The short answer
For most people, melatonin does not raise blood pressure. In a review of seven trials, regular melatonin had no real effect on blood pressure, and slow release melatonin lowered nighttime blood pressure slightly.1
The exception is people already taking blood pressure medicine. In one study of people on nifedipine, 5 mg of melatonin at bedtime raised blood pressure.2 If you take any blood pressure medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist before you add melatonin.
What I see in people on blood pressure medicine
"Many people over 50 that I talk to take a blood pressure pill in the morning and melatonin at night. They do not think to tell their doctor or pharmacist about the melatonin, because to them it is just a supplement."
Tyler Smith, RN
That is a common blind spot. Melatonin is sold next to vitamins, but it is still a hormone your body responds to, and it can interact with some medicines.4
Does melatonin raise blood pressure? What the research shows
- Regular melatonin. In a review of seven trials, fast release melatonin had no real effect on nighttime blood pressure.1
- Slow release melatonin. In the same review, it lowered nighttime blood pressure by about 6 points on the top number and about 3.5 points on the bottom number.1
- With nifedipine. In 47 people whose blood pressure was well controlled on nifedipine, 5 mg of melatonin at bedtime raised blood pressure by about 6.5 points on the top number over 24 hours, and raised heart rate slightly.2
- With beta blockers. These medicines lower your body's own melatonin at night. In a small study, adding melatonin helped people on beta blockers sleep about 37 minutes longer.3
Most of these studies are small, so they do not give the final word. But they do show why your medicine matters more than the melatonin label.
Melatonin and blood pressure medication
| If you take | What we know |
|---|---|
| Nifedipine | 5 mg of melatonin raised blood pressure in one study. The researchers advised caution.2 |
| A beta blocker | These lower your own melatonin. Melatonin improved sleep in a small study.3 |
| Other blood pressure medicine | Melatonin may affect blood pressure, and there is little research on each drug.4 Ask your pharmacist. |
This table is general information. It is not a reason to start, stop, or change any medicine on your own.
Why the dose matters
The study that saw blood pressure go up used 5 mg of melatonin.2 That is a common store dose, but it is much more than your body makes on its own. If your doctor says melatonin is fine for you, a low dose is a gentler place to start. Read is 1 mg of melatonin enough and how much melatonin is too much.
What I tell people on blood pressure medicine
"I tell them it is very important to speak to their family doctor or pharmacist before adding anything. Bring the bottle with you. If they say melatonin is fine, start low, like 1 mg, at the same time every night."
Tyler Smith, RN
How to add melatonin safely
- Ask your pharmacist first. Bring your melatonin and a list of every medicine you take.
- Start low. Ask if a low dose, like 1 mg, makes sense for you.
- Take it at the same time every night, about 30 minutes before bed.
- Watch your numbers. If you check your blood pressure at home, write it down for the first couple of weeks and share it with your doctor.
- Report changes. Tell your doctor about dizziness, a racing heart, or readings that are higher or lower than usual.
A supplement is still something your body processes
"A supplement is still something your body has to process. If you take melatonin with your blood pressure medicine without checking, you complicate one drug by adding another."
Tyler Smith, RN
If you also have a heart condition, read melatonin and heart failure. For the full list of side effects, read melatonin side effects.
Where Driffly fits
A low dose, if your doctor says yes
I chose 1 mg of melatonin for Driffly because it is a low dose, much closer to what your body makes than the 5 mg and 10 mg on most shelves. If you take blood pressure medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist before you try it.
Each strip also has valerian root 50 mg, lavender 20 mg, chamomile 10 mg, and hibiscus 10 mg, so show your doctor the full label.*
- 1 mg of melatonin in each strip.
- Melts on your tongue. No water and no sugar.
- Take it 30 minutes before bed, at the same time every night.
Every order comes with a 30 night money back guarantee.
Common questions about melatonin and blood pressure
Does melatonin raise blood pressure?
For most people, no. Regular melatonin had no real effect on blood pressure in a review of seven trials.1 But in one study of people on nifedipine, 5 mg of melatonin raised blood pressure.2
Can I take melatonin with blood pressure medication?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. Melatonin may affect blood pressure, and the effect can depend on which medicine you take.2,4
Can melatonin lower blood pressure?
Slow release melatonin lowered nighttime blood pressure slightly in a review of three trials.1 It is not a treatment for high blood pressure. Do not use it in place of your medicine.
Can I take melatonin with beta blockers?
Beta blockers can lower your body's own melatonin. In a small study, melatonin helped people on beta blockers sleep longer.3 Check with your doctor before you start.
Does melatonin affect heart rate?
In people on nifedipine, 5 mg of melatonin raised heart rate by about 4 beats per minute.2 Tell your doctor if you notice a racing heart.
Is melatonin safe if I have high blood pressure?
Talk to your doctor first. If they say it is fine for you, start with a low dose and keep an eye on your readings.2,5
Sources
- Grossman E, Laudon M, Zisapel N. Effect of melatonin on nocturnal blood pressure: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Vascular Health and Risk Management. 2011;7:577-584.
- Lusardi P, Piazza E, Fogari R. Cardiovascular effects of melatonin in hypertensive patients well controlled by nifedipine: a 24 hour study. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2000;49(5):423-427.
- Scheer FA, Morris CJ, Garcia JI, et al. Repeated melatonin supplementation improves sleep in hypertensive patients treated with beta blockers: a randomized controlled trial. Sleep. 2012;35(10):1395-1402.
- U.S. Pharmacist. Although safe for most, melatonin causes unexpected interactions in others. October 2019.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Melatonin: What You Need To Know.
Tyler Smith, RN, BSN, BA is a registered nurse and the founder of Driffly. He writes and reviews the articles in the sleep education hub. About Tyler
The author is the founder of Driffly, which sells the product mentioned in this article. This article is for education and is not medical advice. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.