Melatonin in Spain: Circadin, Brands & Pharmacies

Quick reference

Drug class: Hormone / sleep aid
Controlled substance: No
Prescription required: Yes, required in Spain for Circadin and Slenyto
Available locally: Yes, sold as Circadin (2 mg prolonged-release) and Slenyto (1 mg, 5 mg)
Storage: Room temperature, below 25°C, away from light and moisture
Max supply to carry: No statutory import cap; bring your full trip supply with documentation
Key document: Doctor's letter on clinic letterhead stating medication name (INN and brand), dose, frequency, and quantity carried
Emergency alternative: Visit a Spanish farmacia with your doctor's letter; a GP at a private clinic can issue a local prescription for Circadin or Slenyto

Travelling to Spain with melatonin: what changes

Melatonin, sold in Spain as Circadin (2 mg prolonged-release) and Slenyto (1 mg and 5 mg), is classified as a prescription-only medicine by the AEMPS, the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices. Unlike some countries where low-dose melatonin is sold over the counter, you cannot legally purchase it at a Spanish farmacia without a local prescription. The international generic name melatonina is used on Spanish packaging and product leaflets.^[1]

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Before you travel

Documentation for travelling to Spain with melatonin

Melatonin is not a controlled substance under either the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, so no import permit is required. However, because it is prescription-only in Spain, Spanish customs officers may query your supply if it is not accompanied by documentation. Carry a doctor's letter confirming your prescription, as travellers with personal medication are advised to carry supporting documentation by the Spanish Tax and Customs Agency (AEAT).^[2]

What your doctor's letter must include

Full name, medication name (melatonin / Circadin or Slenyto), dose and frequency, quantity carried, condition name, doctor's signature and registration number, and clinic letterhead. A translation into Spanish is helpful but not legally required for personal import. No notarisation or apostille is needed.

No notarisation or apostille is required for a personal medication letter entering Spain. A translation into Spanish adds clarity but is not a legal requirement for personal import quantities.

How much melatonin to bring

Spain sets no statutory import cap for personal-use melatonin. Bring your full trip supply plus a buffer of around 20% to account for extended delays or itinerary changes. Obtaining a local prescription as a tourist is possible but requires a private GP consultation, so self-sufficiency is the more practical approach. Check whether your travel insurance covers the cost of replacing a lost or damaged supply.

Split your supply

Carry your main supply in hand luggage and a backup in checked luggage. If one bag is lost or delayed, you still have medication. Keep both portions in original pharmacy-labelled packaging.

Packing and storing melatonin for travel

Circadin and Slenyto should be stored below 25°C, away from light and moisture, according to EMA product information. No refrigeration is required, so standard cabin baggage storage is appropriate. Keep tablets in the original blister pack with the pharmacy label visible. During long layovers in hot climates, avoid leaving medication in a parked car or in direct sunlight.^[3]

At the airport and border

Airport security with melatonin

Melatonin tablets are solid and not subject to the 100 ml liquid restriction at airport security. AESA, Spain's civil aviation authority, follows EU rules that allow passengers to carry solid medications in hand luggage without quantity restriction. You do not need to declare solid tablets proactively at security, but having your doctor's letter accessible speeds up any queries. Keep medication in its original packaging to confirm it is what the label states.^[4]

Customs and medication import rules for Spain

The Spanish Tax and Customs Agency (AEAT) does not require a formal import declaration for personal-use prescription medication such as melatonin. provided the quantity is consistent with the duration of stay and accompanied by supporting documentation. If a customs officer asks, present your doctor's letter and original packaging. No advance import permit is required.^[5]

Keep original packaging

Melatonin is not a controlled substance, so there is no risk of confiscation for a personal supply. Keeping tablets in the original blister pack with the pharmacy label confirms the medication identity and dose to any customs officer who asks. Decanting into an unlabelled pillbox is not advisable.

