Drug & supplement interaction

Melatonin + Flibanserin

Flibanserin brand name: Addyi.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Flibanserin falls into 3 drug categories that Melatonin can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, taking melatonin might increase the sedative effects of CNS depressants.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Melatonin and Flibanserin

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Melatonin interacts with whole categories of medication. Flibanserin falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Melatonin in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

1 of 3

Why this applies to Flibanserin

Flibanserin falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Melatonin interacts with.

Theoretically, taking melatonin might increase the sedative effects of CNS depressants.
Melatonin has sedative effects. Theoretically, concomitant use of melatonin with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedative drugs might cause additive sedation.
Severity Moderate 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 simple version: both melatonin and flibanserin (Addyi) can make you sleepy, so using them together may stack that drowsiness on top of each other. Flibanserin already tends to cause sleepiness, dizziness, tiredness, and sometimes lightheadedness, especially since it's taken at bedtime. Adding melatonin could make those effects feel stronger.

I want to be honest about the evidence here. This is a theoretical concern based on how each one works, not something proven in studies, so it may not cause a real problem for you. Still, be careful about driving or anything that needs full alertness until you know how the combo affects you. And since alcohol with flibanserin is a known concern, keep that in mind too. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing them.

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
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Flibanserin also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, melatonin might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19. Also, other CYP2C19 substrates might decrease the metabolism of melatonin, increasing melatonin levels.
Melatonin is metabolized in the liver primarily by the CYP2C19 and CYP1A2 enzymes. Theoretically, combined administration of melatonin with certain drugs metabolized by the CYP2C19 enzyme may reduce the metabolism of these drugs, resulting in increased serum levels. Conversely, some drugs metabolized by CYP2C19 may inhibit the metabolism of melatonin, resulting in increased serum levels of melatonin. Until more is known, use melatonin cautiously in patients taking drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

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

Here's the gist for Addyi (flibanserin): your liver partly clears it using an enzyme called CYP2C19, and melatonin happens to be handled by that same enzyme. The thought is that taking the two together could slow how fast flibanserin is broken down, letting a bit more of it linger in your system. Flibanserin is the active drug itself (not a prodrug), so higher levels would mean stronger effects.

In real life, that could show up as more of flibanserin's usual side effects, like dizziness, drowsiness, low blood pressure, or even fainting, especially since this drug already carries warnings about sleepiness. Keep in mind this concern is theoretical, based on how the enzymes work, not on real-world reports. Still, since both can make you sleepy, check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Yeleswaram, K., Vachharajani, N., and Santone, K. Involvement of cytochrome P-450 isozymes in melatonin metabolism and clinical implications. J Pineal Res 1999;26(3):190-191. PubMed
  2. Faber, M. S., Jetter, A., and Fuhr, U. Assessment of CYP1A2 activity in clinical practice: why, how, and when? Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2005;97(3):125-134. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Flibanserin 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 gist for Addyi (flibanserin): your body clears it mainly through a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In lab studies, certain batches of melatonin appear to slow that enzyme down a bit. If that happened in real life, flibanserin could hang around longer and build up, which might nudge up its usual side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, low blood pressure, and feeling faint. That matters because flibanserin already carries warnings about low blood pressure and fainting.

I want to be honest about the strength of this, though. It's only a theory from test-tube research, not something proven in people, so it may not amount to much. Still, since both can make you sleepy, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing them.

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 Flibanserin one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

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 Flibanserin

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 Flibanserin, 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 Flibanserin

This page covers Melatonin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Flibanserin page lists 199 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 9 major · 151 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Flibanserin page

“Flibanserin (Addyi) is a nightly pill for low sexual desire in premenopausal women, and because it is sedating and can lower blood pressure, its supplement list deserves genuine care; nine of the 199 entries rate major, and those are the ones to learn first. Seventy-eight ingredients have calming effects that stack with flibanserin's d…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Flibanserin 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 Flibanserin 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 Flibanserin 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 Flibanserin
Top half

#978 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 Flibanserin

What Is Flibanserin Used For?

Brand name: Addyi

Addyi is approved to treat acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) — a condition where low sexual desire causes significant distress or relationship difficulty — in women under 65. "Acquired" means the low desire developed after a period of normal desire; "generalized" means it happens regardless of the situation or partner.

Addyi is not intended for use in men, and it is not a sexual performance enhancer. It is also not meant for HSDD that is caused by a medical condition, a psychiatric condition, relationship problems, or another medication.

See full Flibanserin 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
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
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
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Melatonin and Flibanserin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Melatonin with Flibanserin?
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 3 interactions listed for Melatonin and Flibanserin?
Flibanserin 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 Flibanserin 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

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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.