What is Nytol One-A-Night?

Nytol One-A-Night is an over-the-counter sleep aid used to relieve temporary sleep difficulties and insomnia. Each tablet contains diphenhydramine hydrochloride 50 mg, a sedating antihistamine that helps you fall asleep faster and improves sleep quality. It is intended for short-term use in adults.

How Does Nytol One-A-Night Work?

Diphenhydramine blocks histamine receptors in the brain. Histamine is a natural chemical involved in wakefulness and alertness. By reducing histamine activity, diphenhydramine produces drowsiness, which makes it easier to get to sleep and stay asleep.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Insomnia refers to difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep.

Symptoms may include:

Lying awake for long periods before sleep
Waking frequently during the night
Feeling tired or unrefreshed in the morning
Daytime fatigue, irritability, or poor concentration
Insomnia can be short-term, often linked to stress, travel, or illness, or longer lasting if related to underlying health conditions or lifestyle factors.

Alternative Treatment Options

Other ways to manage sleep difficulties include:

• Practising good sleep hygiene, such as keeping a regular bedtime, limiting screen use before sleep, and creating a comfortable sleep environment.
• Reducing caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, especially in the evening.
• Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which addresses unhelpful thoughts and behaviours around sleep.
• Other over-the-counter remedies such as herbal sleep aids (for example, valerian).
  Prescription medicines in more severe or persistent cases, under the guidance of a doctor.
  
  

Can Nytol One-A-Night Be Purchased Over the Counter?

Yes. In the UK, Nytol One-A-Night is available without a prescription from pharmacies and some retailers. A pharmacist may ask about your symptoms to ensure it is appropriate for you. It is designed for short-term use and should not be taken continuously for more than 2 weeks without medical advice.

• Adults: Take one tablet (50 mg) about 20 minutes before bedtime.
• Do not take more than one tablet in 24 hours.
• Swallow the tablet whole with water.
• Do not use continuously for more than two weeks without medical advice.
• Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine, as it increases drowsiness.

Active Ingredient: Diphenhydramine hydrochloride 50 mg

Inactive Ingredients (Excipients)

Exact ingredients can vary slightly by manufacturer, but commonly include:

Lactose monohydrate
Microcrystalline cellulose
Maize starch
Stearic acid
Silicon dioxide
Magnesium stearate
Film coating agents such as hypromellose and titanium dioxide

Always read the patient information leaflet (PIL) in your pack for the complete list of ingredients, and to check for any you might be allergic to.

Common side effects

Next-day drowsiness or grogginess
Dry mouth
Dizziness or blurred vision
Constipation or difficulty passing urine

Less common side effects

Headache
Confusion (especially in older adults)
Restlessness or agitation (paradoxical effect in some people)

Rare but serious side effects

Severe allergic reaction (swelling of the face, lips, or throat, difficulty breathing)
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Severe confusion or hallucinations

If you experience serious or persistent side effects, stop taking Nytol and seek medical advice.