Sleep Aid Tablets

• Sleep helps regulate immune responses to fight off infections by promoting the release of beneficial cytokines (a type of signalling molecule).
• Sleep is essential for tissue repair, as cell division and protein synthesis increase during the deeper stages of sleep.
• Sleep supports muscle growth, with growth hormone predominantly released during the slow-wave stage.
• Sleep allows the brain to process and store new information by strengthening neural connections formed during the day, enhancing memory consolidation, learning and decision-making.

Recommended reading: Expert Answers to Common Questions About Improving Sleep Quality

Sleep requirements vary by age and individual needs. According to the NHS, adults generally require 7 to 9 hours of sleep per day, while children typically require 9 to 13 hours per day^[1].

Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder where individuals find it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get high-quality sleep.

The main symptom of insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep. This resulting lack of good quality sleep can lead to secondary symptoms, including tiredness, fatigue, irritability, daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating.

Recommended reading: What Happens if We Don’t Sleep Well?

There are two main types of insomnia:

• Acute (temporary or short-term) insomnia - lasts for a shorter period of time (a few days to a few weeks). Acute insomnia can be triggered by various factors such as heightened stress or changes in sleeping environment.
• Chronic (long-term) insomnia - recurring bouts of insomnia occurring at least three times per week for three consecutive months or longer. Chronic insomnia can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cognitive conditions such as depression.

Acute and chronic insomnia can also be subcategorised as:

• Sleep-onset insomnia - difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night
• Sleep maintenance insomnia - waking up frequently during the night and struggling to return to sleep
• Early morning awakenings insomnia - waking up too early in the morning and being unable to fall back asleep

Individuals can also experience a combination of sleep-onset, sleep maintenance and/or early morning awakenings insomnia.

Insomnia that lasts less than 3 months is referred to as acute (short-term) insomnia, while insomnia that lasts longer than 3 months is referred to as chronic (long-term) insomnia^[2].

Acute (short-term) insomnia can be treated by taking sleep aid tablets in addition to making certain lifestyle choices to improve sleep habits.

This includes establishing a consistent sleep schedule and avoiding substances that are known to disrupt sleep before going to bed, such as caffeine and nicotine.

In contrast, chronic (long-term) insomnia treatment may require you to seek professional help from a doctor or sleep specialist.

In some cases, chronic insomnia treatment requires the individual to undergo therapy to resolve the underlying issues that could be contributing to the condition, such as trauma.

Sleep aid tablets are suitable to relieve temporary insomnia and are not a viable solution for chronic insomnia. It is not advisable to rely on sleep medications for chronic insomnia, as this can cause dependency.

If you are experiencing chronic insomnia, stop taking sleep aid tablets and speak with your doctor or GP for further advice.

The brand of sleeping tablets you take primarily depends on your individual reaction to treatment and the extent to which you are experiencing sleep disturbances.

Nytol and Nytol One-A-Night contain antihistamines that induce drowsiness. In contrast, Nytol Herbal and Nytol Herbal One-A-Night contain a blend of herbal ingredients that are proven to aid sleep, such as Valerian root.

Always consult a healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist or doctor, before taking any brand of sleeping tablet.

There is no single ‘best’ sleeping tablet for everyone as the choice depends on each person’s unique physiology.

For instance, Nytol One-A-Night and Nytol Herbal One-A-Night could be best if you are seeking a sleep aid that only requires one dose per day.

If you are allergic to diphenhydramine hydrochloride, then Nytol Herbal and Nytol Herbal One-A-Night are suitable to take, while Nytol and Nytol One-A-Night are not.

Certain antihistamines have sedative properties that can help with getting to sleep, making them suitable for those who experience temporary (short-term) insomnia. This includes diphenhydramine hydrochloride, the active ingredient in Nytol and Nytol One-A-Night.

With that said, antihistamines are formulated to treat allergic reactions, not sleep disorders. While some antihistamines can be used to treat temporary insomnia due to drowsiness being one of their side effects, they should not be used regularly as a sleep aid.

The best nutritional supplements for sleep contain a combination of ingredients that not only help with getting to sleep but also promote better sleep quality and longer sleep duration.

We recommend OneVit Deep Sleep Complex as it contains:

• L-Glycine, vitamin D3 and vitamin B6 to promote relaxation
• L-Tryptophan to support the body's production of melatonin (the 'sleep hormone’)
• Natural extracts such as Bacopa monnieri, Montmorency cherry, Chamomile extract and Hops extract to further support melatonin production and promote a feeling of relaxation
• Magnesium glycinate to aid muscle relaxation in preparation for sleep
• Zinc citrate to contribute to sleep quality

It is important to remember that nutritional supplements are not treatments and should not be used as substitutes for medication.

Magnesium can aid sleep in individuals with a magnesium deficiency. Research shows that low levels of magnesium can disrupt the balance of brain chemicals such as GABA and NMDA, which affect physical relaxation and sleep regulation^[3].

Taking a magnesium supplement such as OneVit Magnesium can restore this balance, improving sleep quality as a result.

It depends on the active ingredients in the medication and the treatment dosage. At Pharmica, we currently provide a range of over-the-counter sleep treatments that do not require a prescription.

However, some treatments, such as Nytol and Nytol One-A-Night, require you to complete a medical assessment to determine treatment suitability.

You can buy sleeping tablets (sleep aids) online from Pharmica. We provide a range of clinically proven sleeping aids for fast and convenient delivery to addresses all across the UK.