Drug interactions
Butalbital + Melatonin
Severity: Moderate
Butalbital and Melatonin: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Butalbital is a barbiturate that causes sedation, and melatonin may add to drowsiness. Impaired alertness and psychomotor performance are possible.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butalbital and Melatonin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from barbiturate GABA-A potentiation and melatonin-mediated sedation.
What to do
Counsel patients about additive drowsiness and avoid driving until response is known; reduce or stop melatonin if excessive sedation occurs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Butalbital and Melatonin, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Melatonin
- Fluvoxamine + Melatonin Major
- Alfentanil + Melatonin Moderate
- Belladonna and opium + Melatonin Moderate
- Buprenorphine buccal + Melatonin Moderate
- Butabarbital + Melatonin Moderate
- Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates + Melatonin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Butalbital with Melatonin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Butalbital and Melatonin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Butalbital is a barbiturate that causes sedation, and melatonin may add to drowsiness. Impaired alertness and psychomotor performance are possible.
How serious is the interaction between Butalbital and Melatonin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Counsel patients about additive drowsiness and avoid driving until response is known; reduce or stop melatonin if excessive sedation occurs.
What other medicines interact with Melatonin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Melatonin with, for example, Fluvoxamine, Alfentanil, Belladonna and opium. The full list is on the Melatonin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
