Melatonin and Headaches: What Users Say

• Rob...
• July 3, 2021

For Insomnia "I have used melatonin for insomnia. It helps me fall asleep faster, but frequent urination from 5 am wakes me up, which is not normal. Then in the morning, feeling anxious and depressed for no specific reason, dizzy and tearful all day, fatigue and tiredness all day, unable to take my simple daily walk on a beach. Questioning my life and very dark mood. Nausea and no appetite all day, sleepy all day, headache. I took only 2.5 mg for 4 days and then stopped. Feeling fine after 2 days. During these two days, I felt very dizzy, nauseated, and tired. To be sure, I tested it once again a month later, took only 1.25 mg for 3 days, and each day was worse than the day before. It doesn't matter on the dosage, both times, I feel bad with all side effects mentioned above. I found out a much better alternative is Magnesium Glycinate supplement, which does not have any side effects on me. Simply took 100-200 mg magnesium pills and fell asleep within an hour, slept well till morning with no side effects the next day."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2019

For Insomnia "Followed instructions, only took once. Fell asleep 2 hours after taking it. 11 PM. Slept for 6 hours but was getting up to urinate every hour, which is not normal for me. Very alert when I woke at 5 AM. Had a cup of tea, and then the nausea, headache, anxiety, depression, and lightheadedness came on. My neck feels strange. Felt like I could throw up and no appetite. Would never recommend these."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2019

For Insomnia "I have tried melatonin three times. It is truly awful! It made me go into a very light sleep, but it still felt like I haven't slept. It gave me headaches, very low mood, sadness, eye twitching, anxiety, weird dreams, and felt completely out of it and dazed all day, which isn't good for life or work. I'm going to seek natural methods. Never taking it again. I heard today that staying really hydrated helps sleep. I'm also going to try the following: valerian root, lavender oil, ginkgo biloba, magnesium, and passion flower tea."

• hei...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 8, 2016

For Insomnia "CAUTION with the dosage of this thing. I've seen from 0.3 mg to 10 mg being sold. Got a really bad headache the next day when taking 1 mg before sleep. Also tried the 0.3 mg and got sleepy the next day, yawning all day long. It really 'causes' sleep, you'll feel sleepy, but not relaxed at all. It's not like a benzodiazepine (alprazolam/clonazepam/etc). If you already feel your eyes dry/red and yawning, you don't need this! And try the lowest dose you can find. I'm still trying to find something lower than 0.3 mg because even that dosage seems too much for me. Have been fighting with my 'internal clock' since I was a kid. It seems my brain always wants to sleep later and later, and that feeling that I won't sleep causes me anxiety too."

• Kry...
• April 12, 2017

For Insomnia "I am over 50, and I no longer get the amount of sleep that I used to. Went from 8 hours to now I'm lucky if I get 5 hours, and it's interrupted sleep. I tried prescription sleeping pills once, but they had nasty side effects. Melatonin really helps. If you take too high a dose (larger than 3 mg), you will wake up with a headache. I break a 3 mg pill in half and take it."

• jum...
• August 27, 2019

For Insomnia "I tried Circadin 2 mg melatonin, and at first thought it helped, as I slept better the first night after taking. I persevered for about 10 days but experienced overheating at night, headaches (which I never get), a sore stomach, and generally feeling gross. I seemed to be angry a lot, which I am not usually. Talc is listed as one of the ingredients???? I would lay awake until 4/5 am before finally sleeping. It was like it put me in a catatonic state. Too many disturbing side effects and for me, a lack of efficacy."

• lyd...
• August 3, 2015

For Insomnia "My doctor recommended 5 mg to help with some insomnia. I couldn't stay asleep. It had the opposite effect of what it should have done. Awoke feeling dizzy, nauseous, and also had a headache for most of the next day. I couldn't go to work the next day from feeling so sick. Definitely not for me."

