Drug & supplement interaction

Melatonin + Rabeprazole Sodium

Rabeprazole Sodium brand names: Aciphex, Aciphex Sprinkle.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Rabeprazole Sodium falls into 2 drug categories that Melatonin can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, melatonin might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Melatonin and Rabeprazole Sodium

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. Rabeprazole Sodium 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

CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Rabeprazole Sodium

Rabeprazole Sodium falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES — the group Melatonin interacts with.

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 these two together. Your body clears rabeprazole partly through a liver enzyme called CYP2C19, and melatonin uses that same enzyme. In theory, taking them together could slow down how fast rabeprazole leaves your system, nudging its levels a bit higher. Rabeprazole isn't a prodrug, so more of it simply means a stronger acid-blocking effect, and possibly mild side effects like headache or an upset stomach.

The honest part: this is a theoretical concern based on how the drugs are processed, not something proven in real people. Rabeprazole also has a wide safety margin, so a small shift usually won't cause trouble. Still, if you plan to use melatonin regularly, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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

2 of 2

Rabeprazole Sodium 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 your Aciphex (rabeprazole). Your liver uses a few enzymes to clear this acid-reducer, and one of them is called CYP3A4. Some lab studies suggest certain batches of melatonin can mildly slow that enzyme down. In theory, that could let a little more rabeprazole linger in your system, which might bump up its effects or side effects like headache, an upset stomach, or some diarrhea.

I want to be straight with you though: this is theoretical, based only on test-tube and animal research, and it's rated as a minor interaction. Rabeprazole isn't a prodrug and isn't a narrow-margin drug, so most people use melatonin and rabeprazole together without trouble. If you notice anything new, just check in with your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything.

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 Rabeprazole Sodium 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 Rabeprazole Sodium

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 Rabeprazole Sodium, 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 Rabeprazole Sodium

This page covers Melatonin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Rabeprazole Sodium page lists 169 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 Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 116 moderate · 50 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Rabeprazole Sodium page

“Three entries on this rabeprazole (Aciphex) list call for real vigilance before you read further: grapefruit, St. John's wort, and activated charcoal, all rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Rabeprazole Sodium 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 Rabeprazole Sodium 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 Rabeprazole Sodium 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 Rabeprazole Sodium
Steady interest

#1,916 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 Rabeprazole

What Is Rabeprazole Used For?

Brand names: Aciphex, Aciphex Sprinkle

Rabeprazole delayed-release tablets treat a range of acid-related conditions in adults, including healing and maintenance of erosive or ulcerative GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), symptomatic GERD, duodenal ulcers, and pathological hypersecretory conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. They are also used alongside antibiotics (amoxicillin and clarithromycin) to eradicate H. pylori bacteria and reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer coming back.

In adolescents 12 years and older, rabeprazole delayed-release tablets are approved for short-term treatment of symptomatic GERD. Both AcipHex and Rabeprazole Sodium delayed-release tablets share this indication set for adults and adolescents 12 and older.

See full Rabeprazole 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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Melatonin and Rabeprazole Sodium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Melatonin with Rabeprazole Sodium?
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 Rabeprazole Sodium?
Rabeprazole Sodium 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 Rabeprazole Sodium 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.