Circadin

What is Circadin?

Circadin is a daily treatment for primary insomnia for people 55 years or older. The active ingredient in Circadin is melatonin. It’s also prescribed to help people cope with jet lag.

Insomnia is a condition that affects the way people sleep. People with insomnia have a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting good quality sleep. Short term insomnia can last up to three months, and long term insomnia carries on for more than three months.

How does Circadin work?

Circadin uses synthetic melatonin to treat primary insomnia and jet lag. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in your body to influence healthy sleep patterns. It’s usually produced in your body at night to help you settle down enough to fall asleep.

Primary insomnia is caused by things like stress, your sleep environment (such as light, sound and temperature), your genes and ageing. On the other hand, secondary insomnia is caused by things like medical conditions, mental health issues (such as depression and anxiety), or any medications or drugs you might be taking. Jet lag happens when you travel across several time zones and your sleep schedule doesn’t sync up with your new time zone.

What doses of Circadin are there?

There is only one dose available for Circadin. Each extended-release tablet contains 2 mg of melatonin. If it’s not providing enough relief for your insomnia, our clinician may prescribe another treatment.

How to take Circadin

Using Circadin to treat your primary insomnia is convenient and easy. You should take it after you eat. Swallow one tablet whole with water an hour or two before bedtime. Don’t crush or otherwise manipulate Circadin. Our clinician may prescribe it for several days or weeks. If you’re taking it for jet lag, the course of treatment is usually shorter and more variable. You only need to take Circadin for jet lag until you adjust to your new time zone.

How long does it take Circadin to work?

It only takes an hour or two for Circadin to work. Within that time, you should be able to drift to sleep. If you find that Circadin isn’t working well enough for you, or if you’re experiencing side effects, you should sign in to your account and send our clinician a message.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Circadin?

Missing a dose of Circadin is usually a matter of inconvenience if your insomnia is still hard to control without medication. You can take it when you remember if you haven’t yet fallen asleep. Don’t double up on a dose to make up for a missed one. Taking too much Circadin usually just causes drowsiness, and it isn't usually harmful. If you think you’ve taken too much Circadin and you’re feeling sick, seek medical treatment.