Restfine
Restfine (melatonin 10 mg) — high-dose pineal-hormone tablet for delayed sleep-phase disorder, severe shift work, and age 55+ insomnia. Non-addictive, no rebound; lower-dose Meloset 3 mg available for typical adult insomnia.
✓ Medically reviewed by Morgan Ellis — Pharmacy Researcher · 8 years experience · Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick Answer
Restfine contains melatonin 10 mg — a high-dose formulation of the body’s natural sleep-onset hormone. The 10 mg strength is best suited to delayed sleep-phase disorder, severe shift work, age over 55, or patients who haven’t responded to lower doses. For typical adult insomnia, clinical evidence supports starting at 1–3 mg taken 30–60 minutes before bedtime — higher doses do not consistently improve outcomes and may cause more morning grogginess and vivid dreams.
Onset: 30–60 minutes. Indication: short-term insomnia, jet lag, delayed sleep-phase disorder, shift work, blind non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder. Not for: chronic insomnia (CBT-I is first-line), pregnancy or breastfeeding without specialist input, autoimmune disease without specialist supervision.
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Important — high-dose formulation
Restfine is 10 mg melatonin. Endogenous melatonin peaks at roughly 60–70 picograms per millilitre overnight; a single 10 mg dose produces serum levels several hundred times physiological. For typical adult insomnia, 0.5–3 mg is as effective as 5–10 mg in head-to-head trials (Brzezinski 2005 meta-analysis; Buscemi 2005 systematic review for AHRQ) and is associated with less next-morning grogginess and fewer vivid dreams.
Reasonable indications for staying at 10 mg:
- Delayed sleep-phase disorder (DSPD) where lower doses gave inadequate phase-shift in a clinical trial.
- Age over 55 with measured low endogenous melatonin and inadequate response to 2 mg prolonged-release formulations.
- Severe shift work requiring deep daytime sleep.
- Tumour-related sleep disturbance where higher doses are sometimes used under specialist supervision.
If you are using melatonin for typical insomnia and are new to it, quarter or half the tablet to start at 2.5–5 mg and only go higher if needed. Meloset (3 mg, Sun Pharma) is our lower-dose option.
How melatonin works
Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in response to darkness. It binds to MT1 and MT2 receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) — the master circadian pacemaker in the hypothalamus. MT1 activation reduces wake drive (sleep onset), MT2 activation phase-shifts the circadian clock. Unlike GABA-A agonists (Z-drugs, benzodiazepines), melatonin does not produce general CNS depression, does not impair memory consolidation, does not cause physical dependence, and does not impair next-day cognitive performance at standard doses.
The phase-shifting role is why timing matters. Melatonin taken at bedtime advances onset (helps with falling asleep). Melatonin taken in the late afternoon advances the entire circadian phase (helps with delayed sleep-phase disorder and eastward jet lag). Taken in the early morning, it delays the phase (helps with westward jet lag and advanced sleep-phase disorder).
Dosing by indication
| Indication | Dose | Timing | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-term insomnia (adults < 55) | 1–3 mg (start with quarter or half tablet) | 30–60 min before bed | 1–2 weeks |
| Insomnia age 55+ | 2 mg PR or 5–10 mg IR | 1–2 hours before bed | up to 13 weeks (NICE) |
| Delayed sleep-phase disorder | 0.5–5 mg (titrate) | 4–6 hours before desired sleep onset | specialist-led |
| Eastward jet lag (≥ 5 time zones) | 2–5 mg | local bedtime at destination, 2–4 nights | until adapted |
| Shift-work sleep disorder | 1–10 mg | before daytime sleep period | while on rotation |
| Non-24-hour sleep-wake (blind patients) | 0.5–10 mg | fixed clock time daily | indefinite, specialist-led |
PR = prolonged-release. IR = immediate-release. Restfine is an immediate-release tablet.
Side effects
Common (typically mild and self-limiting): drowsiness or grogginess on waking, headache, mild dizziness, nausea, vivid dreams. Vivid dreams are dose-related — stepping down from 10 mg to 3 mg usually resolves them. Daytime sleepiness suggests the dose is too high or taken too late.
Less common: low mood transient (especially in patients with seasonal affective tendencies), reduced libido, mild blood-pressure changes (both directions reported), gastrointestinal upset, irritability, joint discomfort.
Rare but important: seizures (lower threshold reported in patients with epilepsy — caution and specialist input), allergic skin reactions, autoimmune flare in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Drug interactions
| Drug class | Interaction | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Fluvoxamine (SSRI) | CYP1A2 inhibition raises melatonin levels 17-fold | avoid combination — substitute another SSRI |
| Warfarin | case reports of raised INR | monitor INR after starting or stopping |
| Diabetes medication (insulin, sulfonylureas) | melatonin reduces insulin secretion overnight | monitor fasting glucose; specialist input in T1DM |
| Antihypertensives | may potentiate effect of nifedipine; may raise BP with some agents | monitor BP at start of treatment |
| Immunosuppressants (ciclosporin, methotrexate) | melatonin has immunostimulant effects | avoid in solid-organ transplant or active autoimmune disease |
| Combined oral contraceptive | CYP1A2 inhibition raises melatonin levels | consider lower melatonin dose |
| Caffeine | caffeine inhibits melatonin metabolism mildly; both also CYP1A2 substrates | avoid caffeine within 6 hours of bedtime regardless |
| Benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, alcohol, opioids | additive sedation | avoid combining; do not drink alcohol with melatonin |
| Anticonvulsants | may lower seizure threshold (case reports) | specialist input in epilepsy |
Contraindications and cautions
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — safety not established; avoid unless specialist-supervised.
