Sleeping Tablets

Sleeping Tablets

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that can make falling asleep difficult, leave you experiencing a low quality of sleep, make you wake up much earlier than you need to or leave you unable to get back to sleep after randomly waking up during the night.

Short-term insomnia is quite common in adults, often lasting for several days or weeks. Usually caused by stress or a traumatic event, it will eventually pass. However, some people do suffer from long-term insomnia that can last for a month or even longer. 

You shouldn’t have to put up with sleepless nights - a sleeping pill / sleeping tablet can help if advised by your healthcare professional. At PharmXtra, we have effective insomnia treatments to help you sleep like a baby.

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There is not a wide range of evidence to suggest that sleeping tablets themselves cause erectile dysfunction, however how sleeping pills interact with other drugs and more widely, the sleep disorder that a patient is suffering from (such as insomnia) could lead them to experience ED.

Sleeping tablets are a medication which allow people to sleep when they experience a sleep problem such as insomnia. Sleeping pills UK can be purchased from online pharmacies if you have a prescription. The online doctor's service at PharmXtra can help you obtain a prescription if you do not already have one.

What are Sleeping Aids used for?

Sleeping aids are medicines used to help people go to sleep more easily. They act by working on receptors in the brain to slow down the nervous system. People use sleep medication when they are having difficulty sleeping. Examples include Zolpidem (Ambien) and Zimovane.

They allow you to go to sleep more easily. A person is prescribed sleeping medication if they are having difficulty getting to sleep. They are referred to as, sleeping tablets, sleep aids, sleep medicine, sedatives or hypnotics.

Having trouble sleeping can be caused by a number of reasons. There are medications which are used in the treatment of insomnia to help you fall asleep quicker and to reduce the chance of waking up in the night.

Around one in three people suffer from mild insomnia. The consequences of insomnia can be serious, increasing your risks of diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and even stroke. Insomnia can be a symptom of other ailments. If you are experiencing depression, anxiety or chronic pain, its not difficult to see how this can cause a lack of sleep.

While over the counter sleep medicine can be helpful, most of them are based on antihistamines, and these can become less effective the more you take them. In each case, different medications may be more effective than sleeping pills in resolving the underlying cause of your insomnia. Consult with your doctor to determine the best treatment for your specific situation.

Sedative Hypnotics

There are several different types of prescription sleeping pills, classified as sedative hypnotics. In general, these medications act by working on receptors in the brain to slow down the nervous system. Most sleep medications are classified as 'sedative hypnotics', a specific class of drugs used to induce and/or maintain rest. Some medications are used more for inducing sleep, while others are used for staying asleep, for example, Ambien, the branded version of generic Zolpidem.

Sedative hypnotics include benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and various hypnotics. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Librium are anti-anxiety medications.

Sleeping pills & minor tranquilisers currently available in the UK

Below is a list of sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers that are currently available in the United Kingdom:

  • alprazolam
  • Alzain (pregabalin)
  • Ativan (lorazepam)
  • buspirone
  • chloral/cloral
  • chlordiazepoxide
  • Circadin (melatonin)
  • clomethiazole
  • Dalmane (flurazepam)
  • Dialar (diazepam)
  • Diazemuls (diazepam)
  • diazepam
  • Diazepam Desitin (diazepam)
  • Diazepam Rectubes (diazepam)
  • diphenhydramine
  • Dormagen (lormetazepam)
  • Dormonoct (loprazolam)
  • flurazepam
  • Heminevrin (clomethiazole)
  • Lecaent (pregabalin)
  • Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
  • loprazolam
  • lorazepam
  • lormetazepam
  • Lyrica (pregabalin)
  • melatonin
  • meprobamate
  • Mogadon (nitrazepam)
  • nitrazepam
  • Nytol (diphenhydramine)
  • oxazepam
  • Phenergan (promethiazine)
  • promethazine
  • Rewisca (pregabalin)
  • Rimapam (diazepam)
  • Sleep Aid (diphenhydramine)
  • Sleepeaze (diphenhydramine)
  • Sominex (promethazine)
  • Stesolid (diazepam)
  • Stilnoct (zolpidem)
  • temazepam
  • Tensium (diazepam)
  • Welldorm (chloral)
  • Xanax (alprazolam)
  • Zimovane (zopiclone)
  • zolpidem
  • zopiclone