While in country

Melatonin availability in Spain

Circadin (2 mg) and Slenyto (1 mg, 5 mg) are the authorised prescription melatonin products in Spain under AEMPS regulation. Low-dose melatonin supplements (typically 1 mg or 1.9 mg) are sold as food supplements without prescription at farmacias and health shops, but medicinal-dose products require a local prescription. Expect to pay around €5-€15 (~$6-$17) for a supplement pack; prescription Circadin (21 tablets) costs approximately €25-€35 (~$29-$40) at private pharmacies.^[1]

Finding a doctor who can prescribe melatonin in Spain

Private GP clinics in major Spanish cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia) can issue a local prescription for Circadin or Slenyto. A private GP consultation typically costs €50-€90 (~$58-$104). English-speaking doctors are available at private clinics in tourist areas and most large cities. Telemedicine platforms registered in Spain can also issue prescriptions for melatonin, though confirm before booking that the platform has prescribing rights under Spanish law.

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Storing melatonin while in Spain

Melatonin tablets must be stored below 25°C, protected from light. Spain's summer temperatures regularly exceed 35°C in inland regions including Madrid and Seville, so do not leave medication on windowsills, in direct sunlight, or in a hot car. A hotel room with air conditioning is adequate; no refrigeration is needed. Madrid's air quality index is rated Good (AQI 31), so there are no specific environmental storage concerns beyond heat management.^[3]

Emergencies

What to do if something goes wrong with your melatonin in Spain

If your melatonin is lost or stolen, report the loss to local police (091) and obtain a police report for your insurer. Contact your travel insurer immediately to confirm whether replacement medication costs are covered under your policy.

If you run out, visit a farmacia with your doctor's letter; the pharmacist can advise whether a low-dose melatonin supplement is available without prescription as a short-term option. For a full medicinal-dose replacement, a private GP can issue a Spanish prescription the same day. Spain's farmacia network operates a night-duty (guardia) rota, with at least one pharmacy open 24 hours in every district; the duty pharmacy is posted on the door of closed farmacias.^[6]

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The emergency number in Spain is 112 for ambulance, fire, and police. For non-urgent medical advice, call 061 (health emergencies line, Spanish-speaking).

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Frequently asked questions

Is melatonin legal in Spain?

Yes, melatonin is legal in Spain. Low-dose melatonin (typically up to 1.9 mg) is sold lawfully as a food supplement without a prescription at farmacias and health stores. Higher-dose medicinal products — Circadin (2 mg prolonged-release) and Slenyto (1 mg, 5 mg) — are also legal but are classified as prescription-only medicines (POM) under Spanish and EU pharmaceutical law, meaning they require a valid prescription to be dispensed. Possession of a personal supply brought from abroad is permitted provided it is for personal use and accompanied by appropriate documentation such as a doctor's letter or original prescription.

Is melatonin available over the counter in Spain?

Low-dose melatonin supplements (typically 1 mg or 1.9 mg) are sold without a prescription as food supplements at Spanish farmacias and health shops. Medicinal-dose products, including Circadin (2 mg) and Slenyto (1 mg, 5 mg), require a valid Spanish prescription.

Can I bring melatonin into Spain from another country?

Yes, you can bring a personal supply of melatonin into Spain without an import permit. Carry a doctor's letter on clinic letterhead stating your name, medication name, dose, frequency, and quantity, alongside the original pharmacy-labelled packaging.

Is Circadin available in Spanish pharmacies without a prescription?

No. Circadin (2 mg prolonged-release melatonin) is prescription-only in Spain and cannot be dispensed at a farmacia without a valid Spanish prescription. If you need a prescription while in Spain, a private GP consultation typically costs €50–€90 (~$58–$104).

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with melatonin to Spain?

A doctor's letter is not legally required for airport security with solid melatonin tablets, but it is strongly advisable for Spanish customs if you are carrying a medicinal-dose supply. The letter confirms your prescription and quantity, reducing the chance of a query at the border.

What if I run out of melatonin while in Spain?

Visit a farmacia with your doctor's letter; the pharmacist can advise on low-dose supplement options available without a prescription. For a full medicinal-dose replacement of Circadin or Slenyto, book a same-day appointment with a private GP who can issue a Spanish prescription.

Is Slenyto available in Spain for adults?

Slenyto is authorised in Spain primarily for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions; adult use is outside the standard approved indication. Circadin (2 mg) is the authorised prolonged-release melatonin product for adults over 55 in Spain, while Circadin may also be prescribed off-label for other age groups at a doctor's discretion.

Melatonin in Spain: Circadin, Slenyto and Pharmacy Access