A quick google gives me a big bunch of options for buying Melatonin in the UK - http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/HealthNotes-Search?search=%... for example.
Doesn't seem to be prescription-only unless I'm misunderstanding.
Doesn't seem to be prescription-only unless I'm misunderstanding.
The page you link to doesn't allow me to buy any product. Entering [melatonin] in their search box doesn't return any products containing melatonin.
(http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Howweregulate/Medicines/Licensingofme...)
"You can't buy melatonin over the counter in the UK" (http://www.webmd.boots.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia-in-adult...)
MHRA does regulate melatonin sales and prescriptions. Here are two examples:
UK website has prescription only melatonin, being advertised for off-label use (jet lag) and is told to stop (http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Howweregulate/Medicines/Advertisingof...) (Even though Cochrane found it's excellent for jetlag)
Also, unlicenced product (http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Howweregulate/Medicines/Advertisingof...)
EDIT: also, a web search for [buy codeine uk] returns many hits for offshore pharmacies selling into the UK.
I buy it when I'm in the US which is fine for me as I take it for jet lag but I know GPs (family doctors) I talk to are often confused to learn they can prescribe melatonin and will often prescribe much more powerful and, in my opinion, dangerous hypnotics. I think that's probably because there's no patent on melatonin so not much marketing push to inform GPs of its uses - though I believe there's a patented slow release version of melatonin that might get a bit of marketing behind it.