"I want the TRUTH!" ... about the legality of Melatonin in Thailand.

[Krillin]

So basically, is it legal or illegal to order Melatonin online and have it shipped to my address here in Thailand without a prescription? Some on here have said that they were able to do this without any problem, and that the Thai doctor friends they knew said it would be okay. However, if I put the question, "is melatonin legal in Thailand" into the Google search box, I get this:

 

Melatonin is not legal in Thailand as a dietary supplement, but it is legal when prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist. It is classified as a drug in Thailand and requires medical supervision. Additionally, melatonin is not allowed to be used as a food ingredient in Thailand, according to the Food Act B.E. 2522. 

 

 

 

I do not want to spend any time in a Thai jail or explaining myself to any authorities. So, bottom line, once and for all: can I order Melatonin online legally here in Thailand and have it shipped to my Thai street address? Yes, or no? Thank you. I used to use it every night before I came to Thailand, and I really miss it.

[gtr]

I buy on lazada and have so so for 4 yrs , no prob at all . 

[Trippy]

it's readily available on Lazada, so it's not illegal.

[Gottfrid]

As you can see in the act you have copied and pasted in your post. It´s not legal as dietary supplement. Neither legal to be used as a food ingredient. Must also be prescribed by doctor to be legal. Do you think it´s illegal or legal to order online? Even if it is, according to the act, you can apparently not use it without a prescription? Are you going to stuff it in the drawer?

[JackGats]

Same grey status as DHEA probably.

 

I remember buying some melatonin from Boots in Thailand, but it was the delayed onset formulation, not much use if your problem is falling asleep.

[Sheryl]

What you got from Google is incorrect (or at least, outdated).  It is never wise to go by the AI results that appear at the top if all Goohle searches these days. It simply regurgitates things thst have been posted somewhere on the Web with no check on accuracy and can thus  serve to perpetuate  misinformation. 

 

Melatonin is approved  in Thailand and now classified as a nutritional supplement  though there are no brands of it currently registered in Thailand. 

 

There was previously a Merck brand, Circadin,   marketed here and for some bizzare teason classified as a hypnotic. This is now off market. Melatonin generic is still approved and listed as a Nutritional Supplement. 

 

 

That said, it is illegal to import any pharmaceutical (including supplements) from abroad without an FDA license.  You won't be criminally prosecuted or fined for it, it but package may be seized by customs. (iHerb packages seem to get through however). 

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

As you can see in the act you have copied and pasted in your post....

 

He did not copy and paste an Act.

 

He copied and padted AI generated text from Google which, as is often the case, contained inaccuracies. 

 

The Food Act makes no mention of melatonin one way or the other, and it's a moot point since not used as a food additive. 

 

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

13 hours ago, Krillin said:

So basically, is it legal or illegal to order Melatonin online and have it shipped to my address here in Thailand without a prescription? Some on here have said that they were able to do this without any problem, and that the Thai doctor friends they knew said it would be okay. However, if I put the question, "is melatonin legal in Thailand" into the Google search box, I get this:

 

Melatonin is not legal in Thailand as a dietary supplement, but it is legal when prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist. It is classified as a drug in Thailand and requires medical supervision. Additionally, melatonin is not allowed to be used as a food ingredient in Thailand, according to the Food Act B.E. 2522. 

 

 

 

I do not want to spend any time in a Thai jail or explaining myself to any authorities. So, bottom line, once and for all: can I order Melatonin online legally here in Thailand and have it shipped to my Thai street address? Yes, or no? Thank you. I used to use it every night before I came to Thailand, and I really miss it.

Lazada got it . And in many pharmacies available. Most 3mg

[soisanuk]

Quote

There was previously a Merck brand, Circadin,

 

I get it regularly from a Pattaya pharmacy.

[MadAtMatrix]

9 hours ago, Sheryl said:

What you got from Google is incorrect (or at least, outdated).  It is never wise to go by the AI results that appear at the top if all Goohle searches these days. It simply regurgitates things thst have been posted somewhere on the Web with no check on accuracy and can thus  serve to perpetuate  misinformation. 

 

Melatonin is approved  in Thailand and now classified as a nutritional supplement  though there are no brands of it currently registered in Thailand. 

 

There was previously a Merck brand, Circadin,   marketed here and for some bizzare teason classified as a hypnotic. This is now off market. Melatonin generic is still approved and listed as a Nutritional Supplement. 

 

 

That said, it is illegal to import any pharmaceutical (including supplements) from abroad without an FDA license.  You won't be criminally prosecuted or fined for it, it but package may be seized by customs. (iHerb packages seem to get through however). 

MD Chula pharmacy has Circadin. I saw the person ahead of me getting two boxes of it yesterday when I was picking up my medication. They seem to be able to able to get nearly any medication that other pharmacies “mai mee / mai dai”. 

[PeterA]

I bought some on Lazada last year, from a brand with Pride as part of the name. It did absolutely nothing. 

I ordered some from a local pharmacist that did the trick. 

Melatonin over a long term can damage your gut, it did mine years back, until I stopped taking it. 

Now at my old age, it will work for a few days to help me sleep. Now it keeps me awake for 4-6 hours after I take it.  

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, MadAtMatrix said:

MD Chula pharmacy has Circadin. I saw the person ahead of me getting two boxes of it yesterday when I was picking up my medication. They seem to be able to able to get nearly any medication that other pharmacies “mai mee / mai dai”. 

It is no longer being marketed in  Thailand by the manufacturer (likely due to low sales). But pharmacies may still have residual stock.  Eventually this will be depleted. 

