Is Melatonin Safe with Paroxetine?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Use melatonin cautiously with paroxetine. If used for sleep, start at the lowest effective dose (0.5–1 mg) and use under prescriber supervision. Do not self-initiate without medical guidance.
Why this interaction occurs
Paroxetine inhibits CYP1A2, the primary enzyme responsible for melatonin metabolism. This inhibition can significantly elevate melatonin plasma levels, potentially causing excessive sedation, dizziness, and hypotension. Additionally, SSRIs may independently suppress endogenous melatonin secretion, creating a complex interaction.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 53,308 reports mentioning Paroxetine. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Paroxetine + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Melatonin interactions → · All Paroxetine interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.