{"id":3926,"date":"2022-12-13T18:07:07","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T18:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/?p=3926"},"modified":"2022-12-14T14:18:03","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T14:18:03","slug":"melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"<strong>Melatonin &amp; Alcohol: Everything You Need to Know<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Melatonin is one of the most commonly used supplements for people that have trouble sleeping. Taking melatonin can help you sleep, get better rest, and address any sleeping disorders or issues that you might have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s also commonly used by people that suffer from anxiety or depression, as trouble sleeping is one of the side effects that stem from those problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you also drink frequently, you&#8217;re probably wondering if melatonin and alcohol can be consumed safely together. It&#8217;s best to know about the potential safety risks of any medications that you consume in conjunction with alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, we are going to cover everything that you need to know about taking melatonin and consuming alcohol at the same time. By the end, you&#8217;ll know whether it&#8217;s safe, the potential side effects, and how to make sure that you are treating your body right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662dc67a8b5e7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662dc67a8b5e7\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#What_is_Melatonin_and_How_Does_it_Work\" title=\"What is Melatonin and How Does it Work\">What is Melatonin and How Does it Work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#Is_it_Safe_to_Take_Melatonin_and_Alcohol\" title=\"Is it Safe to Take Melatonin and Alcohol?\">Is it Safe to Take Melatonin and Alcohol?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#How_Alcohol_Affects_Melatonin_Levels\" title=\"How Alcohol Affects Melatonin Levels\">How Alcohol Affects Melatonin Levels<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#How_Alcohol_Melatonin_Affect_Sleep_Quality\" title=\"How Alcohol &amp; Melatonin Affect Sleep Quality\">How Alcohol &amp; Melatonin Affect Sleep Quality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#How_to_Consume_Alcohol_Melatonin_Safely\" title=\"How to Consume Alcohol &amp; Melatonin Safely\">How to Consume Alcohol &amp; Melatonin Safely<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#Wait_a_Couple_of_Hours\" title=\"Wait a Couple of Hours\">Wait a Couple of Hours<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#Take_the_Lowest_Effective_Dose\" title=\"Take the Lowest Effective Dose\">Take the Lowest Effective Dose<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#Dont_Take_Melatonin_Supplements_If_Youve_Been_Drinking_Excessively\" title=\"Don&#8217;t Take Melatonin Supplements If You&#8217;ve Been Drinking Excessively\">Don&#8217;t Take Melatonin Supplements If You&#8217;ve Been Drinking Excessively<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#If_You_Feel_Side_Effects_Talk_to_a_Medical_Professional\" title=\"If You Feel Side Effects, Talk to a Medical Professional\">If You Feel Side Effects, Talk to a Medical Professional<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#Ask_Your_Doctor_Whats_Best_for_a_Sleep_Aid\" title=\"Ask Your Doctor What&#8217;s Best for a Sleep Aid\">Ask Your Doctor What&#8217;s Best for a Sleep Aid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#Having_Trouble_Sleeping_Without_Alcohol\" title=\"Having Trouble Sleeping Without Alcohol?\">Having Trouble Sleeping Without Alcohol?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/melatonin-alcohol-everything-you-need-to-know\/#Lets_Recap\" title=\"Let&#8217;s Recap\">Let&#8217;s Recap<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Melatonin_and_How_Does_it_Work\"><\/span><strong>What is Melatonin and How Does it Work<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First, let&#8217;s dive into what melatonin is and how it works. Melatonin is a hormone that your body naturally produces. When it&#8217;s dark out, melatonin production increases and helps to regulate your sleep cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you take a supplement in the form of a pill or liquid, it helps to promote better sleep and can even help with other conditions such as jet lag and delayed sleep-wake phase disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s important to note that when taking melatonin, you should take the lowest effective dose possible. Taking too much can lead to a variety of side effects, including headaches and dizziness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_Safe_to_Take_Melatonin_and_Alcohol\"><\/span><strong>Is it Safe to Take Melatonin and Alcohol?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/melatonin-alcohol-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/melatonin-alcohol-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/melatonin-alcohol-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/melatonin-alcohol-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/melatonin-alcohol-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/melatonin-alcohol.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Melatonin is now taken on a nightly basis by millions of people, but what you want to know is: can I take it when I&#8217;ve been drinking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer isn&#8217;t very straightforward, but let&#8217;s dive into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inherently, there&#8217;s not much danger posed if you take melatonin when you&#8217;ve been drinking. However, <strong>excessive drinking<\/strong> before you take melatonin can be very dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most people having 2-3 drinks a couple of hours before taking melatonin is not going to have much of a negative impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are binge drinking shortly before taking melatonin, you run the risk of serious side effects, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 Drowsiness<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 Dehydration<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 Low blood pressure<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 And more<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, it&#8217;s important to be mindful and make sure that you are