[Mannekenpis]

15 hours ago, Krillin said:

So basically, is it legal or illegal to order Melatonin online and have it shipped to my address here in Thailand without a prescription? Some on here have said that they were able to do this without any problem, and that the Thai doctor friends they knew said it would be okay. However, if I put the question, "is melatonin legal in Thailand" into the Google search box, I get this:

 

Melatonin is not legal in Thailand as a dietary supplement, but it is legal when prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist. It is classified as a drug in Thailand and requires medical supervision. Additionally, melatonin is not allowed to be used as a food ingredient in Thailand, according to the Food Act B.E. 2522. 

 

 

 

I do not want to spend any time in a Thai jail or explaining myself to any authorities. So, bottom line, once and for all: can I order Melatonin online legally here in Thailand and have it shipped to my Thai street address? Yes, or no? Thank you. I used to use it every night before I came to Thailand, and I really miss it.

Melatonin is sold over the counter in all pharmacies in Phuket so I guess it is legal

[jas007]

26 minutes ago, Mannekenpis said:

Melatonin is sold over the counter in all pharmacies in Phuket so I guess it is legal

I'm pretty sure I've seen it for sale along with all the other supplements.  Next time I go, I'll look.  

 

A long time ago in the US, I tried some to see what happened, and I didn't notice any change one way or the other, so I usually don't even look for it. 

[save the frogs]

12 hours ago, PeterA said:

I bought some on Lazada last year, from a brand with Pride as part of the name. It did absolutely nothing. 

I ordered some from a local pharmacist that did the trick. 

Melatonin over a long term can damage your gut, it did mine years back, until I stopped taking it. 

Now at my old age, it will work for a few days to help me sleep. Now it keeps me awake for 4-6 hours after I take it.  

 

I'm on the same page as you.

I don't think it's good to rely on melatonin supplements for sleep over the long term due to side effects. 

 

some have claimed that long-term use can lower natural melatonin production.

best to find other ways to sleep well for me anyway.

good luck to all melatonin users. 

 

[Sheryl]

A post consisting of nothing but pasted AI content has been removed per new forum rule:

 

39a. Posts should be original, on-topic, and written in your own voice. This is a discussion forum—not an AI content dump—so keep contributions natural and personal. AI tools can be used for reference or to support facts, but your writing should reflect your own understanding and perspective.

 

https://aseannow.com/forum_rules/

 

All AI does basically the same thing - it regurgitates content found in various places o nthe web, woven into text form.

 

If what is on the web is inaccurate or outdated, the AI generated results will be likewise. Garbage in, garbage out.

 

In the case of this issue, most of what is on the Web is from social media (indeed, this thread could  end up incorporated in AI findings on the subject).

 

As I have previously stated, the Food Act of 2522 (1979) makes no mention of melatonin whatsoever. Neither does it mention various vitamins, fish oil etc etc. The act is concerned with food. It has no bearing  on this subject but do to an inaccurate posting on the web, and general scaricty of other info on the web, it pops up in AI.

 

https://catalog.fda.moph.go.th/dataset/49200dfd-2b16-4513-8435-08c591882caa/resource/d99b7e26-8bb0-4f2c-90e3-7d39bb419fae/download/food-act-b.e.2522.pdf

 

This is the current MIMS listing for melatonin in Thailand, note the classification:

 

 

[WDSmart]

I buy melatonin online. It's available on many sites without a prescription. I have never heard that it is only allowed as a prescribed medication in Thailand. 

[AgMech Cowboy]

18 hours ago, Sheryl said:

There was previously a Merck brand, Circadin,   marketed here

I have been buying Circadin 2 mg tablets from my pharmacy in Lat Sawai, Pathum Thani for at least the past 8-9 months.  I've also purchased it from the Big C affiliated, Mega, pharmacy during this time.  I take it 1 to 2 hours before trying to sleep.  It does help, but it's not a knock out drug. 

[JoseThailand]

I stick to diazepam

But, you can buy it only at a clinic

[KhunLA]

35 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

I stick to diazepam

But, you can buy it only at a clinic

I get it at the local pharmacist, along with most other things many state you can only get at clinic, hospital or need a script for.   Location dependent, obviously.

[ericthai]

On 5/5/2025 at 8:30 AM, gtr said:

I buy on lazada and have so so for 4 yrs , no prob at all . 

be  careful, it's illegal to import without a license. If they decide to do something you could have problems.   Importing medications needs a license. 

Note: Bringing medications with you when you travel for your own use is allowed, but not having them mailed to Thailand. 

[Sierra Tango]

On 5/5/2025 at 7:21 PM, Krillin said:

So basically, is it legal or illegal to order Melatonin online and have it shipped to my address here in Thailand without a prescription? Some on here have said that they were able to do this without any problem, and that the Thai doctor friends they knew said it would be okay. However, if I put the question, "is melatonin legal in Thailand" into the Google search box, I get this:

 

Melatonin is not legal in Thailand as a dietary supplement, but it is legal when prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist. It is classified as a drug in Thailand and requires medical supervision. Additionally, melatonin is not allowed to be used as a food ingredient in Thailand, according to the Food Act B.E. 2522. 

 

 

 

I do not want to spend any time in a Thai jail or explaining myself to any authorities. So, bottom line, once and for all: can I order Melatonin online legally here in Thailand and have it shipped to my Thai street address? Yes, or no? Thank you. I used to use it every night before I came to Thailand, and I really miss it.

Use Ganga Gummies instead. So I was told by a friend.

[msbkk]

16 minutes ago, ericthai said:

be  careful, it's illegal to import without a license. If they decide to do something you could have problems.   Importing medications needs a license. 

Note: Bringing medications with you when you travel for your own use is allowed, but not having them mailed to Thailand. 

Lazada is here in Thailand and most (but not all) Melatonin sellers are here, too. I would not expect any problem for items ordered from Lazada.