If you are taking SOMNIL TABLET, you are likely using it to help with insomnia, which means trouble sleeping. This medicine is meant to help you sleep, but it must be used carefully because it can make you drowsy, dizzy, less alert, and less able to concentrate.
It is a Schedule 2 medicine in South Africa and belongs to a group of medicines known as sedatives and hypnotics, which means medicines that can help you feel sleepy.
What it is and what it is used for
What is in SOMNIL TABLET
Each SOMNIL TABLET contains:
- Doxylamine succinate 25 mg
Doxylamine succinate is part of a group of medicines called H1-blocking agents. The source describes it as having a strong tendency to cause sedation. Sedation means it can make you sleepy or less alert.
What I may use it for
If I am using SOMNIL TABLET, I am using it for:
- The alleviation of insomnia
Insomnia can mean that I struggle to fall asleep, wake up often, or feel unable to get proper rest. SOMNIL TABLET is intended to help relieve this sleep difficulty.
How it works
SOMNIL TABLET works by causing sedation. In simple terms, it can make my body and mind feel sleepy, which may help me fall asleep when I am struggling with insomnia.
Because it makes me sleepy, it can also affect me in ways that may not be safe during the day or when I need to be alert. I may feel drowsy, dizzy, unsteady, or have blurred vision. This is why I need to take it only at bedtime and avoid activities that require concentration afterwards.
Who should NOT use this medicine
I should not use SOMNIL TABLET if I:
- Am allergic or hypersensitive to any ingredient in the medicine
- Have severe cardiovascular disorders
- Am having an acute asthma attack
- Have epilepsy
- Am pregnant
- Am breastfeeding
- Am giving it to a child under 12 years old
Warning: If any of these apply to me, I should not take SOMNIL TABLET unless a healthcare professional has advised me appropriately.
Warnings and precautions
I need to be careful before taking it
SOMNIL TABLET can cause drowsiness and poor concentration. These effects can become worse if I drink alcohol or take other medicines that slow down the brain and nervous system.
I may notice:
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Reduced concentration
- Poor coordination
- Slower reactions
Because of these effects, I should not drive, use machinery, or do anything where losing focus could cause an accident.
Health conditions where extra care is needed
I should speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using SOMNIL TABLET if I am elderly or if I have:
- Closed-angle glaucoma
- Urinary retention
- Liver impairment
- An enlarged prostate, also called prostatic hypertrophy
- Pyloroduodenal obstruction
- Cardiac failure
- Hypertension
- Oedema
- Cardiovascular disease
These conditions may make the medicine less suitable for me or may increase the chance of side effects.
If I am elderly
If I am an older person, I need to use SOMNIL TABLET with care. The source specifically says it should be used carefully in elderly people.
This matters because drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, or poor coordination may increase the risk of falls or accidents.
Driving and machinery
I should not drive after taking SOMNIL TABLET. I should also not use machinery or take charge of transport if my attention may be affected.
This medicine may cause:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Impaired concentration
These effects may be worse if I have also taken alcohol or another sedating medicine.
Alcohol
I should avoid alcohol while taking SOMNIL TABLET. Alcohol can make the sedative effects stronger and can increase the risk of accidents.
Warning: Taking alcohol with SOMNIL TABLET may make me more sleepy and less alert than expected.
Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, and breastfeeding
If I am pregnant
I should not use SOMNIL TABLET during pregnancy.
The source says that safety and efficacy in pregnancy have not been established, and pregnancy is listed as a reason not to use the medicine.
If I am planning pregnancy
Not specified in the source. I should speak to my doctor or pharmacist before use.
If I am breastfeeding
I should not use SOMNIL TABLET while breastfeeding.
The source says that safety and efficacy in lactation have not been established, and lactation is listed as a reason not to use the medicine.
Interactions
Interactions happen when another medicine, alcohol, or substance changes how SOMNIL TABLET affects me.
Alcohol and sedating medicines
SOMNIL TABLET may increase the sedative effects of medicines and substances that slow down the central nervous system.
These include:
- Alcohol
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Barbiturates
- Hypnotics
- Narcotic analgesics
- Sedatives
- Tranquillisers
If I take these with SOMNIL TABLET, I may become more drowsy, dizzy, or impaired.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, also called MAOIs, may increase the antimuscarinic effects of SOMNIL TABLET.
Antimuscarinic effects can include problems such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, or difficulty passing urine. The source does not list all of these effects in the interaction section, but it does warn that MAOIs may enhance antimuscarinic effects.
Other antimuscarinic medicines
SOMNIL TABLET may have additive effects with other antimuscarinic medicines. This means the effects may become stronger when used together.
Medicines mentioned in the source include:
- Atropine
- Tricyclic antidepressants
Ototoxic medicines
SOMNIL TABLET may mask warning signs of damage caused by ototoxic medicines, such as aminoglycoside antibiotics.
“Ototoxic” means a medicine may damage the ear or hearing system. If warning signs are hidden, I may not notice a problem early.
Food interactions
Not specified in the source.
Medical tests
Not specified in the source.
How to take
Step-by-step
If I am taking SOMNIL TABLET, I should:
- