Sominex Tablets for Sleep Aid - 16 Tablets

Product Summary

Specifically designed to help induce a healthy night’s sleep, especially if you are having trouble drifting off due to stress, interruption to your normal sleeping routine, jet lag, or a change in lifestyle. Sominex helps to relieve occasional disturbances in your normal sleep pattern.

Directions

• Use this medicine for short-term sleeping problems.
• Adults, the elderly and children over 16: The recommended dose is one tablet at bedtime. This may be taken up to one hour before going to bed when you cannot go to sleep.
• Do not use this medicine for more than 7 days in a row.
• If natural sleep does not return within 7 days or you have repeated bouts of sleeplessness, talk to your doctor.
• Do not give to children under 16 unless your doctor tells to.
• Do not drink alcohol when using this medicine.

Ingredients

• The active ingredient per tablet is promethazine hydrochloride 20 mg.
• The other ingredients are lactose, maize starch, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate.

Warnings and Restrictions

Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as directed by your doctor.

• Do not take if you are under 16 years old.
• Do not use for more than seven days without medical advice.
• Sominex can cause drowsiness. Do not operate heavy machinery.
• Consumption of alcohol should be avoided.

Do not use Sominex if you:

• are pregnant. Consult your doctor before taking any sleeping aid.
• are allergic to promethazine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• have an allergy to phenothiazine drugs (used to treat mental illness, severe nausea/vomiting or vertigo e.g. chlorpromazine, pericyazine)
• have concussion, lightheadedness, drowsiness, dizziness or a recent head injury
• have taken MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) for depression within the last two weeks.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, in particular:

• other medicines which make you drowsy (e.g. sedatives or relaxants)
• MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) for depression
• medicines which may give you a dry mouth or blurred vision (e.g. atropine or antidepressants)
• medicines used to reduce/prevent seizures (e.g. in epilepsy). Sominex may affect the risk of seizure.
• strong painkillers (e.g. codeine, morphine or buprenorphine)
• medicines treating mental illness (e.g. promazine, flupentixol or haloperidol).

Other warnings

Pregnancy tests based on urine samples may give false positive or negative results if used when this medicine is taken.

Sominex should not be taken during the 3 days before taking an allergy skin test as this may lead to false-negative results.

Do not drink alcohol when using Sominex.

Pharmacist FAQs Answered

How long does it take to work, and how long will it last?

Sominex should take effect within 20 to 60 minutes. This is why you should take the tablet an hour before bedtime. Its active ingredient, promethazine hydrochloride, is an antihistamine that causes drowsiness and helps you sleep. When it starts to work, it could put you to rest for 6 to 8 hours. But we're all different, and some might get sleepy sooner or sleep longer. It's best to take it when you know you have at least the entire night to yourself. If you wake up too early, you could still be a bit drowsy or lethargic the following day. That is all right, but it will improve as the medication takes effect. Do not take additional doses at night. If it does not appear to be easing after a few nights, see a doctor rather than taking more yourself.

Can't I use Sominex every night, or use it only when I have sleeplessness?

Sominex is only to be used temporarily—it's for when you're having a problem sleeping because of short-lived stress, jet lag, or disrupted routine. Don't use it for more than seven consecutive nights unless your doctor says it will be safe for you. Taking it at bedtime for an extended amount of time can lead to problems like tolerance, where your body no longer responds to it, or rebound insomnia, where sleep is even harder to achieve when you stop. If your sleep disorder continues after seven days or recurs again and again, you need to talk to a doctor. He can tell you if there is a cause for concern and help find a safer long-term solution. For most people, sporadic use of Sominex is sufficient to help them return to a healthy sleep pattern.

What are the side effects of Sominex, and what do I do if they happen?

Sominex side effects can happen, mainly because of its sedative effect. The most frequent side effect is drowsiness, which lasts into the next morning. Dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision, or trouble concentrating may occur in some individuals. Less frequently, you might get agitated, have a headache, or get strange dreams. If you become too drowsy the next day or have an unusual reaction like confusion or tremors, it would be wise to stop taking the medication and talk to your physician or pharmacist. Severe allergic reactions to Sominex are rare but can include swelling, rash, or difficulty breathing—if this is the case, get emergency help immediately. To reduce side effects, avoid using other sleep-inducing medicines or alcohol. Use only the recommended dosage—never take more than one tablet at bedtime.

May I use Sominex if I already take other medications for depression or anxiety?

You need to be extremely careful if you are taking medicine for depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses. Sominex can interact with medications like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-seizure drugs, which may increase drowsiness, affect your mood, or make specific side effects worse. It can also interact with MAOIs, which are a type of older antidepressant; these should never be taken within 14 days of using Sominex. If you’re on any regular medication, especially for the brain or nervous system, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Sominex. Even herbal supplements like St. John's Wort can affect the safety of the treatment. Never mix sleep aids without a pro's advice—some combinations can affect the way your brain and body function while you're sleeping.

Can I cut one Sominex tablet in two if one whole tablet is too strong?

Sominex tablets are not scored, which means they're not made to be cut precisely in half. Crushing the tablet could result in taking the incorrect dose, and that could be too weak or too strong. If one tablet is too strong and makes you feel drowsy the next day, it's a good idea to visit a physician or pharmacist before you cut back on the number. They can recommend a lower-dosage formulation or another sleep medication with fewer after-effects the next day. Never break or crush the tablet unless your physician tells you to. Taking too much can increase your likelihood of experiencing side effects like confusion, blurred vision, or dizziness. Always best to follow the complete instructions that have been provided and seek help if you need to make changes.

Does Sominex come in a form that can be used for jet lag or travel-induced sleep disorders?

Yes, Sominex can help alleviate short-term sleep disturbances caused by jet lag or changes in time zones. It's designed to allow you to sleep when your body clock gets out of sync, such as when travelling abroad. Be sure to take one tablet about an hour before you want to go to bed, only if you're in a safe place and won't need to wake up or get up in the middle of the night. Do not take Sominex to adjust your sleep before flight or while traveling—it induces sleepiness that makes it unsafe to travel or move around strange places. Also, do not take with alcohol, as both will increase drowsiness. If jet lag lasts longer than a few days, or you continue to have sleeping difficulties, consult a doctor for a more permanent solution.

Can I take Sominex with food, or must I take it on an empty stomach?

Sominex can be taken either with or without food. Others prefer to take it after a light meal or snack, in case of nausea or an upset stomach. Food might slow it down a bit, but if you want to fall asleep quickly, you may want to take it on an empty stomach (unless you have a sensitive stomach). Avoid the intake of large meals or caffeine near bedtime since they can interfere with falling asleep, even after the administration of a sleep aid. If you have taken it on an empty stomach and the effects seem too delayed, you can administer it slightly earlier the next night, one hour before you prefer going to bed.