Buyer's Guide To
Sleep Supplements
What Everyone Needs to Know About Sleep Health

Sominex

Rating: D
Company: GlaxoSmithKline

What is it?

Sominex is a prescription sleep aid patented and sold by GlaxoSmithKline, a global pharmaceutical company. Its main--and only--ingredient is diphenhydramine, an antihistamine approved to treat insomnia by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since its approval, Sominex has been repeatedly advertised as a "doctor-preferred sleep aid", and claims to help people "wake rested and refreshed", though health experts argue that it only promotes drowsiness. It has also met some controversy due to its addictive nature, and may actually worsen some symptoms for insomniacs.

What ingredients does Sominex contain?

Sominex contains diphenhydramine, a prescription sleep aid.

Do the ingredients in Sominex help promote sleep?

Yes--but it may not help people achieve deep sleep, better known as REM sleep. According to a study reported by The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, diphenhydramine was shown to speed up sleep latency, or the time it took to fall asleep, significantly faster compared to placebo. There were numerous side effects reported, however, and there did not appear to be any improvements in the length or quality of sleep--factors that can cause even more side effects, such as dizziness or drowsiness after awaking.

According to another report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, diphenhydramine may also cause even more side effects after the sedative effects wear off, and won't necessarily help improve the quality of sleep. Many people have reported drowsiness, drops in alertness levels and dizziness hours after awaking from its effects.

Is Sominex safe?

Sominex may cause numerous side effects. According to WebMD.com, common side effects reported from its use include drowsiness, constipation, stomach upset, changes in vision, irritability, decreased coordination and headache. It can also cause dependency, which can make the body physically addicted to it. Dry mouth has also been reported. People who use heavy machinery, plan to drive within eight hours, or are involved in physical labor should avoid using this drug, due to its impact on motor function and judgment.

Verdict:

This drug has only been shown to induce extreme drowsiness, and won't necessarily promote a healthy form of sleep. This drug may not be effective for insomniacs.