4.1. Therapeutic indications

Melatonin tablets are indicated for:

- Short term treatment of jet lag in adults (see section 5.1).

- Insomnia in children and adolescents aged 6–17 years with ADHD where sleep hygiene measures have been insufficient.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adults with jet lag

The recommended dose is 1–5 mg for a maximum of 5 days. The maximum daily dose is 5 mg once daily.

The dose should be taken at the time of destination bedtime for journeys of 5 time zones or longer, especially when traveling in an easterly direction.

Due to the potential for incorrectly timed intake of melatonin to have no effect, or an adverse effect, on re-synchronisation following jet lag, melatonin should not be taken before 20:00 hr or after 04:00 hr at destination.

As alcohol can impair sleep and potentially worsen certain symptoms of jet lag (e.g. headache, morning fatigue, concentration) it is recommended that alcohol is not consumed when taking melatonin.

A maximum of 16 treatment cycles may occur per year.

Insomnia in children and adolescents with ADHD

Treatment should be initiated by physicians experienced in ADHD and/or paediatric sleep medicine.

Recommended starting dose of melatonin: 1–2 mg 30–60 minutes before bedtime.

The dose of melatonin can be increased by 1 mg every week until effect up to a maximum 5 mg per day, independent of age. The lowest effective dose should be sought.

Limited data are available for up to 3 years of treatment. After at least 3 months of treatment, the physician should evaluate the treatment effect and consider stopping treatment if no clinically relevant treatment effect is seen. The patient should be monitored at regular intervals (at least every 6 months) to check that melatonin is still the most appropriate treatment. During ongoing treatment, especially if the treatment effect is uncertain, discontinuation attempts should be done regularly, e.g. once per year.

If the sleep disorder has started during treatment with medicinal products for ADHD, dose adjustment or switching to another product should be considered.

Other formulations and strengths suitable for paediatric patients may also be available on the market.

Special populations

Elderly

As the pharmacokinetics of melatonin (immediate release) is comparable in young adults and elderly persons in general, no specific dosage recommendations for elderly persons are provided (see section 5.2).

Renal impairment

The effect of any stage of renal impairment on melatonin pharmacokinetics has not been studied. Caution should be used when melatonin is administered to patients with renal impairment.

Hepatic impairment

Limited data indicate that plasma clearance of melatonin is significantly reduced in patients with liver cirrhosis. Melatonin is not recommended in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (see section 5.2).

Children below 6 years of age

Melatonin is not recommended for children below 6 years with ADHD.

Method of administration

Oral use.

The tablet can be crushed and mixed with water directly before the administration.

Food can enhance the increase in plasma melatonin concentration (see section 5.2). Intake of melatonin with carbohydrate-rich meals may impair blood glucose control for several hours (see section 4.4). It is recommended that food is not consumed 2 h before and 2 h after intake of melatonin.

4.3. Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Melatonin may cause drowsiness. Melatonin should be used with caution if the effects of drowsiness are likely to be associated with a risk to patient safety.

Elderly

Exposure levels to melatonin after oral administration in young and moderately older adults are comparable. It is unclear if significantly older persons are especially sensitive to exogenous melatonin. Caution should therefore be exercised in treatment of this age group and individual dosage is recommended.

Immunological diseases

Occasional case reports have described exacerbation of an autoimmune disease in patients taking melatonin. There are no data regarding use of melatonin tablets in patients with autoimmune diseases. Melatonin is not recommended in patients with autoimmune diseases.

Epilepsy

Melatonin has been reported to increase, decrease and have no effect on seizure frequency. Because of the uncertainty of the effect of melatonin on epileptic seizures, some caution should be exercised for use in people with epilepsy.

Diabetes

Limited data suggest that melatonin taken in close proximity to ingestion of carbohydrate-rich meals may impair blood glucose control for several hours. Melatonin tablets should be taken at least 2 hours before and at least 2 hours after a meal; ideally at least 3 hours after meal by persons with significantly impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Pharmacokinetic interactions

Melatonin is mainly metabolised by CYP1A enzymes. Interactions between melatonin and other active substances that affect CYP1A enzymes are therefore possible.

