Any somnologist tries to cure insomnia without using sleeping pills, so that a person sleeps well without any pills. Unfortunately, with insomnia, people rarely turn to somnologists and prefer to “treat” themselves. They buy affordable sleeping pills at the pharmacy, take them uncontrollably and often experience side effects.
Donormil is one of the most commonly used hypnotics. Let's study its side effects. When faced with them, you can quickly understand what's going on and help yourself.
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If you have not yet read the contraindications for taking the drug, you will find them on this page.
Release form, composition, indications
The drug is available in the form of white tablets, film-coated and rectangular in shape. There is a notch on the surface for the convenience of dividing the tablet into two parts.
One piece contains 15 mg of doxylamine succinate, an active ingredient with a hypnotic effect. Additionally, the composition contains: magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate.
Donormil is sold in polypropylene tubes with a lid of 10 or 30 pieces, placed in a cardboard box along with instructions.
Application is indicated for:
- sleep disorders caused by pain;
- sleep disturbances resulting from emotional shock;
- chronic fatigue and difficulty falling asleep.
Donormil is an over-the-counter medicine for insomnia.
What do many people (men, women, and especially older people) do if they begin to have a sleep disorder that leads to the problem of insomnia? As a rule, they go to the pharmacy and ask the seller to recommend some medicine for insomnia that is sold in pharmacies without a prescription. The salesperson at the pharmacy may recommend buying Melaxen or Donormil tablets. An over-the-counter insomnia medicine, Donormil, is widely known in Russia, has a hypnotic effect, and is excellent in treating acute insomnia and short-term sleep disorders. However, it is more correct to treat insomnia with Donormil, taking into account the recommendations of a qualified doctor treating insomnia, by making an appointment with a somnologist at the Sleep Medicine Center in Moscow to avoid possible side effects. It’s easy to make an appointment at the Somnology Center in Moscow; you can choose a convenient time to see a somnologist for consultation.
Composition of the drug Donormil
A drug based on doxylamine succinite, which promotes rapid and peaceful sleep. One capsule contains 15 mg of doxylamine. The drug is available in two forms: regular tablets and effervescent tablets. The second option, as noted by somnologists at the Somnology Center in Moscow, has a faster hypnotic effect.
And although the drug for insomnia Donormil is available in pharmacies without a prescription, before you start taking the drug, it is important to familiarize yourself with possible contraindications in order to avoid complications. Before prescribing treatment with the drug Donormil, a somnologist in Moscow conducts a set of studies, for example, polysomnography , and draws up an individual treatment regimen for the patient for insomnia.
Sleep Medicine Center in Moscow on the basis of the Rehabilitation Clinic in Khamovniki
The somnology center in Moscow in Khamovniki has everything to treat insomnia in men, women, the elderly, teenagers and children. Polysomnography, cognitive behavioral therapy, CPAP therapy in Moscow are some of the modern methods used by somnologists to treat insomnia in Moscow. The head of the Center for Sleep Medicine at the Rehabilitation Clinic in Khamovniki is Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences - Roman Vyacheslavovich Buzunov .
–President of the All-Russian public organization “Russian Society of Somnologists”,
–Professor of the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation with courses in pediatrics, nursing, clinical psychology and pedagogy of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of Further Professional Education “Central State Medical Academy” of the Department of the President of the Russian Federation,
–Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Medical Sciences.
Contacts
Work phone 5.5
Places of work:
Internet resources
www.buzunov.ru – personal website of R.V. Buzunova
www.cpap.ru – website about CPAP therapy
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Buzunov
Instagram: @buzunov_roman
To get advice on the problem of insomnia, you need to make an appointment with a somnologist BUZUNOV ROMAN VYACHESLAVOVICH in Moscow, call: +7 495 77 33 195.
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How to take Donormil?
It is advisable to take the drug Donormil 45-60 minutes before your planned bedtime. During this time, potent components are absorbed into the blood and cause a feeling of drowsiness. The modern method of pilisomnography, performed at the Sleep Medicine Center in Moscow by experienced somnologists, will provide a more complete picture of the patient’s condition. At the patient’s request, polysomnography in Moscow can be performed at the patient’s home.
It is not recommended to take the drug without first consulting a somnologist in Moscow. If you decide to start taking the drug yourself, do not overdo it with the dosage. For the first time, 0.5 tablets containing 7.5 mg of doxylamine are enough.
The product is designed to treat sleep in cases of short-term disturbances and manifestations of so-called acute insomnia. For example, stress, anxiety, nervousness, increased excitability. Monitor your medication intake for a month. It is advisable to use sleeping pills no more than 8 times a month. If you manage to fall asleep on your own, it is better to refuse drug therapy and not supply your body with pills.
Donormil is sometimes used for complex treatment of insomnia problems along with other drugs and treatment regimens. However, the drug should not be used for more than 4 weeks.
Somnologists at the Moscow Somnology Center in Khamovniki try to select the optimal treatment regimen for insomnia with minimal risks and side effects for the patient. If you notice disturbances or sleep disorders, we recommend making an appointment for a consultation with a somnologist in Moscow. Timely diagnosis, research, and treatment of the body (polysomnography, cognitive behavioral therapy, CPAP therapy) will help avoid serious health consequences.
