VCVITAMINS/CHART

The Bottom Line

Use caution with St. John's Wort and Melatonin together: the ingredients or formulations need review, and limited research does not establish the safety of this exact pair.

VERDICT

St. John's Wort and Melatonin together require more care than a neutral matrix label suggests. St. John's wort has a substantial medicine-interaction burden. The absence of a documented direct interaction with the other supplement does not clear the combination for someone taking prescriptions, and spacing doses does not reverse enzyme induction. The practical decision depends on the formulation, your medicines, and your response.

Use with caution Limited evidence
01 / MECHANISM

How They Interact

St. John's wort can induce drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters, reducing the exposure to many medicines. Melatonin is a hormone that signals biological night; its timing can matter as much as the amount. These individual roles do not establish that St. John's Wort improves the absorption or effectiveness of Melatonin, or vice versa. Direct clinical evidence for this particular combination is limited. St. John's wort has a substantial medicine-interaction burden. The absence of a documented direct interaction with the other supplement does not clear the combination for someone taking prescriptions, and spacing doses does not reverse enzyme induction.

02 / BEST PRACTICES

How To Take Them

Have a pharmacist review all medicines before starting or stopping St. John's wort. Follow a sleep-appropriate schedule and avoid driving if you feel sleepy. There is no validated spacing interval that removes the concerns for this combination; reviewing the products and medicines is more useful than choosing an arbitrary time gap. If you miss a supplemental dose, resume the usual schedule instead of doubling the next dose; follow your prescriber's instructions for prescribed products.

03 / FORM MATTERS

Form & Quality Differences

Hyperforin content varies, so one extract's interaction profile cannot be assumed for another. Immediate-release and prolonged-release melatonin have different release patterns.

05

Practical Tips

06

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Should Be Careful St. John's wort has a substantial medicine-interaction burden. The absence of a documented direct interaction with the other supplement does not clear the combination for someone taking prescriptions, and spacing doses does not reverse enzyme induction. St. John's wort has serious interactions with antidepressants, contraceptives, transplant medicines, and many other drugs. Sedatives, anticoagulants, epilepsy, pregnancy, and use in children require individualized advice; long-term safety is uncertain.
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Sources & Further Reading

  1. NCCIH NCCIH — St. John's Wort
  2. NCCIH NCCIH — Melatonin (sleep)
  3. NCCIH NCCIH — Using Dietary Supplements Wisely

Reviewed by Caroline M. on October 20, 2026 for accuracy against the sources listed above. This page is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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The matrix has 86 supplements and 7310 pairwise interactions. Click any cell to see the full breakdown.

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