CYP1A2 inhibitors

CYP1A2 inhibitors may increase the plasma concentrations of melatonin considerably. Concomitant treatment with melatonin and the CYP1A2 inhibitor fluvoxamine (also a CYP2C19 inhibitor) should be avoided. Caution should be exercised when melatonin is used concomitantly with the following CYP1A2 inhibitors: ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and verapamil.

Combined hormonal contraception: Contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol and gestagen can inhibit CYP1A2 and lead to a 4-5 times increase of the melatonin concentration. The dose of melatonin may need to be reduced.

Hormonal substitution therapy: In post-menopausal women, hormonal substitution therapy has been reported to delay melatonin Tmax without other effects on the melatonin concentration or melatonin rhythm.

Through interaction with moderately pronounced inhibitors of CYP1A2, increase of the plasma concentration of melatonin is expected. Caution is therefore indicated in patients taking 5- or 8-methoxypsoralen (5 or 8-MOP), cimetidine or caffeine.

Caution is indicated in patients taking cimetidine, since this agent increases plasma melatonin levels by inhibiting its metabolism by CYP1A.

CYP1A2 inducers

CYP1A2 inducers may decrease the plasma concentrations of melatonin.

Dose adjustment of melatonin may be needed if given concomitantly with the following CYP1A2 inducers: carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin, omeprazole and cigarette smoking (halved exposure compared to after 7 days of smoking abstinence).

Pharmacodynamic interactions

Adrenergic agonists/antagonists, opiate agonists/antagonists, antidepressants, prostaglandin inhibitors, tryptophan and alcohol affect the endogenous secretion of melatonin in the epiphysis, but do not affect the metabolism of melatonin. It is not known if these interactions are of clinical significance.

Alcohol

Alcohol should not be used concomitantly with melatonin since it may reduce the effect of melatonin on sleep.

Nifedipine

Melatonin may reduce the hypotensive effect of nifedipine. Caution must be taken during concomitant use of melatonin and adjustment of the nifedipine dose may be needed. As it is not known if this is a class effect, caution should be exercised when combining melatonin and other calcium antagonists.

Warfarin

It has been reported in case reports that concomitant use of melatonin and vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin can lead to either increased or decreased prothrombin levels, and a study has shown decreased levels of factor VIII:C and fibrinogen. The combination of warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists with melatonin may require dose adjustment of the anticoagulant drugs and should be avoided.

Benzodiazepine-related hypnotics

Melatonin may enhance the sedative properties of benzodiazepine-related hypnotics, e.g. zolpidem. Concomitant treatment with melatonin should be avoided.

NSAIDs

Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors (NSAIDs) such as acetylsalicylic acid and ibuprofen, taken in the evening, may suppress endogenous melatonin levels. If possible, administration of NSAIDs should be avoided in the evening.

Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers may suppress the endogenous melatonin and should therefore be administered in the morning.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are no data from the use of melatonin in pregnant women. Animal studies are incomplete regarding effects on pregnancy, embryonic / fetal development, childbirth and postnatal development (see section 5.3). Exogenous melatonin readily crosses the human placenta. Considering the lack of clinical data, treatment with melatonin is not recommended during pregnancy or in women of childbearing potential not using contraceptives.

Breastfeeding

Data from animal studies indicate maternal transfer of melatonin to the foetus via the placenta or in the milk. Endogenous melatonin has also been measured in breast milk from breast-feeding women, and therefore exogenous melatonin is most likely also excreted in human milk. Melatonin is therefore not recommended to breastfeeding women.

Fertility

No adequate data on the effect of melatonin on human fertility are available. Animal studies are incomplete in terms of effects on fertility. High doses of melatonin and use for longer periods than indicated may compromise fertility in humans.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Melatonin has moderate effect on the ability to drive and use machines. Melatonin may cause drowsiness and should therefore be used with caution if the effects of drowsiness are likely to be associated with a safety risk.

