New research suggests melatonin may do more than support sleep. The supplement, which is widely used for insomnia and sleep timing issues, may also help reduce certain kinds of chronic pain, especially chronic musculoskeletal pain.

The findings indicate that melatonin could improve sleep quality while offering some pain relief. That matters because long-lasting pain and poor sleep often affect each other, with pain making it harder to rest and sleep problems making pain feel worse.

At the same time, the reported pain benefit appears to be modest. The research suggests melatonin’s effect on pain is similar to that seen with NSAIDs, meaning some patients may notice improvement while others may not feel a major change.

Overall, the evidence points to melatonin as a possible option for people with specific chronic pain conditions linked to sleep disruption, rather than a universal solution for all pain. The latest research adds to interest in whether a common sleep supplement could play a broader role in managing chronic musculoskeletal pain.