Alcohol is known to have a harmful interaction with some medications. It can intensify the side effects, increase the risk of overdose, and cause serious complications. So, is it safe to take melatonin with alcohol? If it isn’t, what can possibly happen if you mix the two?
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It’s generally unsafe to take melatonin with alcohol. First, it reduces the melatonin levels in the body. Second, mixing alcohol and melatonin can cause side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, and even extreme anxiety. Third, there’s a risk of interaction between these two that can cause complications. Keep reading to find out how this combination can seriously affect the liver – interfere with its ability to produce enzymes, FAQ and what else can happen if you mix melatonin with beer or wine.
I always think of ways to add more taste to everything I consume or to just add some twist or change to it. I’m sure you’ve heard, seen, or tried melatonin products in pill form, but how about melatonin gummies? Try Nature Made Melatonin Adult Gummies for a change. This yummy strawberry flavored gummy isn’t only more flavorful compared to the typical melatonin pills, it can also effectively help make you fall asleep. And another thing, if we can add more flavor to our drinks, why shouldn’t we? Add more zest to your regular vodka by mixing Skinny Nite Out Lemon Drop Martini Mix to your vodka. This rich-tasting natural flavored mix is also low in calories. BUT DO NOT mix them!
Melatonin and Alcohol Comparison Table
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Comparing Melatonin and Alcohol
Effectivity
Melatonin
Melatonin is non-sedative, but aids sleep by regulating the body’s circadian rhythms. What it does is to tell the body when to fall asleep and when to wake up. Due to it being not a sedative, it doesn’t have strong effects.
Alcohol
Alcohol can have either stimulant or sedative effects depending on the amount of alcohol consumed. When taken in small amounts, it can produce stimulant effects. But more alcohol consumption can give sedative effects.
Availability
Melatonin
Melatonin is available over-the-counter in most countries, but it may require a prescription in some.
Alcohol
There is a minimum age requirement when purchasing and consuming alcohol. Aside from that, most Islamic countries and some parts of India ban the manufacture, storage, transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol.
Side Effects
Melatonin
Even though you’re unlikely to get side effects from taking melatonin, the following are some of the possible side effects:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Daytime drowsiness or sleepiness
- Nausea
Other less common possible side effects:
- Short-term depression
- Stomach cramps
- Irritability
- Reduced alertness
- Confusion
- Hypotension
Alcohol
The person’s alcohol tolerance and the amount of alcohol consumed determine the effects of alcohol. Here are the effects depending on the amount of alcohol consumed:
Low
- Improvement in mood
- Higher self-confidence
- Less anxiety
- Flushing of the face
- Shorter attention span
- Lack of fine motor coordination
- Impairment of judgment
Moderate
- Sedation
- Loss of memory and lack of comprehension
- Delayed motor reactions
- Balance problems and ataxia
- Blurred vision and sensation impairment
High
- In and out of consciousness or complete unconsciousness
- Amnesia during the events while intoxicated
- Staggering gait
- Vomiting with aspiration
- Respiratory depression
- Incontinence of urine
- Slowed heart rate
Extremely High
- Comatose
- Lack of pupillary response to light
- Life-threatening respiratory depression
- Severe decrease in heart rate
- Death
Melatonin Hangover
Taking melatonin may sometimes cause side effects similar to a hangover including drowsiness or grogginess. This happens when the body doesn’t process the supplement as fast as it usually should which causes the person to still experience the effects even after waking up.
Also, if you take more than 3 milligrams of melatonin, you may experience a drunk-like feeling.
Melatonin and Beer
According to a study conducted at the University of Seville in Spain, beer contains high amounts of melatonin and other antioxidants. It is observed that the higher the alcohol content, the higher the melatonin levels present in beer are.
They also tried to determine which part of the beer brewing process melatonin appears. It is said that barley and yeast are what mainly contributes to the melatonin enrichment of the beer. It happens when barley is malted in the early stages and the yeast during the second fermentation.
Even though beer contains high concentrations of melatonin, you cannot assume that it is safe to take melatonin supplements with beer. Taking melatonin with any alcoholic beverage is generally unsafe due to the possible complications and side effects that may occur.
In addition to that, since beer already contains significant amounts of melatonin, drinking it with melatonin supplements can increase the likelihood of melatonin side effects.
Melatonin and Wine
Drinking any alcohol drink with melatonin or shortly after taking melatonin supplements is dangerous and of course, that includes wine. Wine can interact with melatonin, and cause side effects and complications.
Apart from that, it is said that ethanol in both wine and melatonin compete for the part of the brain that is responsible for making you sleepy.
When that happens, melatonin can become highly concentrated in the blood for it causes melatonin to be displaced from the central neurons. And due to this, you are more likely to experience melatonin side effects.
Melatonin and Alcohol Side Effects
Generally, taking these two together can be dangerous and can cause side effects. Here are some of the common side effects:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Increased anxiety
Furthermore, this combination can affect the liver and hamper its ability to produce enzymes. There are possible complications due to this, and these are:
- Flushing in your face and upper body
- Swelling in your feet and ankles
- Abnormally rapid heartbeat rate
- Difficulty in focusing or thinking clearing
- Feeling cold or shivering with no apparent reason
- Difficulty in breathing
- Loss of consciousness
It is also important to remember that alcohol can affect the effectiveness of melatonin supplements.
Product Recommendations
Nature Made Melatonin Adult Gummies
These tasty, chewy melatonin gummies have no gluten, no yeast, no preservatives, and no synthetic dyes added.
This product is highly recommended due to its soft and chewy texture, delicious taste, and high effectivity in inducing sleep.
It is even said that it’s so tasty, you have to remind yourself not to eat more than the recommended amount.
Skinny Nite Out Lemon Drop Martini Mix
This sugar-free, low-calorie mix can be added to your favorite vodka to give it a rich, natural lemon flavor.
Aside from that, it is also made with natural ingredients.
The mix is loved by many for it has low calories and a zesty, refreshing, and flavorful taste.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Melatonin Pros
- Available over-the-counter in most places
- Lower chance of developing side effects
Melatonin Cons
- Non-sedative
Alcohol Pros
- Can have good sedative effects when taken moderately
Alcohol Cons
- The effect varies depending on the amount of alcohol consumed
- Has minimum age requirement to purchase and prohibited in some parts of the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Take Melatonin With Alcohol?
No, you can’t. Not only for it is unsafe and has potentially dangerous effects but also because the alcohol reduces the natural amount of melatonin in the body, making the melatonin supplement less effective.
Another thing is even if this combination didn’t cause you to have any side effects, it is still unsafe for it gives a higher risk of accidents and loss of consciousness.
Can You Take Melatonin After Drinking?
Right after drinking, no for alcohol and melatonin can interact which may cause harmful effects, making it unsafe.
But 2-3 hours after drinking or even more depending on the amount of alcohol you took, you can. This way, you don’t have to worry about the side effects of this combination.
Final Verdict
So, can you take melatonin with alcohol?
Mixing melatonin and alcohol together causes side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, and increased anxiety. It may also cause complications and affect the liver.
Apart from that, alcohol interferes with the effectiveness of the melatonin supplement. Lastly, it increases the risk of accidents and loss of consciousness. Therefore, taking melatonin and alcohol together is highly inadvisable and unsafe.
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