In what cases does Donormil help?
If the causes of insomnia are stress, psycho-emotional shock, increased excitability, treatment is possible
If the causes of insomnia are discomfort during rest (light, extraneous sounds, noise), treatment is possible
If the causes of insomnia are secondary diseases and pain (acute chondrosis, physical injuries, injuries), treatment is possible
If the causes of insomnia are increased physical and psychological activity, treatment is possible. Excessive overload of the body with physical activity can also cause sleep disorders. In this case, we recommend making an appointment with a somnologist at the Somnology Center in Moscow in Khamovniki and undergoing a comprehensive examination under the guidance of a qualified somnologist. The help of a doctor who professionally treats insomnia minimizes the risks of insomnia on the body.
If the cause of the insomnia problem is short-term insomnia for no reason, treatment is possible. Donormil can be taken as needed, and not taken as a regimen, as many analogues require.
Side effects after taking Donormil
If you constantly take the drug Donormil to treat insomnia, a person may experience lethargy, slow reaction, drowsiness, blurred vision, and dry mouth. It is worth paying attention to the fact that adverse reactions are not observed in all patients taking Donormil to treat insomnia, but only in a few, so a somnologist at the Sleep Medicine Center in Moscow first collects the patient’s medical history and makes a diagnosis.
The drug should not be taken during breastfeeding, angle-closure glaucoma, prostate adenoma, or intolerance to the drug. Each case is individual, all diagnoses should be voiced to a somnologist in order to correctly select a treatment regimen.
Take Donormil with caution
A somnologist at the Sleep Medicine Center in Moscow prescribes the drug individually, taking into account the patient’s activity.
If work requires special concentration, it is better to stop taking Donormil.
During pregnancy, the drug is not contraindicated, but you should not abuse the pills. Sleeping pills can have a negative effect on your baby in the third trimester. If you take Donormil, you should not drink alcoholic beverages, as side reactions and reverse effects are possible. Alcohol and sleeping pills are incompatible.
If you have previously been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, you should take Donormil with extreme caution. It is better to consult in advance with a somnologist at the Somnology Center in Moscow and discuss a treatment regimen.
Failure of the biological clock (
Jet Lag ) in the human body can also cause insomnia problems that require treatment.
In case of short-term deviations, you can take Donormil, having first received the recommendations of a specialist. Test online:
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Pharmacological action of Donormil
The drug has a calming effect, relieving emotional stress, with the effect of a sleeping pill. After applying a therapeutic dose:
- falling asleep occurs in a shorter period of time;
- the quality of sleep improves: it becomes more sound, without waking up;
- in the morning the patient feels cheerful and rested.
The sleeping pill Donormil moderately depresses the nervous system, because doxylamine slows down nervous processes and thereby promotes drowsiness. It is not a strong drug because:
- does not affect the phases and cycles of sleep, does not cause nightmares or frequent dreams that exhaust a person;
- slightly inhibits the functions of nerve cells of the respiratory center;
- does not cause residual drowsiness or lethargy after waking up in the morning (depending on the individual characteristics of the patient).
How many tablets should I take to overdose on Donormil?
Recently, a patient approached us at the Sleep Medicine Center with exactly this question. We found out that he has long-term insomnia, and the usual dose does not help him. He wanted to increase it, but did not know how much Donormil he could take maximum. As a result, he didn’t need the drug at all: it turned out that he had classic psychogenic insomnia, which our sleep specialist and psychotherapist helped him cope with.
If you need Donormil, then knowing about the possibility of an overdose (and preventing it from occurring) is very important. It is also worth remembering the risk of drug addiction. So:
Taking more than 2 tablets per day is prohibited; large doses increase the risk of overdose.
The drug is not recommended for children under 15 years of age.
If you feel lethargic, dizzy, groggy and drowsy in the morning, reduce the dose of your next dose.
When taking Donormil, be attentive to your well-being! The symptoms of an overdose are very specific: dilated pupils, redness of the face, increased body temperature, anxiety, loss of coordination, trembling, and sometimes convulsions. In the absence of timely treatment, coma may develop. As first aid, you need to take activated carbon, then you need to call a doctor.
It is recommended to take the drug no more than 8 times a month, this minimizes the risk of overdose and drug dependence.
The maximum duration of treatment without interruption is 2-4 weeks. You can take Donormil for such a long time only on the recommendation of a doctor.
If you realize that you cannot sleep without taking a sleeping pill, consult your doctor! This is a sign of the development of drug addiction.
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How to take Donormil
An hour after administration, the substance is already in the blood in a concentration sufficient to fall asleep. Therefore, the instructions for use of Donormil contain a recommendation to take the medicine 15-30 minutes before falling asleep.
To achieve a hypnotic effect, take half a tablet or one tablet with water. If the result does not occur, then the doctor may prescribe two tablets.
Duration of therapy is 2-5 days. If you continue to have problems falling asleep, you should visit your doctor.
The dose of the drug is adjusted in patients with liver and kidney failure, and in people over 65 years of age. A reduction in the amount of the drug taken is required. Elderly people are at risk of dizziness, slow reaction time, and the possibility of falling when waking up at night.
