Training the team
TRAINING
THE TEAM
Encouraging your team to complete training about sleep and stress will help to ensure effective and impactful conversations that could improve the outcomes for your customers.
Upon completion of the series, your assistants will have learned about the sleep and stress recommendation ladder below. This guide highlights which questions could be asked to establish the severity of a customer’s condition, enabling them to decide which step on the ladder would be most appropriate and which product may be best suited for the customer’s needs.
Although this module focuses on step 5 (your role as a pharmacist) it is important to familiarise yourself with all the steps, to best support your team and customers.
Click on the tabs below to find out more about each step of the recommendation ladder
ADVISE
SLEEP HYGIENE & LIFESTYLE ADVICE
All customers can be offered the following sleep hygiene and lifestyle advice when suffering from sleep and stress issues.4,5
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Keep a sleep diary for 2 weeks to share with the pharmacist
Record worries, stresses and times you sleep and wake
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Manage your sleep environment
Sleep may be improved when your bedroom is quiet, dark and cool
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Adopt a regular sleep schedule
Have a regular wake up and sleep time
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Be active and go outside during the day
Avoid exercise before bedtime - it will make you feel more alert
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Avoid eating too close to bedtime
Give your body time to digest food to avoid indigestion
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Limit or avoid caffeine, nicotine, energy drinks or alcohol
These stimulants can keep you awake at night
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Help your mind wind down before your sleep
Have a bath, read a book or listen to gentle music
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Try complementary therapies to help you to relax
Meditation, muscle relaxation and visualisation
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Avoid screen time 1-2hrs before bed
TVs and devices like smartphones emit blue light that can affect sleep
DISCUSS & MANAGE
NON-MEDICATED PRODUCTS (FOOD SUPPLEMENTS & AROMATHERAPY)
Plant-derived essential oils used in aromatherapy work by stimulating the brain to produce serotonin and dopamine, which can help to enhance sleep and regulate mood.6
NYTEASE® RANGE -
Relax & unwind
| WHICH NYTEASE®? |
HOW DOES IT HELP? |
HOW IS IT USED? |
WHAT IS IN IT? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
NytEase® Relax & Unwind Tablets 
|
Combines the natural plants lavender and lemon balm with important B-vitamins, supporting your mind, mood and helping you keep up with your busy life* |
Take 2 tablets daily to support your mind and mood, helping you keep up with stresses of everyday life |
Vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, panothenic acid, lavender extract, lavender oil and lemon balm extract |
|
NytEase® Roll-on 
|
Scientifically tested to help:
|
Simply roll onto pulse points, then take a deep breath to help you relax |
Formulated with jojoba oil and a relaxing fragrance blend of bergamot, geranium, lavender, and orange |
|
NytEase® Balm 
|
Scientifically tested to help:
|
Simply massage into your pulse points, chest, neck, shoulders and hands, then take a deep breath to help you relax |
Formulated with a nourishing fragrance blend of passionflower, lavender, aloe and lotus flower plant extract |
|
NytEase® Pillow Spray 
|
Scientifically tested to help:
|
Simply spray on your pillow, bedlinen or sofa, then take a deep breath in, and relax – use daily |
Formulated with a fragrance blend of lavender, bergamot, ylang ylang and copavia |
*Food supplements which contain vitamin complexes and plant extracts are designed to supplement a normal and balanced diet and help to relax and feel at ease at key moments. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle
DISCUSS & MANAGE
TRADITIONAL HERBAL REMEDY SLEEP AIDS
Traditional herbal remedy sleep aids are made with plant-derived active ingredients such as valerian, hops and passion flower. They are used for relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep, based on their long-standing use as a traditional herbal remedy.
NYTOL® HERBAL RANGE -
Used to help you drift off gently
| WHICH NYTOL® HERBAL? |
WHAT DOES IT CONTAIN? |
HOW DO YOU TAKE IT? |
|---|---|---|
|
Nytol® Herbal Tablets 
|
Extracts of hop strobile, valerian and passion flower
|
DOSE: Take 2 tablets one hour before bedtime ACTION: The effects may not occur immediately so take continuously for 2-4 weeks AGE: Only suitable for adults over 18 years |
|
Nytol® Herbal Simply Sleep One-A-Night Tablets 
|
Valerian extract Valerian relaxes the central nervous system and muscles to aid sleep7 |
DOSE: Take 1 tablet 30-60 minutes before bedtime. One additional tablet can be taken earlier during the evening if necessary ACTION: The effects may not occur immediately so take continuously for 2-4 weeks AGE: Only suitable for adults over 18 years |
|
Nytol® Herbal Simply Sleep & Calm Elixir 
|
Valerian extract Valerian relaxes the central nervous system and muscles to aid sleep7 |
DOSE: Take 2 x 5ml spoonful 30 minutes before bedtime with an earlier dose during the evening if necessary. Max. 4 single doses a day ACTION: The effects may not occur immediately so take continuously for 2-4 weeks AGE: Only suitable for adults over 18 years |
RECOMMEND & INVOLVE pharmacist if needed
PHARMACY-ONLY SEDATING ANTIHISTAMINES
If customers have used sleep aids before, or not had any relief from sleep hygiene, aromatherapy or herbal options a clinically proven sedating antihistamine may help. These work fast and can help relieve temporary sleep disturbance for short-term use.
NYTOL® P-LINE -
Clinically proven for the temporary relief of sleeplessness
| WHICH NYTOL® P-LINE? |
WHAT DOES IT CONTAIN & HOW DOES IT WORK? |
HOW DO YOU TAKE IT? |
|---|---|---|
|
Nytol® Original 25mg Tablets 
|
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride Histamine helps the body stay alert and awake. Diphenhydramine works as an antihistamine, blocking the effects of histamine in the brain which, in turn, causes drowsiness10 |
DOSE: Take 2 tablets 20 minutes before bedtime ACTION: Effects within 1-3 hours AGE: Only suitable over 16 years old Do not use for longer than 2 weeks |
|
Nytol® One-A-Night 50mg Tablets 
|
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride Histamine helps the body stay alert and awake. Diphenhydramine works as an antihistamine, blocking the effects of histamine in the brain which, in turn, causes drowsiness10 |
DOSE: Take 1 tablet 20 minutes before bedtime ACTION: Effects within 1-3 hours AGE: Only suitable over 16 years old Do not use for longer than 2 weeks |
|
Nytol® Liquid Caramel Flavour 
|
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride Histamine helps the body stay alert and awake. Diphenhydramine works as an antihistamine, blocking the effects of histamine in the brain which, in turn, causes drowsiness10 |
DOSE: Take 10-25ml tablet at bedtime or after retiring ACTION: Effects within 1-3 hours AGE: Only suitable over 16 years old Do not use for longer than 2 weeks |
PHARMACIST
STEP 5
Pharmacist may REFER to GP
CONSIDER OTHER TREATMENTS OR NEXT STEPS
This module focuses on step 5 – your role as a pharmacist. Your pharmacy team may need to involve you in conversations that occur throughout steps 1 to 4, particularly when they identify red flags. The rest of the module will focus on how you can help support your team and these customers. Sometimes you may have to deal with difficult conversations, and sometimes you may need to refer to the GP or other services so that you can best support your customer.
