.
Melatonin is the active ingredient contained in Circadin tablets. This hormone helps to regulate your body clock, acting on chemical receptors in the brain which will help you to sleep. Taking Circadin (melatonin) tablets will help to alter your normal circadian rhythm; this means you will be able to sleep when it is dark in your new time zone, as well as lessening the effects of jet lag.
Benefits of Circadin
Unlike other forms of medication to help you sleep, Circadin will not make you feel tired or groggy in the morning. This medication does not depress your central nervous system, unlike certain other hypnotic drugs and sleeping tablets.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
You are not advised to use Circadin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as there is not enough research to prove that this medicine is safe for your baby.
Small amounts of melatonin will pass into the breast milk, which can make your baby feel sleepier than normal.
Before you start taking Circadin, you should inform your doctor if you are currently pregnant, think you might be pregnant, are trying to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Dosage
Always take Circadin (melatonin) tablets exactly as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist. Read the patient information leaflet thoroughly before you start taking the medication. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for further guidance if you are still not sure how to take it.
If a doctor has prescribed melatonin for your child, follow their instructions very carefully.
For sleep problems and jet lag in adults, your doctor will prescribe 2mg slow-release tablets.
Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. They may instruct you to take Circadin two or three times a week, not each night.
Melatonin should not be taken for prolonged periods of time. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe it for you to use for up to 13 weeks.
Directions
For sleep problems, adults should take one 2mg tablet 1 to 2 hours before going to bed. Melatonin takes a couple of hours before it starts to work.
For jet lag, take one tablet at your normal bedtime when you arrive at the destination (no earlier than 10pm and no later than 4am). You can use Circadin for up to 5 consecutive nights. The number of days you will need to use this medication is the number of time zones divided by two, then add an extra day. If you have been across four time zones, divided four by two then ad an extra day. This would mean you would need to use Circadin for three days.
Swallow Circadin tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew the tablets.
Take Circadin after food.
What if I forget to take it?
If you miss a dose of melatonin at bedtime, skip the missed dose and take it the next day at bedtime.
Never take two doses at the same time and never take a double dose to try and make up for missing a previous one.
What if I take too much?
An extra dose of melatonin is unlikely to do you any harm.
If you take too much melatonin, you should call 111 if you start to feel unwell.
If you are advised to go to hospital, do not drive yourself; get someone else to take you and take your medication and its packaging with you.
Who should and should not use Circadin (melatonin)?
Circadin tablets may not be suitable for everyone to use.
Melatonin medicines are normally prescribed to adults over the age of 55, to help relieve short-term sleep problems, such as jet lag.
If recommended by a doctor, adults under this age and children may also be prescribed Circadin.
You should not use this medication without speaking to your doctor first if:
- You are allergic to melatonin or any of the other ingredients contained in this medication (please refer to the Ingredients tab for a full list)
- You have had an allergic reaction to melatonin or any other medicines in the past
- You suffer from lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or any other autoimmune condition
- You have any liver or kidney problems
What is melatonin?
How do I take Circadin tablets to prevent jet lag?
What’s the difference between Circadin tablets and melatonin tablets you can buy in health food shop?
When is the best time to take Circadin?
Can you take alcohol and Circadin together?
Does Circadin contain gluten?
Is Circadin suitable for vegetarians?e
What to do if you miss a dose of Circadin?
How often can you use Circadin?
How does Circadin help me sleep?
For how long should I take Circadin?
What are the benefits of Circadin?
What is jet lag?
What is the so called 'body clock'?
How does jet lag actually occur?
Side effects
Like all medicines, Circadin comes with the risk of certain side effects, although these will not affect everyone who takes it.
Melatonin medicines will not normally cause adverse effects in people, although the following reactions occur in more than 1 in 100 people:
- Headaches
- Abnormal dreams or night sweats
- Feeling dizzy
- Feeling sleepy or tired during the day
- Feeling sick
- Feeling restless or irritable
- Dry or itchy skin
- Pains in your arms or legs
- Dry mouth
You should speak to your doctor or pharmacist if any of these reactions bother you or do not go away.
Please note, this list is not exhaustive. Please read the serious Side Effects section on this page for information on rarer and more serious adverse effects you might experience while taking this medicine.
Side Effects
A list of common side effects of Circadin can be found on the main product page.
Serious side effects of this medication are rare, occurring in less than 1 in every 1,000 people who use it.
Nonetheless, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience any of the following:
- You get psoriasis
- You feel faint or pass out
- You start to feel sad or low (this may be a sign of depression)
- You have any unexplained bruising or bleeding that does not stop, or you have blood in your urine
- You start to feel dizzy, confused or things seem to be spinning around you
- Your eyes become watery or you have blurred vision
Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you have heart palpitations or chest pain.
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, you might experience a serious allergic reaction to Circadin.
You must call 999 or go to A&E straight away if:
- You have swelling in your face, throat, mouth, lips or tongue
- You have tightness in your chest or throat
- You are wheezing
- You get a skin rash that may have red, itchy, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
- You are finding it difficult to breathe or speak
You may require immediate treatment in hospital.
Always read the patient information leaflet for comprehensive details on side effects.
If you have any concerns about side effects, we strongly advise you to discuss these worries with your doctor or pharmacist, before you start taking this medication.
Warnings and drug interactions
Please make sure you inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are currently taking any other medicines. This includes prescription and non-prescription medication, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements.
In particular, make sure you inform them if you are taking any of the following:
- Any antidepressants
- Blood pressure medication
- Any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen
- Oestrogen medicines (used in hormone replacement therapy and contraceptives)
- Opiate agonists or antagonists (used for drug addiction)
- Psoralens
- Warfarin (blood thinners)
- Thioridazine
- Zaleplon, zolpidem or zopiclone
- Tryptophan supplements
- Quinolones or rifampicin
- Cimetidine
- Carbamazepine
Do not mix Circadin with herbal remedies; mixing melatonin with herbal remedies can increase the sedating effects, making you feel even sleepier.
Always read the patient information leaflet for comprehensive details on warnings and precautions to take.
If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of this medication, we strongly advise you to speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Ingredients
The active ingredient contained in this medicine is 2mg melatonin.
Inactive ingredients also contained are: Ammonio methacrylate copolymer type B, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, silica (colloidal anhydrous), lactose monohydrate, talc and magnesium stearate.
This content has been written by our Superintendent Pharmacist Hussain Abdeh and has been medically reviewed by our Pharmacist Sonia Khan
Hussain Abdeh
MPharm: 2211840
Pharmacist Independent Prescriber
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- 1 Choose your treatment Select the treatment or medication you need and answer a few questions online regarding your condition.
- 2 Online consultation Our Independent Prescribers will review your questions and assess your suitability for the medication.
- 3 Receive your delivery Your medication is dispensed and delivered directly to you from our UK based Pharmacy.