How long does it take for Donormil to work and how long does its effect last?
After administration, most of the taken dose of the drug appears in the blood within an hour. From this we conclude that you can fall asleep with Donormil within an hour.
In fact, this is why it is recommended to take the pill 40-60 minutes before bedtime. Many patients say that the effect of donormil develops even faster. Apparently, psychological mechanisms play a role here: you took a pill - you were confident that you would fall asleep safely - you fell asleep.
The half-life of the drug is 10 hours, but the hypnotic effect lasts 7-8 hours. Further, the concentration in the blood drops significantly. That is, sleep with donormil continues throughout the night, after which, ideally, a person should wake up alert and well-rested. This doesn't always happen.
In some people, after the required 7-8 hours of sleep, the aftereffect of the drug persists. These may include difficulty waking up, poor coordination, drowsiness, fine motor skills disorders, absent-mindedness, and more. Therefore, after taking Donormil, it is not recommended to engage in activities that require increased concentration.
If you incorrectly calculate the time of taking the drug and wake up 5-6 hours after it, the likelihood of drowsiness and other after-effects increases significantly! Do not take sleeping pills if you only have a short period of sleep.
Some people think that half a tablet will act 2 times shorter than a whole one. But this does not always work: often half a tablet is simply not enough to have an effect. You have to wait, take another half... As a result, waking up is painful, and your morning well-being leaves much to be desired.
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Contraindications
The instructions for Donormil contain a list of conditions and pathologies for which the medicine is not prescribed or is prescribed with caution.
Contraindications:
- high sensitivity to antihistamines, doxylamine and any of the auxiliary components;
- diagnosis of angle-closure glaucoma or hereditary predisposition to it;
- pathologies of the urethral canal and prostate gland with impaired urinary function;
- hereditary diseases associated with metabolic disorders (inability to convert galactose into glucose, lactase deficiency, impaired absorption of monosaccharides in the gastrointestinal tract);
- The patient's age is up to 15 years.
Cautious use is allowed:
- if a person has a tendency to suddenly stop breathing during sleep;
- in elderly patients;
- with severe dysfunction of the liver and kidneys.
Undesirable effects
Depending on individual characteristics, the drug may have additional side effects:
- feeling of dry mouth, problems with bowel movements;
- blurred visual function;
- desire to sleep during the day, absent-mindedness;
- cardiopalmus;
- urinary retention;
- increase in the level of creatine phosphokinase;
- syndrome of muscle tissue destruction with the penetration of breakdown products into the circulatory system.
If undesirable reactions or discomfort are detected, discontinue the medicine and consult a doctor.
Dry mouth
This is perhaps the most common side effect of Donormil. It can also be expressed as thirst, morning hoarseness, or other similar symptoms.
If the phenomenon is not very pronounced, it can be completely ignored - there will be no harm to health from this. If it bothers you significantly, then you can try reducing the dosage of the drug, for example, from a tablet to half a tablet. Perhaps the effect will not be lost, and the side effects of donormil will disappear. If this does not help, it is better to replace the drug with another one.
Is it prescribed for children and pregnant women?
The mechanism of action of doxylamine on women bearing a child has been thoroughly studied. According to research, the drug is safe and can be used by pregnant women in any trimester within the recommended dose and duration of use.
If Donormil was taken at the end of pregnancy, its properties should be taken into account when assessing the condition of the newborn.
The ability of the drug to pass into breast milk has not been studied, so it is advisable to interrupt breastfeeding for the period of treatment or choose another sleeping pill.
The drug is contraindicated for children under 15 years of age. For older patients, it is prescribed in adult dosages.
special instructions
When using Donormil, it is necessary to take into account that its effect is multiplied when taken with other sedative medications.
Urinary retention, thirst and dry mouth may occur when taken together with anticholinergics.
Drinking alcohol during treatment is undesirable, as distorted images and phenomena may appear in the environment.
For patients whose diet requires salt restriction, it is important to consider the sodium content of the tablets.
It is necessary to refrain from activities that require composure, increased attention, as well as from working with complex mechanisms and driving vehicles.
Visual impairment
Most often this manifests itself as blurred vision. You have to strain your eyes, especially when working with documents and small objects. Sometimes dry eyes appear, which is especially unpleasant for people whose profession involves using a computer.
If you read reviews about the side effects of Donormil, two things become clear. First, such a reaction can occur both at the beginning of treatment and after some time. Secondly, as a rule, it does not go away on its own. In case of significant visual impairment, you should stop taking sleeping pills.
Price, where to buy, reviews
You can buy Donormil at a pharmacy or order it online. The price for 10 pieces starts from 120 rubles, for 30 pieces – from 290 rubles. Manufacturer: UPSA, France.
Reviews from doctors about the tablets indicate their popularity in the treatment of transient sleep disorders. Doctors note high efficiency and lack of addiction. To avoid negative effects, it is important to correctly calculate the dose.
Patients like that the tablets do not provoke nightmares, promote a smooth fall into sleep, and help with nervous shock when taken in small doses.
