Nytol Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Nytol Tablet contains diphenhydramine hydrochloride, an antihistamine. It is a sleep aid used for short-term relief of occasional sleeping difficulties, such as those caused by stress, jet lag, or personal problems like bereavement. It works by causing drowsiness to help you fall asleep. It is intended for adults and adolescents aged 16 and above.

What is Nytol Tablet

Nytol is a sleep aid tablet containing the antihistamine diphenhydramine hydrochloride. It is used for short-term relief of occasional sleeping difficulties, such as those caused by stress, jet lag, or personal problems like bereavement.

Nytol Tablet uses

• Helps with short-term sleeplessness (insomnia).
• Helps you fall asleep more easily.
• May help reduce occasional difficulty staying asleep.
• Provides temporary relief from sleep problems.
• Can cause drowsiness, helping promote sleep.

Benefits of Nytol Tablet

• Helps you fall asleep faster
• Helps you have a longer and deeper sleep
• May help you wake up feeling rested in the morning

How Nytol Tablet works

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine. It works by blocking histamine, a brain chemical that promotes wakefulness and alertness, which helps bring on drowsiness and sleep.

Nytol Tablet dosage

Swallow the tablet with water about 20 minutes before you go to bed. Do not take extra tablets if you wake up during the night. Do not take for more than 7 days without talking to a doctor. Do not take with other antihistamines, including those used on the skin or in cough and cold medicines. Do not drink alcohol while using these tablets. This medicine is not to be used by children or adolescents under 18 years.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Nytol Tablet

Common

• Tiredness
• Drowsiness
• Reduced attention
• Unsteadiness
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth

Serious

• Allergic reactions (such as rash, shortness of breath and swelling)
• Blurred vision
• Palpitations (feeling your heart beat) or irregular heartbeat
• Muscle twitching
• Convulsions
• Headache or pins and needles
• Nausea (feeling sick)
• Vomiting (being sick)
• Thicker bronchial mucus
• Difficulty passing urine

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to diphenhydramine or any other ingredient in it.
• Do not take this medicine if you have a blockage in your stomach or gut, such as from an ulcer.
• Do not take this medicine if you have a tumor called phaeochromocytoma.
• Do not take this medicine if you have a heart rhythm problem known as QT interval prolongation.
• Do not take this medicine if you have or have had heart disease, or if your heart rate is very low.
• Do not take this medicine if you have low levels of potassium or magnesium in your body.
• Do not take this medicine if you are taking certain medicines for heart rhythm problems or medicines that may affect your heart rhythm.
• Do not take this medicine if anyone in your close family has died suddenly from heart problems.
• Seek medical advice if your sleeplessness continues, as it could be a sign of a more serious underlying illness.
• Cases of dependence or misuse have been reported in young people; any signs of this should be reported to a doctor.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have asthma, bronchitis, or COPD.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have narrow-angle glaucoma.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have an enlarged prostate or trouble passing urine.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have muscle weakness, epilepsy, or a seizure disorder.
• Do not take this medicine in the three days before allergy skin testing, as it may affect the results.
• This medicine may become less effective if taken continuously, and should not be used for more than 7 days without consulting a doctor.
• Do not take this medicine together with other antihistamines, including those used on the skin or in cough and cold remedies.
• Tell your doctor if you are taking certain antidepressants (tricyclics or MAOIs taken in the last two weeks), atropine, or other medicines that cause drowsiness, as these can interact with this medicine.
• Taking more than the recommended dose is not advisable and can increase side effects without providing better sleep.
• Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. If you think you may be pregnant or are planning a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking it.
• Do not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding. Ask your doctor for advice first.
• If you have moderate to severe kidney disease, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
• If you have moderate to severe liver disease, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.
• Do not drive or operate machinery after taking this medicine, as it is meant to make you sleepy soon after you take it. Avoid driving or using machinery for at least 8 hours after taking a tablet.

Storage

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not use this medicine after the EXP date shown on the pack
• Store below 25°C
• Store in the original package in order to protect from light and moisture
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use

When to see a doctor

• Talk to a doctor if you do not feel better, or if you feel worse, after taking this medicine for 7 days.
• If you take more tablets than you should, contact your doctor or go to a hospital casualty department.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, including side effects not listed in the leaflet.
• If your sleeping difficulties continue, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Alternatives

• Promethazine
• Doxylamine
• Melatonin