not drinking excessively before taking melatonin. It&#8217;s best to give your body time to metabolize the alcohol before taking any supplements or medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Alcohol_Affects_Melatonin_Levels\"><\/span><strong>How Alcohol Affects Melatonin Levels<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is an interesting connection between alcohol and melatonin levels, and it is part of the reason that you should be careful when drinking and taking melatonin closely together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alcohol can actually reduce the amount of melatonin that your brain produces naturally. This means that if you drink right before taking a supplement of melatonin, you&#8217;re not going to get nearly as much of the restorative benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to this, drinking too much alcohol can lead to dehydration and poor sleep quality. If you are frequently drinking, you should make sure that you are taking steps to stay hydrated and get adequate rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Alcohol_Melatonin_Affect_Sleep_Quality\"><\/span><strong>How Alcohol &amp; Melatonin Affect Sleep Quality<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alcohol &amp; melatonin are two things that can affect sleep quality greatly. Let&#8217;s start by looking at how alcohol affects sleep quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you drink, your body&#8217;s natural production of melatonin is reduced. This can lead to poor sleep quality and difficulty falling asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing to consider is that alcohol can make it difficult to stay asleep throughout the night. You might find yourself waking up frequently as a result of drinking before bedtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, melatonin can help to improve sleep quality and also reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. It can be a great supplement for those who struggle with insomnia or difficulty falling asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Consume_Alcohol_Melatonin_Safely\"><\/span><strong>How to Consume Alcohol &amp; Melatonin Safely<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you absolutely must consume alcohol before taking melatonin, there are a couple of ground rules that you should follow to ensure your safety. It&#8217;s best to take these two things completely separate and not combine them at the same time. Here are some rules to follow if you&#8217;ve been drinking and want to take melatonin to help you sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wait_a_Couple_of_Hours\"><\/span><strong>Wait a Couple of Hours<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first rule is to wait a couple of hours after you&#8217;ve had your drink before taking melatonin. This will help to ensure that alcohol has been metabolized and doesn&#8217;t interact with the melatonin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Take_the_Lowest_Effective_Dose\"><\/span><strong>Take the Lowest Effective Dose<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Melatonin should always be taken in the lowest effective dose possible. Taking too much can lead to a variety of side effects, including headaches and dizziness. The recommended dose can vary, especially if you are using it for sleep apnea or other sleep disorders to regain REM sleep and establish a circadian rhythm. This will be a conversation to have with your doctor before taking melatonin supplements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dont_Take_Melatonin_Supplements_If_Youve_Been_Drinking_Excessively\"><\/span><strong>Don&#8217;t Take Melatonin Supplements If You&#8217;ve Been Drinking Excessively<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important not to take melatonin if you have been drinking excessively. Mixing melatonin with alcohol can lead to serious health risks and should be avoided. If you drink alcohol, you should wait before taking a melatonin supplement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_You_Feel_Side_Effects_Talk_to_a_Medical_Professional\"><\/span><strong>If You Feel Side Effects, Talk to a Medical Professional<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you experience any side effects after taking melatonin and drinking alcohol, it&#8217;s best to talk to a medical professional. They can help you determine whether it was the combination of these two things that caused the side effect or if something else is going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ask_Your_Doctor_Whats_Best_for_a_Sleep_Aid\"><\/span><strong>Ask Your Doctor What&#8217;s Best for a Sleep Aid<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re in doubt, simply talk to your doctor. They will be able to answer all of your questions and perhaps recommend products or medication that will help you sleep without incurring severe risks to your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Having_Trouble_Sleeping_Without_Alcohol\"><\/span><strong>Having Trouble Sleeping Without Alcohol?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have trouble sleeping without consuming alcohol, that could be indicative of a problem with alcohol dependency. The Alcohol Coach specializes in helping individuals overcome alcohol dependency and can help you rediscover your independence from its effects on your social, financial, and professional life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lets_Recap\"><\/span><strong>Let&#8217;s Recap<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To wrap things up, drinking and taking melatonin closely together can be dangerous. Alcohol reduces the amount of melatonin your brain produces naturally and makes it difficult to stay asleep throughout the night. Additionally, taking too much melatonin can also lead to side effects like headaches and dizziness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you must consume alcohol before taking a supplement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Melatonin and alcohol shouldn&#8217;t be mixed. Here&#8217;s why!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3927,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3926"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3926"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3939,"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3926\/revisions\/3939"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thealcoholcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}