In Australia, you can buy some specific melatonin products over the counter from a pharmacist, but for most people and uses, a prescription is required.
In Australia, melatonin is only approved for use in children as a prescription-only medicine in limited circumstances. Specifically, melatonin is approved for the treatment of insomnia in children and adolescents (2-18 years) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Smith-Magenis syndrome.
If you're aged over 55 years, you can buy a slow-release form of melatonin over the counter. All other people need a prescription.
There is no age where melatonin is inappropriate. It's legitimately a substance you'd have to take a shit ton of to overdose on and get clinically significant side effects. They are not dangerous nor addictive. They're often used to fix inappropriate sleep cycles.
In some countries, melatonin is available to buy in health food shops or online. It's sold as a complementary medicine and comes as standard capsules, tablets or a liquid that you drink. However, these supplements are not authorised for sale in the UK and it's a prescription-only medicine.
Buy Melatonin Wagner Health 2mg Tablets 30 (Aged 55+ only) - Melatonin (S3) online at Chemist Warehouse.
Doctors often don't prescribe melatonin because strong evidence for its long-term effectiveness and safety is limited, especially for general insomnia, with behavioral therapies like CBT-I preferred as initial treatments, plus concerns exist about unregulated supplement quality (incorrect dosages, contaminants) and unknown long-term effects, particularly in children, where behavioral approaches are usually better. While approved in specific cases (like for children with autism), it's generally a short-term option, not a first-line fix for most adults or kids.
New TGA safety advice on imported melatonin
One product contained more than 400% of the labelled content and another containing no melatonin at all. The TGA recommends that consumers stop using unregistered melatonin products immediately and take any remaining items to their local pharmacy for safe disposal.
To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to melatonin or any other medicine. have liver or kidney problems. have rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or lupus, or any other autoimmune condition.
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Milk, nuts, cherries, fish, rice, goji berries, and oats contain melatonin. Avoid spicy food, chocolate, tomatoes, pizza, and citrus fruits before bed. Your daily diet and sleep hygiene are key to improving sleep.
Top 7 effective alternatives to melatonin
The most common side effects of melatonin supplements are drowsiness and headaches. Many people experience vivid dreams and nightmares while taking melatonin. At higher doses, some people have other side effects including: Feeling confused and disoriented.
And even if you're over 55, you need prescription if you are looking for more than 2mg. Australia's careful approach ensures melatonin is used safely under medical supervision, reducing the risk of side effects and interactions with other medications.
Doxylamine is one of the strongest OTC sleep aids. It is an antihistamine. However, it is only suitable for short-term use. A person should contact a doctor and check that doxylamine is safe for them to use before taking it.
In Australia, the best melatonin depends on your needs: Circadin (prescription for under 55s, OTC for over 55s) is a slow-release, natural-mimicking option for primary insomnia, while compounded or TGA-approved products are safest, as many imported supplements have quality/dosage issues, according to Healthdirect and the TGA. For reliable quality, stick to prescription forms or reputable Australian pharmacies; avoid unregulated online imports due to potential for inaccurate dosing, advises Sleep Health Foundation and TGA.
Melatonin is available on prescription only. It comes as standard tablets, slow release tablets, capsules and a liquid that you drink.
DALLAS, Nov. 3, 2025 — Long-term use of melatonin supplements, often used to promote sleep and address insomnia, was associated with a higher risk of heart failure diagnosis, heart failure hospitalization and death from any cause in chronic insomnia, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American ...
Cautions with other medicines
Some Americans think melatonin is a natural sleep aid and take extremely high doses of the supplement on a nightly basis. But experts say melatonin isn't meant to be used the same way as a sleeping pill, and overusing melatonin can come with health risks.
Melatonin isn't entirely banned in Australia, but it's a prescription-only medicine for most uses, especially for children, due to safety concerns about unregulated online products, significant overdoses in kids (often mistaking gummies for lollies), and concerns about long-term effects, leading to warnings and restrictions on importing unregistered versions that lack Australian quality standards and have inaccurate dosages. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) only approves it for specific conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children, while parents often buy unregulated versions online, creating a public health issue.
Melatonin is now available over the counter Chemist Warehouse.
If melatonin does seem to help, it's safe for most people to take nightly for one to two months. “After that, stop and see how your sleep is,” he suggests. “Be sure you're also relaxing before bed, keeping the lights low and sleeping in a cool, dark, comfortable bedroom for optimal results.”
Foods with melatonin
Furthermore, ramelteon was found to be about 10 times more potent than melatonin in promoting sleep.
Because melatonin can cause drowsiness, don't drive or use machinery within five hours of taking it. Melatonin supplements can interact with some types of medicine, including: Medicine that slows blood clotting. Medicine that prevents seizures.