Sleep Disorders Treatment Rozerem for Insomnia Treatment Sleeping Pill Affects Levels of the Hormone Melatonin By Brandon Peters, MD Brandon Peters, MD Facebook Twitter Brandon Peters, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 05, 2023 Medically reviewed by Daniel Combs, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel Combs, MD Daniel Combs, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine and pediatrics. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Rozerem is a prescription sleeping pill that is also sold under the generic name ramelteon and is used for the treatment of insomnia. Rozerem is an agonist for melatonin receptors, but does not change levels of melatonin in the body—it actually enhances melatonin's effects. Frederic Cirou / Canopy / Getty Images Uses Rozerem is a prescription medication that can be used to initiate sleep in individuals suffering from insomnia. It is a hypnotic drug and causes the user to become sleepy. How It Works Rozerem works by binding the receptors for a hormone called melatonin. This helps the action of melatonin (this is called being an agonist) and enhances melatonin’s effect of promoting sleep and controlling circadian rhythms. Contraindications Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone. However, there are some situations when Rozerem should not be used. If you have severe liver disease or sleep apnea, you should avoid using Rozerem. In addition, caution is advised if you have mild liver disease, recent changes in your smoking habits, depression, or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. You should not use Rozerem with alcohol. Rozerem has the potential to interact with other medications, so you should review all drugs that you are taking with your healthcare provider if you are using or are set to use Rozerem. Side Effects As with any drug, there is the potential for harmful side effects. Although you would not be expected to experience most side effects—and would likely not experience any of them—some of the more common that can occur with the use of Rozerem include: HeadacheSleepinessDizzinessNauseaInsomniaUpper respiratory infectionsDiarrheaMuscle or joint painDepressionTaste changesChange in hormonal levels (elevated prolactin, decreased testosterone, or decreased cortisol) Potential Serious Reactions These more serious side effects occur more rarely: Suicidal thoughtsWorsening depressionBehavioral disturbancesHallucinationsComplex sleep-related behaviorAnaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction involving difficulty breathing) Liver tumors have also been noted as a potential side effect, though this research was only performed on animals. Things to Keep in Mind Certain people should use Rozerem with caution or not at all, as noted above. Harm to a developing fetus is possible, and the safety of the drug's use during lactation is unknown. It should be used with caution if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. No routine testing is necessary for monitoring. If you experience any difficulties, you should be in close contact with your primary health provider. 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Neubauer DN. A review of ramelteon in the treatment of sleep disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(1):69-79. doi:10.2147/ndt.s483 Ward C. Ramelteon (Rozerem) for Insomnia. Am Fam Physician. 73(8):1437-1438. Food and Drug Administration. Rozerem label. Additional Reading Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. Rozeram Prescribing Information. By Brandon Peters, MD Brandon Peters, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit