Yes, melatonin can cause anxiety or make some people feel nervous, restless, or agitated, but this appears to be uncommon. More typical side effects include drowsiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, vivid dreams, irritability, and mood changes.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Can melatonin trigger anxiety? | Yes, occasionally. |
| Is anxiety a common side effect? | No. It is not among the usual side effects reported in clinical studies. |
| Does melatonin usually reduce anxiety? | Some studies found less anxiety before surgery, but that does not make melatonin a general anxiety treatment. |
| What should you do if anxiety starts after taking it? | Pause further doses and speak with a pharmacist or healthcare professional before restarting. |
Why Might Melatonin Cause Anxiety?
Melatonin may cause anxiety-like symptoms because of individual sensitivity, dose, timing, dreams, medicine interactions, or differences in supplement strength.
- Individual sensitivity: Some people develop restlessness, irritability, agitation, mood changes, or nightmares after taking melatonin.
- Dose or timing: Higher doses and taking melatonin at the wrong time may increase unwanted effects. Research reviews suggest that side effects can vary with dose and timing.
- Vivid dreams or nightmares: Disturbing dreams can cause panic or anxiety after waking.
- Medicine interactions: Melatonin can interact with fluvoxamine, amitriptyline, benzodiazepines, some blood pressure medicines, seizure medicines, warfarin, and other sedatives. These interactions may increase side effects or change how melatonin works.
- Differences in supplement strength: In the United States, melatonin is sold as a dietary supplement. The FDA does not approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they reach the market, and the amount in a product may not always match the label.
Does Melatonin Usually Help or Worsen Anxiety?
Melatonin does not consistently worsen anxiety. Some research suggests that it may reduce anxiety before surgery compared with a placebo. Those studies examined short-term anxiety linked to surgery, not everyday generalized anxiety or panic disorder.
The evidence points to a limited conclusion: melatonin may reduce anxiety in some medical situations, but it can cause anxiety-like symptoms in certain people. It should not be used as a routine treatment for anxiety without professional advice.
What Should You Do If Melatonin Makes You Anxious?
If anxiety, panic, restlessness, or palpitations begin soon after you take melatonin:
- Do not take another dose until you have spoken with a pharmacist or healthcare professional.
- Record the product, dose, time taken, and symptoms.
- Check whether the product contains other ingredients, such as herbs or sedatives.
- Review your medicines and supplements with a pharmacist, especially antidepressants, sleeping pills, seizure medicines, blood thinners, and blood pressure medicines.
- Seek medical advice if symptoms continue after you stop melatonin, become severe, or interfere with sleep and daily activities.
The FDA advises stopping a supplement and seeking medical advice after a suspected adverse event.
When Is Anxiety After Melatonin an Emergency?
Seek urgent medical help if anxiety occurs with:
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling of the lips, mouth, throat, or tongue
- Fainting
- Severe confusion or dizziness
- A severe or rapidly worsening reaction
These symptoms may indicate a serious reaction rather than ordinary melatonin-related anxiety.
The Bottom Line
Melatonin can cause anxiety in some people, but anxiety is not a typical side effect. If anxiety repeatedly starts after you take melatonin, pause the supplement and ask a pharmacist or clinician whether the dose, timing, product, medicine interactions, or an underlying anxiety condition may be contributing.