Is it safe to take melatonin with benzodiazepines?

The short answer

Melatonin and benzodiazepines can overlap in their effects on the brain and body. Melatonin is a hormone that helps signal sleep timing, while benzodiazepines are sedatives that can reduce anxiety and promote sleep but also slow reaction time.

Used together, the main concern is additive sedation. That can mean deeper sleepiness than you expect, poorer balance, and impaired Cognitive Functions the next day.

Most guidelines and medication safety principles suggest avoiding unnecessary combinations of sedating substances, especially when you are starting, changing doses, or taking them “as needed.” A pharmacist can often tell you quickly whether your specific benzodiazepine and melatonin plan is reasonable.

Important: Do not use melatonin to try to “boost” the effect of a benzodiazepine or to replace medical guidance about tapering. Benzodiazepines can cause dependence and withdrawal, and changes should be supervised.

Why the combination can be risky

The risk is less about a dangerous chemical reaction and more about how the effects stack.

Benzodiazepines commonly cause drowsiness, slowed thinking, and reduced coordination. Melatonin can also cause sleepiness, vivid dreams, and morning grogginess in some people, particularly at higher doses or if taken too late at night.

When you combine them, you may be more likely to:

If you already use a benzodiazepine as a Comfort Drug for anxiety or sleep, adding melatonin can also blur the line between a targeted sleep aid and a broader sedative routine. That is a good moment to check in with a clinician about the overall plan.

Who should be especially cautious

Some people have a much smaller margin of safety with sedatives.

Be extra cautious, and consider avoiding the combination unless a clinician specifically recommends it, if any of the following apply:

Your personal risk also depends on dose, timing, and sensitivity. A Family History of substance use disorder or prior difficulty stopping sedatives is worth mentioning to your clinician, because it can change how cautious the plan should be.

Practical guidance if a clinician okays it

If your prescriber or pharmacist agrees that melatonin is reasonable with your benzodiazepine, the goal is usually the lowest effective approach and the cleanest timing.

Start with a low melatonin dose. Generally recommended practice is to begin low and only increase if needed, since higher doses are more likely to cause morning grogginess or vivid dreams.

Take it at an appropriate time. Many people do best taking melatonin 1 to 2 hours before the desired bedtime, rather than in the middle of the night.

Avoid stacking sedatives on the same evening when possible. If your benzodiazepine is taken “as needed,” ask whether you should skip melatonin on nights you take the benzodiazepine, or vice versa.

Pro Tip: Keep a simple 1 week log of bedtime, wake time, melatonin timing, and how you feel the next morning. Bring it to your appointment, it helps clinicians spot timing problems quickly.

When to stop and get medical help

Call a clinician promptly if you notice symptoms that suggest the combination is too sedating for you.

Stop the melatonin and seek urgent medical care (or emergency services) if you have severe confusion, trouble staying awake, slowed or difficult breathing, or you cannot be safely awakened.

Seek same day medical advice if you experience:

If you are trying to reduce or stop a benzodiazepine, do not add melatonin as a substitute plan without guidance. Withdrawal and rebound insomnia can require a structured taper and monitoring.