- Active autoimmune disease (RA, lupus, MS, IBD) — melatonin has immunostimulant effects; specialist input required.
- Solid-organ transplant on immunosuppression — avoid.
- Severe hepatic impairment — accumulation; reduce dose or avoid.
- Epilepsy — case reports of lowered seizure threshold; specialist input.
- Children and adolescents under 18 — only under specialist paediatric supervision (used in autism spectrum sleep disturbance; not for typical childhood insomnia).
- Driving or operating machinery — do not drive within 8 hours of dose, particularly in the first few nights.
- Alcohol — avoid; potentiates sedation and blunts melatonin’s circadian effect.
Storage
Store at 15–30°C (room temperature) in the original blister, away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. Do not refrigerate. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date printed on the strip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 10 mg melatonin too high for typical insomnia?
For most adults under 55 with typical short-term insomnia, yes — 0.5–3 mg has the same sleep-onset effect with less morning grogginess and fewer vivid dreams. Use 10 mg if lower doses haven’t worked, for delayed sleep-phase disorder under specialist input, for severe shift work, or for age 55+ with confirmed low endogenous melatonin.
Can I split a Restfine tablet in half?
Yes. Restfine is an immediate-release uncoated tablet — splitting in half gives ~5 mg, in quarters gives ~2.5 mg. Use a tablet splitter for accuracy. Do not crush or chew if you find the taste unpleasant — it is bitter.
How long does melatonin take to work?
30–60 minutes for sleep onset. Peak plasma concentration is roughly 60 minutes after an oral immediate-release dose; half-life is 30–50 minutes. The phase-shifting effect on circadian rhythm builds over several nights.
Is melatonin habit-forming?
No. Melatonin does not cause physical dependence, tolerance, or rebound insomnia in standard short-term use. This is its main advantage over benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (zolpidem, zopiclone). Long-term use (more than 3 months) has less evidence and should be reviewed with your doctor periodically.
Can I take melatonin with alcohol?
No. Alcohol fragments sleep architecture, suppresses REM, and disrupts the circadian rhythm — the opposite of what melatonin is trying to do. The combination produces additive next-day grogginess without improving sleep quality.
Will melatonin help with chronic insomnia (more than 3 months)?
Modestly at best. The most effective long-term treatment for chronic insomnia is cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), not pharmacotherapy. Online programmes are widely available. If insomnia persists despite CBT-I and good sleep hygiene, sleep-medicine review can identify contributors (sleep apnoea, restless legs, depression, perimenopause).
Does melatonin work for jet lag?
Yes — particularly for eastward travel across 5+ time zones. Take 2–5 mg at local bedtime at the destination for 2–4 nights. Westward travel responds less to melatonin (the body adapts more easily to delaying the clock than advancing it). Combine with bright daylight exposure at the destination.
Can I take melatonin for shift work?
Yes — melatonin before the daytime sleep period helps shift workers consolidate sleep. The challenge is finding the right time: it is roughly the start of your “biological night”, which depends on your shift pattern. Avoid taking before driving home from a night shift — wait until you are at home and ready for bed.
Does melatonin interact with my contraceptive pill?
Combined oral contraceptives raise endogenous melatonin levels by about 20% via CYP1A2 inhibition. This usually does not require a melatonin dose change, but if you are sensitive to morning grogginess on melatonin, consider stepping down from 10 mg to 3 mg.
Can melatonin trigger an autoimmune flare?
It can. Melatonin has immunostimulant effects — useful in some research settings but a problem in active rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Get specialist input before using melatonin if you have any active autoimmune condition.
Other sleep aids and hypnotic medications
Medications below treat the same indication via different mechanisms. Choice depends on age, comorbid depression or anxiety, and how short-term or long-term the use will be.
- Meloset (Melatonin 3 mg) — standard-dose melatonin (Sun Pharma).
- Trazalon (Trazodone 50 mg) — off-label low-dose hypnotic — most-prescribed off-label sleep aid globally.
- Mirzacan (Mirtazapine 30 mg) — sedating tetracyclic antidepressant — useful when depression and insomnia coexist.
- Spectra (Doxepin) — low-dose doxepin (3–6 mg) for sleep-maintenance insomnia in older adults.
- Atarax (Hydroxyzine 25 mg) — sedating antihistamine for short-term anxiety-related insomnia.
Medical disclaimer
This page is for educational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice. Persistent insomnia (more than 3 months) warrants evaluation for underlying causes — depression, anxiety, sleep apnoea, restless legs, chronic pain, perimenopause, hyperthyroidism. Cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the most effective long-term intervention. Speak with your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or combining sleep aids — particularly if you take warfarin, diabetes medication, immunosuppressants, fluvoxamine, or oral contraceptives, or if you have an autoimmune condition. If insomnia is paired with persistent low mood, hopelessness, or thoughts of self-harm, contact a crisis line (US 988, UK Samaritans 116 123, or findahelpline.com).
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| Strength | 10 mg |
|---|---|
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