4.8. Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

Melatonin causes few, and no serious, adverse reactions in the short term, up to three months. Long-term effects are poorly studied. Reported adverse reactions to melatonin are mainly headache, nausea and fatigue in both adults and children. These adverse reactions are however also common for placebo-treated patients in presented clinical studies and there is no significant difference between patients who received active treatments and placebo in these studies.

No common or very common adverse reactions have been reported.

Adverse reactions in adults are listed according to MedDRA system organ class and presented within each frequency category according to the following: Very common (≥1/10); Common (≥1/100 to <1/10); Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); Very rare (<1/10,000); Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

System organ class

Common

Uncommon

Rare

Not known

Infections and infestations

Herpes zoster

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia

Immune system disorders

Hypersensitivity reaction

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

Hypertriglyceridemia, hypocalcaemia, hyponatraemia

Hyperglycaemia

Psychiatric disorders

Irritability, nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, abnormal dreams, nightmares, anxiety

Mood altered, aggression, agitation, crying, stress symptoms, disorientation, early morning awakening, libido increased, depressed mood, depression

Nervous system disorders

Headache, somnolence

Migraine, lethargy, psychomotor hyperactivity, dizziness

Syncope, memory impairment, disturbance in attention, dreamy state, restless legs syndrome, poor quality sleep, paraesthesia

Eye disorders

Visual acuity reduced, vision blurred, lacrimation increased

Ear and labyrinth disorders

Vertigo positional, vertigo

Cardiac disorders

Angina pectoris, palpitations

Vascular disorders

Hypertension

Hot flush

Gastrointestinal disorders

Abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper, dyspepsia, mouth ulceration, dry mouth, nausea

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal disorder, oral mucosal blistering, tongue ulceration, gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, bowel sounds abnormal, flatulence, salivary hypersecretion, halitosis, abdominal discomfort, gastric disorder, gastritis

Hepatobiliary disorders

Hyperbilirubinemia

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Dermatitis, night sweats, pruritus, rash, pruritus generalised, dry skin

Eczema, erythema, hand dermatitis, psoriasis, rash generalised, rash pruritic, nail disorder

Angioedema, oedema of mouth, tongue oedema

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

Pain in extremity

Arthritis, muscle spasms, neck pain, night cramps

Renal and urinary disorders

Glycosuria, proteinuria

Polyuria, haematuria, nocturia

Reproductive system and breast disorders

Menopausal symptoms

Priapism, prostatitis

Galactorrhoea

General disorders and administration site conditions

Asthenia, chest pain

Fatigue, pain, thirst

Investigations

Liver function test abnormal, weight increased

Hepatic enzyme increased, blood electrolytes abnormal, laboratory test abnormal

Paediatric population

A low frequency of in general mild adverse reactions have been reported in the paediatric population. The number of adverse reactions has not differed significantly between children who have received placebo compared to melatonin. The most common adverse reactions were headache, hyperactivity, dizziness and abdominal pain. No serious adverse reactions have been observed.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Drowsiness, headache, dizziness, and nausea are the most commonly reported signs and symptoms of overdose with oral melatonin.

Daily doses of 20-50 mg as well as 300 mg in up to 2 years have been reported in the literature, without any clinically significant adverse reactions.

One dose of 250 mg taken 4 times daily during 25-30 days have only been reported to cause drowsiness/sleepiness. Also, in several cases of reported overdosing, mildly to moderately severe somnolence was the most commonly reported adverse reaction.

After doses of 3.0-6.6 grams for 15-36 days, 6 of 11 patients reported somnolence during daytime and 4 of 11 patients reported stomach cramps, diarrhoea or migraine headaches.

Clearance of the active substance is expected within 12 hours of ingestion. A physician should assess if conventional overdose measures should be taken.