Next steps
Next steps
Sleep is important to help the brain recover from the stresses of the day. It even helps your body ward off disease.8 Although sleep problems are very common, many people do not consider taking sleep aids either because they think the problem will go away or because they have concerns about taking medication.
As part of your role within the pharmacy, you can:
- Identify customers with short-term sleep problems
- Help them understand the benefits of a good night’s sleep
- Advise on good sleep hygiene
- Advise on the importance of early interventions to avoid progression to chronic sleep problems
- Explain that OTC diphenhydramine may help to relieve temporary sleeplessness by helping them drift off, sleep soundly and wake up feeling refreshed18
Think about what you have learned in this module.
What 3 things could you apply to your practice this week?
1. "Sleep Statistics UK," What A Sleep, 19 03 2022. [Online]. Available: https://whatasleep.co.uk/sleep-statistics-uk/#:~:text=It%E2%80%99s%20estimated%2020.6%20million%20or%201%20in%203,UK%20residents%20sleep%20for%20the%20recommended%208%20hours
2. “Insomnia. Factsheet,” British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services, 2022. [Online].
Available: https://bspss.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BSPSS-Insomnia-Factsheet.pdf
3. E. Suni, "How Sleep Works: Understanding the Science of Sleep," Sleep Foundation, 2022. [Online].
Available: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works
4. “Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep,” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep#:~:text=The%20brain%20stem%2C%20at%20the,%2C%20medulla%2C%20
5. E. Suni, "Interrupted Sleep," Sleep Foundation, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-deprivation/interruptedshttps://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-deprivation/interrupted-sleep
6. “What is Sleep Quality?,” National Sleep Foundation, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.thensf.org/what-is-sleep-quality/
7. Scott AJ, Webb TL, Martyn-St James M, Rowse G, Weich S. “Improving sleep quality leads t o better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials”. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S1087079221001416?token=10822B3B1583AB7D85EE8713894FFC1CC7643251AF832A4C743AC8F2826319F30A53CC0BF8281AC00768FFB39E242B34&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20221201092813
8. "Sleep and your health," MedlinePlus, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000871.htm
9. "What are the diagnostic criteria for insomnia?," NICE, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/insomnia/diagnosis/clinical-features/
10. “Insomnia,” NHS, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insomnia/
11. Perrigo commissioned U&A (usage & attitudes) research: Perrigo BoxClever, Sleep, Stress, Snore U&A Study, 2020
12. Ellis JG, Cushing T, Germain A. “Treating acute insomnia: A randomized controlled trial of a "single-shot" of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia”, Sleep, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4434564/pdf/aasm.38.6.971.pdf
13. Ellis JG, Allen SF. Chapter 11 - Sleep hygiene and the prevention of chronic insomnia. Sleep and Healt h.Salt Lake City: Academic Press, 2019:137-45.
14. “Promethazine (Phenergan),” NHS, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/promethazine/
15. Lieberman P. “Histamine, antihistamines, and t he central nervous system”. Allergy Ashtma Proc, 2009. [Online]. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19843401/
16. Church SD and Church MK. “Pharmacology of antihistamines”, World Allergy Organization. Symposium Report Supplement, 2011. [Online].
Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666185/pdf/1939-4551-4-S3-S22.pdf
17. Summary of Product Characteristics, MHRA, 2021. [Online].
Available: https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.windows.net/docs/40e838c9dbeaf68802e503d2d67f0c1db1d3e8ae
18. “Nytol: One-A-Night,” Perrigo, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.nytol.co.uk/nytol-range/nytol-one-a-night
19. “Diphenhydramine,” NHS, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/diphenhydramine/
20. "Dependence vs Addiction: What's t he Difference?," WebMD, [Online].
Available: https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/dependence-versus-addiction
21. "Addiction: what is it?," NHS, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/addiction-what-is-it/
Online references last accessed March 2023
Product information
Nytol Original 25mg Tablets (P) contains diphenhydramine hydrochloride. An aid to the relief of temporary sleep disturbance. Adults and children 16 years and over: 2 tablets taken 20 minutes before bed. Children under 16 years: Not recommended. Do not use for more than 2 weeks without medical advice. Avoid concomitant use of alcohol or other antihistamine-containing preparations. Do not drive or operate machines. Contraindications: Stenosing peptic ulcer, pyloroduodenal obstruction, known hypersensitivity to ingredients. Caution: The elderly, pregnancy/lactation, myasthenia gravis, epilepsy or seizure disorders, narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, urinary retention, asthma, bronchitis and COPD, moderate to severe renal or hepatic impairment, intolerance to some sugars. Interaction with CNS depressants (including alcohol), monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, anticholinergic drugs (e.g. atropine, tricyclic depressants), metoprolol, venlafaxine. Side effects: Fatigue, hypersensitivity reactions, confusion, paradoxical excitation, sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, GI disturbances, muscle twitching, headache, blurred vision, tachycardia, palpitations, convulsions. PL 02855/0071. MAH: Omega Pharma Limited, One Embassy Gardens, 8 Viaduct Gardens, London, SW11 7BW. RRP (ex. VAT): 20s £4.89
SPC: https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.windows.net/docs/40e838c9dbeaf68802e503d2d67f0c1db1d3e8ae