Product guide
Melatonin is sold in several forms. The ingredient is the same, but how quickly it is released, how easy it is to take and how precisely it can be measured differ from one form to another. This page sets them side by side so you can see what each one is.
The most familiar form. A standard (immediate-release) tablet is swallowed with water and releases its contents fairly quickly, so levels rise and then fall within a few hours.
Designed to dissolve gradually, aiming for a steadier level through the night rather than a short peak. Much of the clinical research on this form involved adults aged 55 and over.
Chewable and pleasant to take, which makes them popular. Research on US gummy products found the amount in each piece often differed from the label, so product quality matters.
Measured with a dropper, syringe or spoon. Liquids make small or adjusted amounts easier to measure, which is why they are common where swallowing tablets is difficult.
A powder or liquid inside a gelatine or plant-based shell. Capsules behave much like standard tablets and are often chosen by people who find them easier to swallow.
Placed under the tongue or allowed to dissolve in the mouth. They are marketed as faster-acting, though good evidence comparing them directly with swallowed forms is limited.
If you have questions about a particular product, a pharmacist can help. See questions to ask a pharmacist and how long melatonin takes to work.
