melatonin vs tasimelteon
Side-by-side comparison of melatonin and tasimelteon. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
7.3 Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists (e.g., acebutolol, metoprolol) Beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists have been shown to reduce the production of melatonin via specific inhibition of beta-1 adrenergic receptors.
Recommendation: Talk to your doctor before taking over-the-counter melatonin with this prescription sleep medicine. They may advise you to avoid using both at the same time.
Melatonin
Hetlioz
Melatonin is a hormone supplement that can help with sleep. You should take it 15 minutes before eating.
Tasimelteon (Hetlioz) is a medicine that helps people with Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) sleep better. It works by acting like melatonin in your body.
This medicine is used to help with sleep problems. It can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Talk to your doctor if your sleep problems continue.
Tasimelteon is used to treat Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) in adults. Non-24 is a condition where your body's natural sleep-wake cycle is longer than 24 hours. This medicine can help you sleep better at night.
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain makes. It helps control your sleep and wake cycles. Taking this medicine adds more melatonin to your body.
Tasimelteon is a melatonin receptor agonist. This means it works like melatonin, a natural hormone in your body that helps regulate sleep. By acting like melatonin, tasimelteon helps to adjust your body's sleep-wake cycle.
- • Tiredness
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Increased liver enzyme (alanine aminotransferase)
- • Nightmares or unusual dreams
- • Upper respiratory tract infection
- • Urinary tract infection
- Tiredness 4,195
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,592
- Loose stools 2,865
- Head pain 2,797
- Difficulty breathing 2,437
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep 727
- Waking up in the middle of the night 412
- Sleepiness 408
- Headache 384
- Nightmare 268
No specific warnings noted.
After taking tasimelteon, limit your activities to getting ready for bed. This medicine can make you sleepy and affect your ability to think clearly.
It is not known if this medicine is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor before taking it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
There isn't enough information about using tasimelteon during pregnancy to know if it's safe. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if tasimelteon passes into breast milk, so discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.
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How to Read This melatonin vs tasimelteon Comparison
melatonin is classified in the Hormone Supplement (Sleep Aid) drug class, while tasimelteon sits within the Melatonin Receptor Agonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, melatonin has 15,886 submissions while tasimelteon has 2,199. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these products target the same sleep receptors in your brain. using them together could cause excessive sleepiness or change how the prescription medicine works.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between melatonin and tasimelteon - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.