There are many different classes and brands of sleeping medicine. Your doctor will suggest the one he or she feels will best work for you based on the cause and length of time you have been having trouble sleeping, as well as the specific type of insomnia you are experiencing. Your doctor will also take into consideration any other health conditions you may have, or medications you are taking. Commonly used sleeping pills include:

  • Ambien®, Ambien® CR (zolpidem tartrate)
  • Dalmane® (flurazepam hydrochloride)
  • Halcion® (triazolam)
  • Lunesta® (eszopiclone)
  • Prosom® (estazolam)
  • Restoril® (temazepam)
  • Rozerem® (ramelteon)
  • Silenor® (doxepin)
  • Sonata® (zaleplon)
  • Desyrel® (trazodone)
  • Belsomra® (suvorexant)
  • Over-the-counter sleeping pills (including antihistamines, melatonin, herbal formulations, and others)

Sleep Hygiene Best Practice

1. Establish fixed times for going to bed and waking up (and avoid sleeping in after a poor night's sleep)

2. Try to relax before going to bed.

3. Maintain a comfortable sleeping environment: not too hot, cold, noisy, or bright.

4. Avoid napping during the day.

5. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol within 6 hours of going to bed. Consider complete elimination of caffeine from the diet.

6. Avoid exercise within 4 hours of bedtime (although exercise earlier in the day is beneficial).

7. Avoid eating a heavy meal late at night.

8. Avoid watching or checking the clock throughout the night.

9. Only use the bedroom for sleep and sexual activity.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a set of techniques that assists people in changing negative thoughts and behaviours, to help them overcomes issues. In the case of insomnia, this works by helping people to work out the root of their sleeping problems and change their ways to try and get a better night's sleep.

Depending on your type of insomnia, there may be a number of different kinds of therapy that work for you. Improving your sleep environment can often be the first port of call. Removing a clock from your bedroom, ensuring your bed is comfortable and not having a TV in your room are all ways that sleep can be improved.

Sleep hygiene (as detailed above) is another example of CBT. Changing your lifestyle can have a massive impact on the way you sleep, as can relaxation therapy (a method that helps to calm your mind and body in preparation for sleep).

For those who are seeing little improvement after trying some basic lifestyle changes, you may want to try stimulus control therapy (removing factors that condition your mind to resist sleep) or sleep restriction therapy (reducing the time you spend in bed to increase readiness for sleep the next night).

Cognitive behavioural therapy is evidence-based, meaning that it has shown to be effective in clinical studies. In fact, the earliest research goes back more than 30 years, showing that this method has been well-researched and well-backed.

Prescription and Non-Prescription Sleeping Tablets

What are the names of sleeping tablets? Below you will find a list of both prescription and non-prescription sleeping aids. List of sleeping medicines:

  • Zopiclone (Prescription)
  • Zolpidem (Prescription)
  • Zimovane (Prescription)
  • Nytol (Non-Prescription)

Names of Strong Sleeping Pills

Strong (Prescription) sleeping tablets include the following.

Sleep medicationHelps you fall asleepHelps you stay asleepCan lead to dependence
Doxepin (Silenor)  
Estazolam
Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
Ramelteon (Rozerem)  
Temazepam (Restoril)
Triazolam (Halcion) 
Zaleplon (Sonata) 
Zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo, Zolpimist) 
Zolpidem extended release (Ambien CR)
Suvorexant (Belsomra)

Other non-benzodiazepine sleeping pills

These drugs are of several different types and do not form a single group. They vary in their effectiveness and general characteristics.

