Melatonin
Our policy on prescribing melatonin is based on rules set by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB)
We are only able to take over prescribing melatonin from hospital specialists if ALL the following criteria are met:
- The patient is under the age of 18 years
- The patient has a formally confirmed diagnosis of either autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- The melatonin has been started by an NHS specialist service such as an NHS paediatric service or NHS psychiatry service
- The patient has been stable on a maintenance dose of melatonin for at least 3 months
- We have received an NHS shared care agreement from the specialist NHS service which has started the melatonin.
Melatonin for adults
We are unable to prescribe melatonin for adults.
Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB have designated melatonin for adults as “double red” status.
Children approaching the age of 18 years must have a medication review by their hospital specialist and melatonin stopped. We will not continue melatonin prescribing into adulthood.
Melatonin prescribed by private providers
We are unable to take over melatonin prescribed by private specialists, even if they hold an NHS contract elsewhere.
- Shared care agreements may only be formed between NHS organisations. There is no local policy which allows shared care agreements to be formed between private and NHS organisations.
- Shared care documents from private providers, which have not gone through the ICB’s governance processes cannot be accepted by GPs.
Further information
HVCCG & ENHCCG Prescribing Support Document: Melatonin for Neurodevelopmental Disorder Approved by HMMC September 2020 version 1.0 https://hertsvalleysccg.nhs.uk/download_file/5880/389
Position Statement on the Prescribing of Melatonin in Adults
https://hertsvalleysccg.nhs.uk/download_file/6335/389
For further information on guidance set by our Integrated Care Board, please contact the Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Team for South and West Hertfordshire, which is part of Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
