Experts recommend against mixing alcohol and melatonin supplements. Learn why and how alcohol harms sleep even on its own.Why You Shouldnt Mix Melatonin and Alcohol. Experts recommend against drinking alcohol when taking melatonin.
Whats more, doubling up on melatonin and alcohol might actually thwart your sleep goals: Although it may initially make you drowsy, alcohol disrupts the quality and duration of sleep. It can also interfere with melatonins regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
What happens when you take melatonin and alcohol together? There isnt much research into the effects of taking the two at the same time, but experts say its best not to do it.

This review concerns the current knowledge of melatonin and alcohol-related disorders.Melatonin protects against alcoholic liver injury by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis. Eur J Pharmacol.
Its best to avoid taking melatonin with alcohol, cannabis, and other medications that cause drowsiness. This includes medications like Benadryl, diazepam, and opioids.

Here's what to know about how alcohol and melatonin affect the body individually and when taken in tandem, according to sleep experts.
Both alcohol and melatonin suppress the central respiratory drive. Alcohol by depressing brainstem respiratory centres, melatonin by modulating peripheral chemoreceptor sensitivity to CO2. In healthy adults at standard doses (5mg melatonin, 2 drinks), this effect is minimal.

Alcohol and melatonin: okay but best avoided. Though drinking a little alcohol when on a course of melatonin (or taking the odd melatonin tablet after drinking alcohol) will not produce any dramatic effects, mixing alcohol and melatonin is nonetheless not to be recommended.