Circadin is a prolonged-release formulation of melatonin that slowly releases its active ingredient over the course of 8 to 10 hours. This mimics the body's natural pattern of melatonin release to help promote and maintain sleep throughout the night.
In total, melatonin stays in your system for about four to five hours. One small study examined melatonin levels in blood samples from a group of healthy male adults after taking an oral 10 milligram dose of the supplement. The researchers found that on average melatonin levels dropped to zero after five hours.
Melatonin is the primary regulatory hormone of circadian rhythm and plays an important role in initiating and maintaining sleep. It is synthesized from serotonin (Figure 1) and secreted by the pineal gland. Levels peak around 2 am at concentrations 10 to 100 times daytime levels.
The usual starting dose is one 2mg slow release tablet taken 30 minutes to 1 hour before bedtime. Sometimes the dose may gradually be increased to 2 to 3 tablets before bedtime, depending on how well it works and whether you have any side effects. The maximum dose is 5 tablets (10mg) once daily.
Always take CIRCADIN® 2 mg exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. The dose is one tablet at night, after food, 1-2 hours before bedtime, for a maximum of 3 weeks.
Circadin is indicated as monotherapy for the short-term treatment of primary insomnia characterised by poor quality of sleep in patients who are aged 55 or over. The recommended dose is 2 mg once daily, 1-2 hours before bedtime and after food. This dosage may be continued for up to thirteen weeks.
Melatonin doesn't knock you out as many prescription sleeping pills do, so it's important to take it about two hours before you go to bed. However, some people may benefit from taking melatonin as late as 30 minutes before bedtime. If you wait too late to take your melatonin, you may feel groggy when you wake up.
Furthermore, ramelteon was found to be about 10 times more potent than melatonin in promoting sleep.
The hormone primarily responsible for waking you up at 3 a.m. is cortisol, the body's stress hormone, which naturally starts to rise around that time to prepare you for the day, but can spike too high due to stress, anxiety, or lifestyle factors, jolting you awake. While melatonin (sleep hormone) is declining and cortisol is increasing as part of your natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm), an overactive stress response or other issues can make this rise disruptive, causing early morning awakenings.
You could go into a very deep sleep and have difficulty waking up. Stimulant drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines have the opposite effect to melatonin and will stop it working to help you sleep. Talk to a doctor if you think you might use recreational drugs while you're taking melatonin.
The best time to take melatonin is when you can sleep for at least six hours. With less than six hours of sleep, the additional melatonin may leave you groggier than usual and tired the next day. Therefore, you do not want to take melatonin in the morning or when you won't be able to sleep long enough.
Many users of melatonin wonder, “Does melatonin make you oversleep?” Melatonin won't necessarily make you oversleep if taken in the right dosage and timing. However, excessive doses or improper timing can lead to grogginess or drowsiness upon waking.
What cancels naturally occurring melatonin sleep hormone? Because melatonin is triggered by darkness, being exposed to light at night can block melatonin production, especially the blue light from digital devices such as cell phones.
It can also raise your risk of low blood glucose, low blood pressure, and bleeding if you take it with other medications that have these effects. It's best to avoid taking melatonin with alcohol, cannabis, and other medications that cause drowsiness. This includes medications like Benadryl, diazepam, and opioids.
How is CIRCADIN different from other Melatonin tablets? Circadin has a specific, prolonged release formulation which means the melatonin is slowly released over the course of 8 to 10 hours and mimics the body's natural pattern of melatonin release.
Most common side effects of melatonin overdose are drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, headache, confusion, nightmare, hypotension, tachycardia and hypothermia. Supportive measures and control of vital signs are essential for an early discharge of the patient.
Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines, such as Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), and Valium (diazepam), are fast-acting medications that can provide immediate relief for anxiety.
What does melatonin do to your body? Melatonin supplements give your body more of the hormone that helps regulate your sleep. For some people, melatonin supplements have a hypnotic effect and help get them to sleep. It can increase your quality of sleep, how quickly you fall asleep and how long you sleep.
“Read a book, with just enough lights on so that you can see the print comfortably. If your mind is racing (perhaps you're going over a work presentation you'll give in the morning or trying to solve a problem in your life), distract yourself by listening to quiet music or a recorded book for a few minutes.
Taking too much melatonin can result in a "melatonin hangover." Uncomfortable side effects can occur the next day, such as headaches, daytime sleepiness, dizziness, mood changes, upset stomach, intense dreams, disorientation, or confusion.
Take CIRCADIN only when prescribed by your doctor. The standard dose of CIRCADIN is one tablet once a day. There is no evidence that taking more than the recommended dose will increase the effect of CIRCADIN.
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.
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.