Doxylamine Succinate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in the leaflet?
This leaflet answers some common questions about CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
What CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets are used for
CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets help relieve insomnia. It is intended for short term use to re-establish regular sleep patterns. Do not use it for more than a few days consecutively.
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is having trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep. It may also be the feeling that you are not getting enough sleep.
What causes insomnia?
Insomnia may be caused by some or all of the following:
- stress
- noise
- late night eating
- late night exercise
- inactive lifestyle
- drinking too much tea, coffee or cola
- taking medicines containing stimulants such as cold or flu medicines
How do CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets work?
CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets belongs to a group of medicines called antihistamines. They block the action of histamine and other substances produced by the body to provide relief from allergic symptoms. Some antihistamines, including doxylamine cause the central nervous system to slow down at the same time and this provides relief for insomnia. There is no evidence that CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets are addictive.
Establishing Regular Sleep Patterns
In addition to taking CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID, the following good sleep habits must be established and maintained.
- go to bed and rise at the same time daily
- engage in relaxing activities before bedtime
- exercise regularly but not late in the evening
- avoid eating meals or large snacks just before bedtime
- eliminate day time naps
- avoid caffeine containing drinks after midday
- avoid alcohol or the use of nicotine late in the evening
- minimise external disruption (e.g. light and noise)
- if you are unable to sleep, do not become anxious, leave the bedroom and participate in relaxing activities such as reading or listening to music until you are tired
Before you take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets
When you must not take it
Do not take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets if you have ever had an allergic reaction to:
- CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
- Dimetapp night time capsules, Dramamine or similar medicines.
Do not take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets if you have, or have had any of the following medical conditions:
- asthma
- chronic bronchitis
- severe liver or kidney disease
- closed-angle glaucoma
- prostate problems
- difficulty passing urine
- a narrowing or blockage between the stomach and small intestine which causes vomiting of undigested food
- epilepsy
Do not take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets if you are taking any of the following medicines as they may interfere with each other:
- antidepressant medicines known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s). These include moclobemide (Arima, Aurorix), phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- tricyclic antidepressant medicines such as amitriptyline (Tryptanol), imipramine (Melipramine), nortriptyline (Allegron), and doxepin(Deptran)
- strong pain killers such as codeine and morphine
- other medicines used to help you sleep including temazepam (Temaze, Normison), triazolam (Halcion), or nitrazepam (Mogadon)
- medicines used to treat anxiety such as oxazepam (Serapax) or diazepam (Valium)
- antibiotics known as aminoglycosides such as tobramycin
Do not take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Like most antihistamine medicines CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets is not recommended for use during pregnancy. CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets is not known to cause birth defects but studies to prove it is safe for the developing baby have not been done.
Do not take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets if you are breast feeding or plan to breast feed. Small amounts of CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets pass into breast milk. There is a possibility that the breast fed baby may become unusually excited or irritable. It is also possible that breast milk supply will be affected.
Do not give CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablet to a child under 12 years of age.
Do not take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
While you are using CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets
Things to be careful of:
Drowsiness on the day following use may occur.
Use extreme care while doing anything that involves complete alertness such as driving a car, operating machinery, or piloting an aircraft.
Be careful drinking alcohol while taking CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets. The effects of alcohol can be increased by some antihistamine medicines including CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets.
How to take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets
CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets will cause drowsiness and should be used only at bedtime.
Adults
Take one or two tablets 20 minutes before bed. Swallow CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets with a glass of water.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How long to take it
Do not take CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets for more than a few days. If sleeplessness persists continuously for longer than this tell your doctor. Insomnia might be a sign of another medical problem.
Side Effects
CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets helps most people with sleeplessness, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
These are the more common side effects of CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets. Mostly these are mild and short lived.
- drowsiness on the day following use
- dizziness
- uncoordination
- dry mouth, nose and/or throat
- headache
- muscle weakness
- thicker nasal discharge
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Serious side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- fast, pounding or irregular heartbeats
- difficulty passing urine
- constipation
- tremors
- nervousness
- restlessness
- excitation
- faintness
- blurred vision
- increased gastric reflux
Overdose
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets, immediately contact your doctor, pharmacist or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26). Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you have taken too much CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets you may suffer:
- severe drowsiness
- severe dryness of the mouth, nose and throat
- flushing or redness in the face
- fast, pounding or irregular heartbeats
- shortness of breath
- hallucinations
- seizures
- convulsions
- insomnia
- dilated pupils
- delirium
After using CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID Tablets
Storage
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on the window sill or in the car.
Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.
Product Description
CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets are white to off white circular biconvex uncoated tablets, breakline on one side and plain on the other and in packs of 20s.
Active ingredients:
Doxylamine succinate: 25mg per tablet.
Other ingredients:
- lactose monohydrate
- maize starch
- microcrystalline cellulose
- magnesium stearate
CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets do not contain gluten
CHEMISTS’ OWN SLEEP AID tablets contain sugars as lactose.
SPONSOR
Arrow Pharma Pty Ltd
15-17 Chapel Street
Cremorne, VIC 3121
Australian Registration Number: 284793
This leaflet was prepared in November 2021.
Published by MIMS December 2021
