Consumer medicine information

Chemists' Own Sleep Aid Tablets

Doxylamine succinate

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Chemists' Own Sleep Aid

Active ingredient

Doxylamine succinate

Schedule

S3

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Chemists' Own Sleep Aid Tablets.

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

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Chemists' Own Sleep Aid

Active ingredient

Doxylamine succinate

Schedule

S3

 

1 Name of Medicine

Doxylamine succinate.

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Chemists' Own Sleep Aid tablets contain 25 mg doxylamine succinate as the active ingredient.

Excipients with known effect.

Lactose monohydrate.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

Chemists' Own Sleep Aid tablets are white to off white circular biconvex uncoated tablets with a breakline on one side and plain on the other side.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Chemists' Own Sleep Aid tablets are indicated for the temporary relief of sleeplessness.

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

Adults.

One or two tablets twenty minutes before bed.
Chemists' Own Sleep Aid tablets should not be used for more than a few days. This product should be taken on medical or pharmacist advice.

Children.

Do not give to children under 12 years of age.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to doxylamine, other antihistamines in the ethanolamine class, lactose or any other component.
Doxylamine should not to be given to premature or newborn infants due to their heightened susceptibility to antimuscarinic effects.

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Avoid concurrent use with alcohol and medications which suppress the CNS as the effects of both may be enhanced.
A risk/benefit approach should be adopted for patients with glaucoma. Increased ocular pressure could precipitate an attack of angle closure glaucoma. Use in caution in patients with asthma, bladder neck obstruction, urinary retention, chronic bronchitis, stenosing peptic ulcer, pyloroduodenal obstruction, symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy and epilepsy.

Use in hepatic impairment.

Use with caution. Dosage reduction may be necessary.

Use in renal impairment.

Use with caution. Dosage reduction may be necessary.

Use in the elderly.

Use with caution as studies indicate a longer duration of action, especially for elderly men. This, and enhanced susceptibility to antimuscarinic side effects, suggest dosage reduction may be necessary.

Paediatric use.

Do not give to children under 12 years of age due to heightened sensitivity towards paradoxical stimulation.

Effects on laboratory tests.

Antihistamines may inhibit the cutaneous histamine response. Discontinue at least 72 hours before skin testing begins.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

Doxylamine has additive antimuscarinic effects with atropine-like drugs, tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs. Concurrent use with other drugs and substances which suppress the CNS should be avoided. These included alcohol, sedatives (such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates), tranquillizers (e.g. antipsychotics) and opioid analgesics. Use with ototoxic medications, e.g. aminoglycoside antibiotics, may mask the symptoms of ototoxicity such as tinnitus, dizziness or vertigo.

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility.

Not available.
(Category A)
Do not use during pregnancy.
 Do not use if breastfeeding. Doxylamine may be excreted into breast milk in small amounts and cause unusual excitement or irritability in infants. Anticholinergic effects may inhibit lactation.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

Drowsiness and hangover effects may affect ability to drive or operate machinery the day following use.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

More common reactions.

Drowsiness, dizziness, lassitude, disturbed coordination, headache, psychomotor impairment and muscular weakness. Antimuscarinic effects include dry mouth, nose and throat and thickened respiratory tract secretions.

Less common reactions.

Paradoxical stimulation of the CNS with the possibility of insomnia, unusual excitement, tremors, nervousness and restlessness. These effects are more likely to occur in children.
Other adverse reactions include tachycardia, palpitations, hypotension, blurred vision, urinary difficulty or retention, constipation and increased gastric reflux.

Reporting suspected adverse effects.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions at https://www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.

4.9 Overdose

Symptoms.

Severe drowsiness, severe dryness of the mouth, nose and throat, flushing or redness in the face, shortness of breath, tachycardia, CNS stimulation, hallucinations, seizures, insomnia, hypotension, delirium, convulsions and fixed and dilated pupils. Coma progressing to respiratory failure and cardiovascular collapse may occur.
Cardiorespiratory collapse and death may occur several days after onset of toxic symptoms.
Children are at higher risk for cardiorespiratory arrest. Rhabdomyolysis and subsequent acute renal failure may also occur in certain individuals (adults).

Treatment.

For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poison Information Centre on 131126 (Australia).

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Mechanism of action.

Doxylamine succinate is an H1-receptor antagonist antihistamine belonging to the ethanolamine group. This group characteristically produces pronounced sedative effects with low incidence of gastrointestinal disturbance. The significant sedative properties result from inhibition of histamine N-methyltransferase and blockage of central histaminergic receptors. Antagonism of other CNS receptor sites such as those for serotonin, acetyl choline and alpha-adrenergic stimulation may be involved. Anticholinergic activity at muscarinic receptors also occurs.

Clinical trials.

Not available.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

Absorption.

Following oral administration of a 25 mg dose therapeutic effects start within 15 to 30 minutes and are fully developed within one hour. Peak plasma concentrations of 100 nanogram/mL occurs between two and four hours. The duration of action is six to eight hours. After 24 hours the mean plasma level is 21 nanogram/mL.

Distribution.

The drug is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and it is distributed widely throughout the body.

Metabolism.

Metabolism occurs in the liver by microsomal oxidation. The major metabolic pathway is N-demethylation to N-desmethyldoxylamine and N,N-didesmethyldoxylamine. N-acetyl conjugates of these metabolites have been identified. The activity of these metabolites is unknown. N-glucuronidation has been identified as a minor metabolic route. More detailed pharmacokinetic studies have not been performed.

Excretion.

The elimination half-life has been reported at 10.1 and 12 hours. It is prolonged in geriatric males at 15.5 ± 2.1 hours.

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

Genotoxicity.

Not available.

Carcinogenicity.

Long-term animal studies to evaluate the carcinogenic and mutagenic potential have not been performed.

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

The inactive ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Incompatibilities were either not assessed or not identified as part of the registration of this medicine.

6.3 Shelf Life

In Australia, information on the shelf-life can be found on the public summary of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The expiry date can be found on the packaging.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Store below 25°C.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

Available in PVC/PE/PVDC/Al Blister packs of 20 tablets.

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of by taking to your local pharmacy.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

Chemical name: NN-Dimethyl-2-[α-methyl- α-(2-piridyl) benzyloxy] ethylamine hydrogen succinate.
Molecular formula of C17H22N2O.C4H6O4.
Molecular weight of 388.5.

Chemical structure.


CAS number.

562-10-7.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

S3 (Schedule 3) - Pharmacist Only Medicine.

Summary Table of Changes