NutriStack
Lorazepam and Melatonin, a caution.
Melatonin's sedative effects can compound lorazepam's CNS depression. While some research suggests melatonin may help facilitate benzodiazepine tapering, combining both at full doses may cause excessive sedation and next-day drowsiness.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
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At a glance
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Moderate
- Source citations
- 4 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Moderate evidence
Caution
What is happening. Melatonin's sedative effects can compound lorazepam's CNS depression. While some research suggests melatonin may help facilitate benzodiazepine tapering, combining both at full doses may cause excessive sedation and next-day drowsiness.
Mechanism. Melatonin acts on MT1/MT2 receptors to promote sleep onset and modulate circadian rhythm. The sedative effects are additive with lorazepam's enhancement of GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission at GABA-A receptors.
Recommendation. If using melatonin with lorazepam, start with a low melatonin dose (0.5-1mg) and monitor for excessive sedation. Melatonin may be useful as part of a supervised benzodiazepine tapering strategy but should not be added without medical guidance.
Sources (4)
- Garfinkel D et al. Facilitation of benzodiazepine discontinuation by melatonin. Arch Intern Med. 1999;159(20):2456-2460. PMID 10665894
- Fatemeh G, Sajjad M, Niloufar R et al.. Effect of melatonin supplementation on sleep quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. Journal of Neurology. 2022. PMID 33417003
- Tang BHY, Manalo J, Chowdhury SR et al.. Melatonin Use in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Critical Care Medicine. 2025. PMID 40662882
- Chan V, Lo K. Efficacy of dietary supplements on improving sleep quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Postgraduate Medical Journal. 2022. PMID 33441476
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Lorazepam 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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