Generic name

Trade names (UK)

Forms available

Half-life

Dietary considerations

chloral hydrate

Welldorm

  • liquid

more than 6 days

none

clomethiazole/chlormethiazole

Heminevrin

  • capsules

  • liquid

3.6–5 hrs

  • capsules contain gelatin

diphenhydramine

Sleepeaze
Sleep aid tablets

  • tablets

7–17 hrs

  • contains lactose

melatonin

Circadin

  • tablets

3.5–4 hrs

  • contains lactose

promethazine

Phenergan
Sominex

  • tablets

  • liquid

  • injection*

5–14 hrs

  • tablets contain lactose

Prescribed Ambien/Zolpidem and Zopiclone can assist patients with insomnia, sometimes referred to as 'z drugs'. These are prescription tablets that are given for short-term treatment. Ideally, a patient should not take these medicines for more than four weeks. Buy sleeping tablets like Zopiclone from PharmXtra. This is to prevent the body from becoming dependent on a drug in order to rest. When treatment stops, individuals may also experience withdrawal symptoms and have difficulty resting for a day or two. Patients can rest assured though, that things go back to normal after a few days.

Sleep aids like Ambien are also prescribed to people who are under a lot of stress and tension. It could be due to challenging circumstances, trauma, or the loss of a loved one. In these cases, the pills are prescribed only for a few days, just so the person can get some rest.

You can buy sleeping pills and other sleep medications discreetly here at PharmXtra. Your prescription will be filled out and delivered to you in as little as a few hours. Place your orders today!

Best Prescription Sleeping Pills - The Z drugs

Generic name

Trade names (UK)

Forms available

Half-life

Dietary considerations

zaleplon

Sonata

  • capsules

about 1 hr

  • contains lactose

  • contains gelatin

zolpidem

Stilnoct

  • tablets

about 2.4 hrs

  • contains lactose

zopiclone

Zimovane

  • tablets

about 5 hrs

  • contains lactose

Common over-the-counter sleep medications include:

  • Diphenhydramine (found in brand names like Nytol, Sominex, Sleepinal, Compoz)
  • Doxylamine (brand names such as Unisom, Nighttime Sleep Aid)

Buy Sleeping Pills Online

There are two types of sleeping medicine, prescription and non-prescription. You can buy both types here on PharmXtra. If you don't have a prescription, our online doctor service may be able to help you obtain the medication you need.

Sleep Tablets UK

The following are our prescribed sleep medicines:

Non-Prescription Sleep Medication

The following are sleep medicines we sell which do not require a prescription:

  • Nytol One-A-Night
  • Nytol Herbal Tablets

Where can you buy sleeping pills online?

You can get sleeping pills from PharmXtra, with overnight shipping most of the week. If you prefer to order your medications online instead of visiting your local pharmacist, PharmXtra is a great option. If you need prescription strength sleeping medication, we can fill your prescription online or assist you in getting one with our online doctor service.

PharmXtra offers prescription strength medication, such as zolpidem and zopiclone which can break the cycle of insomnia into a more routine pattern of sleep. A prescription is required for these medicines, and there are potential side effects, including daytime drowsiness, dizziness and potential addiction. If you feel that you need stronger prescription pain medicine, but you don't have a prescription, the PharmXtra online doctor service can assist you in obtaining one.

Where can you buy sleep tablets in the UK?

Buy Sleeping Tablets Online UK

You can purchase the best sleeping pills here at PharmXtra. We offer overnight shipping most days of the week. You will be able to determine as you check out when your order will arrive. If you don't have a prescription for sleeping medication, our online doctor service can help you determine if prescription sleep medication is right for you.

Medical Reviewer

Medical Reviewer

Irfan Siddique

Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) • MBBS

Dr. Irfan Siddique is a Medical Doctor with a license to practice in the United Kingdom, awarded by the General Medical Council. He graduated in 2017 from the University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

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