Drug & supplement interaction

Melatonin + Deflazacort

Deflazacort brand name: Emflaza.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Deflazacort falls into 2 drug categories that Melatonin can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, melatonin might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Melatonin and Deflazacort

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Melatonin interacts with whole categories of medication. Deflazacort falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Melatonin in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Deflazacort

Deflazacort falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Melatonin interacts with.

Theoretically, melatonin might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
Melatonin can stimulate immune function. Theoretically, melatonin might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the basic idea with melatonin and deflazacort (Emflaza). Deflazacort is a corticosteroid that works partly by calming down an overactive immune system. Melatonin, on the other hand, can gently nudge the immune system in the opposite direction and rev it up a bit. So in theory, melatonin could push back against what deflazacort is trying to do, making it a little less effective at controlling inflammation.

I want to be honest with you though: this is mostly a theoretical concern, and the evidence behind it is on the weaker side. For most folks taking deflazacort for muscular dystrophy, occasional melatonin for sleep is unlikely to cause an obvious problem. Still, since this medication matters so much, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding it in regularly.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Lissoni P, Barni S, Mandala M, et al. Decreased toxicity and increased efficacy of cancer chemotherapy using the pineal hormone melatonin in metastatic solic tumor patients with poor clinical status. Eur J Cancer 1999;35:1688-92.
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Deflazacort also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, melatonin might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Laboratory research shows that certain lots of melatonin inhibit CYP3A4. Theoretically, combined administration of melatonin with certain drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 may reduce the metabolism of these drugs, resulting in increased serum levels. Until more is known, use melatonin cautiously in patients taking drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the quick picture: your body relies on an enzyme called CYP3A4 to break down deflazacort into its active form and then clear it out. In some lab studies, certain batches of melatonin appear to slow that enzyme down a little. In theory, that could let slightly more active drug hang around, which might mean a bit more of the usual steroid effects, like fluid retention, mood or sleep changes, higher blood sugar, or stomach upset.

I want to be honest about the evidence though. This is only test-tube and animal research, the interaction is rated minor, and we don't have real-world reports showing it causes problems in people. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, since deflazacort is an important medication, just give your pharmacist or doctor a heads-up before adding melatonin so they can keep an eye on things.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Foster BC, Cvijovic K, Boon HS, et al. Melatonin Interaction Resulting in Severe Sedation. J Pharm Pharm Sci 2015;18(2):124-31. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Melatonin Also Interacts With Other Medications

Melatonin has 1,115 moderate, 345 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Deflazacort one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,115 Minor 345 No known interaction 1,370 (incl. Deflazacort)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Melatonin

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Melatonin. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Melatonin or Deflazacort

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Melatonin or Deflazacort, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Deflazacort

This page covers Melatonin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Deflazacort page lists 180 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 139 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Deflazacort page

“Deflazacort (Emflaza) is a corticosteroid, best known for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the liver clears it through the CYP3A4 enzyme, so supplements that block or speed up that enzyme can genuinely shift how much of the drug reaches the blood. That earns this page real caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Deflazacort interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Melatonin as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 2,885 real supplement products containing Melatonin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Melatonin. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Deflazacort too, on top of Melatonin — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Melatonin and Deflazacort Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Melatonin
Top 5%

#55 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Deflazacort
Steady interest

#1,928 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Melatonin

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin
  • Trouble falling asleep (insomnia)
  • Jet lag
  • Delayed sleep phase syndrome
  • Non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder
  • Shift-work sleep problems
  • Sleep problems in some children with conditions like autism or ADHD

Melatonin is a hormone your body makes naturally to help control your sleep-wake cycle, and the supplement form is widely used to help with sleep timing problems and jet lag. The evidence is strongest for certain circadian (body-clock) disorders and is more mixed for everyday insomnia. It is generally well tolerated for short-term use, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, especially for children or during pregnancy.

Read the full Melatonin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Deflazacort

What Is Deflazacort Used For?

Brand name: Emflaza

Deflazacort treats Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic muscle disease that causes progressive muscle weakness. It is available under several brand names, each with slightly different age approvals.

Emflaza and Jaythari (both tablets and oral suspension) are approved for patients 2 years of age and older. Deflazacort tablets, Deflazacort oral suspension, Kymbee (tablet and oral suspension), and Pyquvi (oral suspension) are approved for patients 5 years of age and older.

See full Deflazacort drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Melatonin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Melatonin — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
1,115Moderate
345Minor
1,369No known interaction
1,115 Moderate 345 Minor 1,369 No interaction
Moderate

1,115 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,115 moderate interactions — see all 1,115 on the Melatonin page.

Minor

345 interactions

Showing 60 of 345 minor interactions — see all 345 on the Melatonin page.

No interaction 1,369 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Melatonin against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,369 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Melatonin list.

See the full Melatonin interactions page
See every supplement checked against Deflazacort, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Melatonin monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Deflazacort supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Deflazacort, ranked by severity Deflazacort drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Melatonin and Deflazacort Together: Common Questions

Can you take Melatonin with Deflazacort?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Melatonin and Deflazacort?
Deflazacort belongs to more than one drug category, and Melatonin interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Melatonin and Deflazacort interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Deflazacort and Melatonin?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.