You could be taking four times the melatonin you think—and not know it

If you have been buying melatonin online, your sleep solution could be far more dangerous than you realise.

Recent testing has revealed shocking inconsistencies in the amount of melatonin in imported products.

Families across Australia are being urged to take immediate precautions.

TGA Issues Safety Advisory

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued a safety advisory on 26 September 2025, following tests that uncovered extreme discrepancies between labelled and actual melatonin content.

One product contained more than four times its stated dose, while another had no melatonin at all.

Such variability placed consumers, particularly children, at serious risk of overdose and hospitalisation.

Extreme Variations in Imported Products

The TGA tested eleven imported melatonin products and found some containing up to 417 per cent of the labelled amount, while others had barely any active ingredient.

The situation was likened to playing Russian roulette with your family’s sleep medication.

Sleepose-3 Melatonin 3mg was the worst offender, with lab results showing between 209 and 417 per cent of its labelled content.

A consumer believing they were taking 3mg could actually be ingesting more than 12mg, significantly increasing the risk of side effects.

TGA Laboratory Findings

These unregistered therapeutic goods often failed to meet Australian safety, quality, or effectiveness standards.

The TGA urged consumers to stop using unregistered melatonin products immediately and to return any remaining stock to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

Throwing them in the bin could put others at risk and harm the environment.

Regulatory Crackdown and Safer Sleep Options

Regulatory enforcement was intensifying, with the TGA continuing to monitor harmful unregistered products and notifying the Australian Border Force to seize and destroy intercepted shipments.

Major international retailers had already paused shipments to Australia in response.

For safer sleep, Australians could explore both medical and natural approaches.

Seniors should speak with their GP about prescription sleep aids or consult pharmacists for regulated melatonin options.

Establishing a consistent bedtime routine, keeping bedrooms cool and dark, limiting screen time before bed, and gentle daytime exercise could also improve sleep quality.

Consumers were reminded that melatonin taken without professional guidance could lead to serious side effects, including hospitalisation.

Checking for an AUST R or AUST L number on packaging confirmed compliance with Australian safety standards.

If you’re concerned about the safety and effectiveness of your sleep aids, it can help to also look at habits that improve sleep naturally.

Understanding the right bedtime routines and what to avoid can complement safer melatonin use and boost overall sleep quality.

For practical tips and expert advice on improving your nightly rest, this next story is a helpful guide.

Read more: Unlock the Secrets to Quality Sleep: Sleep Experts Expose Bedtime Habits You Must Adopt (And What to Avoid)!

Have you found any unregulated melatonin products in your medicine cabinet? Share your experience in the comments below—your story could help keep other families safe.