NOW Foods Melatonin 5mg Sustained Release 120 Tablets

What it is

NOW Foods Melatonin 5 mg Sustained Release is a dietary supplement supplied as 120 tablets in a single bottle. One tablet is one serving, and that serving declares 5 mg of melatonin — the only entry in the Amount Per Serving column of the Supplement Facts panel. The front of the bottle marks the product Vegetarian/Vegan and carries a Non-GMO mark, and the panel prints the line "Family owned since 1968."

Because a serving is a single tablet, a 120-tablet bottle works out to 120 servings. That figure is arithmetic from the tablet count: this label prints no servings row, so we show it as derived rather than as a printed number. You can browse the rest of the range in Supplements.

The words "Sustained Release" on the front describe how the tablet is made rather than how it is taken. The bottle panel states it in one sentence: "This sustained release tablet is formulated to release over a 4-hour period." That is the manufacturer's own wording, quoted here rather than paraphrased.

What's inside

The panel declares one active ingredient and three other ingredients. The label states no purpose for any of the three, so neither does this page — what follows is what each substance is, and nothing about what it does.

• Melatonin — 5 mg. Melatonin is a hormone that occurs naturally in the human body, where it is produced by the pineal gland. The panel marks the 5 mg figure with a double asterisk and footnotes it "Daily Value not established", which means no reference intake has been set for melatonin, so there is no percentage to report against it. The NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database catalogs label panels of this kind for general reference; it does not refer to this product.
• Microcrystalline Cellulose. A purified plant cellulose, refined into a fine free-flowing powder.
• Stearic Acid (vegetable source). A fatty acid. The label declares the vegetable-sourced form and prints that qualifier itself.
• Silicon Dioxide. A mineral compound, chemically the same substance as purified silica.

Those three appear on the panel under the heading "Other ingredients", with no function printed beside them. For general background on how supplement labels are organized, the NIH guide Dietary supplements: what you need to know explains the structure; it is not a comment on this item.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The label gives one instruction, printed as "Suggested Usage: Take 1 tablet daily near bedtime with water." That is the whole of the printed direction, and no worked example, timing window or schedule has been added to it here.

For storage, the panel prints "Store in a cool, dry place after opening." The panel also notes that "Natural color variation may occur in this product."

Who it's for

This is a product for adults 18 and over, and the label restricts it further than that — read the printed caution below before buying. A 120-tablet bottle is a single-format supply in one container, which suits someone who has already settled on the form and the 5 mg strength.

The one-tablet serving means nothing has to be measured, split or counted out. If you would rather look across formats first, the Health & Wellness section lists the wider range.

Good to know

The bottle prints an allergen statement in full: "Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens."

The printed caution reads: "For adults only at bedtime. Not for pregnant or nursing women. May cause drowsiness. Do not use in conjunction with alcoholic beverages, when driving a vehicle, or while operating machinery. Consult physician if taking medication (especially sedatives and anti-depressants) or have a medical condition (including depression, high blood pressure and epilepsy). Keep out of reach of children."

That caution is reproduced word for word because it is the label's own, and the drowsiness and driving lines are worth reading before a first tablet. The NCCIH overview Are supplements safe? sets out general questions to raise with a clinician; it makes no statement about this product.

Orders ship in plain, unbranded outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tablets are in the bottle?

There are 120 tablets in the bottle, as marked on the front of the label. One tablet is one serving, so the bottle holds 120 servings — a figure derived from the count, since this label prints no servings row of its own.

What does "Sustained Release" mean on this label?

It describes how the tablet itself is formulated, not how it is taken. The bottle panel states it directly: "This sustained release tablet is formulated to release over a 4-hour period." The serving is still one tablet, and the printed direction is a single line.

Is this product suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

Yes — the front of the bottle is marked "Vegetarian/Vegan". The panel also prints the qualifier "(vegetable source)" beside Stearic Acid.

What is in the tablet apart from the melatonin?

Three other ingredients, listed on the panel as Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid (vegetable source) and Silicon Dioxide. The label states no purpose for any of them, and this page does not assign one either.

How much melatonin is in one tablet, and is a Daily Value shown?

Each tablet declares 5 mg of melatonin, and no Daily Value is shown. The panel footnotes the figure "** Daily Value not established.", meaning no reference intake has been set for melatonin, so there is no percentage for the label to print. The FDA's note on structure/function claims explains why the asterisked disclaimer below appears on supplement labeling generally.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.