• Mer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2019

For Insomnia "Have had off and on insomnia for years, usually only when sleeping somewhere besides my own bed. But then, one day I couldn't sleep in my own bed. Have had off and on trouble since then (about 6 months). I have tried a lot but refuse to go on the anti-depressant meds my doc wants me to try. I tried melatonin, 3 mg at bed, and it really worked for about 12 days. Then, my insomnia returned and the melatonin stopped working. Also tried a lower dose, 1.5 mg, no luck. I now feel my insomnia is worse than before the melatonin. The melatonin also left me with a slight headache and a feeling of 'not being myself,' kind of numb to my emotions. Glad to be off it. I seriously think short-term use only for melatonin!"

• ach...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 25, 2020

For Insomnia ".6 ml of melatonin makes me fall asleep after 2 hrs or so of taking it. Also helps with headaches most times. I am worried about long-term effects of taking it regularly. Without it, I cannot sleep at all. It works for me."

• two...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2015

For Insomnia "I've been taking this for approx. 2-3 months. It worked wonders! I can fall asleep anytime I want, which is great since I work a full-time night job and 5 hours beforehand at another job. So, falling asleep right away is key for me. But lately, I've been feeling dizzy, nausea, and a dull headache, which can sometimes turn into a migraine. And after reading these side effects, I'm wondering if it's the pills. I'm gonna try to stop using them to see if that makes a difference. Here's to hoping it works... but it'll suck as they have been very helpful."

• Oti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2023

For Insomnia "I've been taking melatonin for three weeks, and for the last couple of days, I've been getting terrible headaches and dizziness. I did not take melatonin the previous night, and this is day one with no melatonin the night before. I still feel awful, I have a headache and am slightly dizzy, plus depressed over the situation. I was taking 3 mg of melatonin. Upon review, it is noted in the United States that melatonin is not regulated. I believe my 3 mg pills were probably more like 10 to 20 mg pills. Stay away from this junk."

• Nig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2022

Melatonin for Insomnia "The time-released melatonin gave me nightmares, interrupted sleep, and was less useful than the normal melatonin available over the counter. Woke in the middle of the night with a sore throat and a massive headache. I was on the low dose and couldn't tolerate it!"

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2017

For Insomnia "Was good the first week, helped me sleep well, woke up fine. Then the second week, I woke up feeling like I was having a panic attack, and then felt so sleepy I was scared there was something wrong with me. I was not feeling right at all and woke up with headaches and feeling groggy all day. Horrible. Won't take it again."

• Ale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

For Insomnia "Great to help for sleep, but anxiety and depression the next day. Inclusive bad thoughts. Headache. I tried 5 mg, 2.5 mg, 1 mg, and 0.5 mg, all the same. Just my personal reaction. I take if desperate for sleep."

• Sab...
• September 9, 2016

For Insomnia "I've taken melatonin 3g before, but I just started taking it again and have been feeling dizzy, with extremely bad headaches, and my hands are shaky. I also feel it is harder to wake up in the mornings. Not sure if it's reacting with my Prozac because before I took Prozac, it worked very well. I do recommend it, but obviously, if you get these symptoms, you are going to want to stop."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2018

For Insomnia "I tried it for a couple of nights when I had trouble falling asleep, and it didn’t work at all! I was still awake for more than an hour after taking it and had a lot of dreams. I even fell into sleep finally, then woke up earlier than usual with a heavy head feeling! My husband is a good sleeper who usually falls into sleep quickly and sleeps soundly. He tried to test it for me one night, and the next morning he complained that he woke up earlier with a light headache. So I have to throw it away to avoid making my sleep problem even worse! Drugs like this should be tested before putting them into the market!"

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2022

For Insomnia "Took 3 mg of melatonin the past 2 nights. Slept well the first night. The second night, not well, and the next day, I felt like I was coming down with something. Bad headache and lethargy. Also had some depressive mood changes. I am done with melatonin."

• Ian...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2019

For Insomnia "Took only one 3 mg tab sublingually, experienced mild headache and dizziness followed by fitful sleep and nightmares! I won't try it again!"

• Sig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2018

For Insomnia "Unable to fall asleep. Terrible nightmares. Headaches and drowsiness the next day."

• Com...
• October 19, 2016

For Insomnia "First time didn't make me sleep, and I felt nausea and dopey all the next day. I tried it months later one night and got severe headaches and didn't make me sleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2018

For Insomnia "Mild headache, mild dizziness. Took 30 minutes before bedtime. Don't think I'll take again if I can feel negative effects."