NutriStack
Alcohol and Melatonin, a caution.
Combining alcohol with melatonin can increase sedation and drowsiness, while alcohol itself disrupts the body's natural melatonin rhythm and overall sleep quality.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Moderate
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Supplement
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Moderate evidence
Caution
What is happening. Combining alcohol with melatonin can increase sedation and drowsiness, while alcohol itself disrupts the body's natural melatonin rhythm and overall sleep quality.
Mechanism. Both substances have central nervous system depressant effects that are additive, and ethanol suppresses endogenous nocturnal melatonin secretion, blunting the intended circadian effect.
Recommendation. Do not combine alcohol with melatonin, especially before driving or operating machinery. Avoid alcohol if you are using melatonin for sleep.
Sources (2)
- Ekman AC, et al. Ethanol inhibits melatonin secretion in healthy volunteers in a dose-dependent randomized double blind cross-over study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1993.
- Ebrahim IO, Shapiro CM, Williams AJ, Fenwick PB. Alcohol and sleep I: effects on normal sleep. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013. PMID 23347102
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Alcohol and Melatonin are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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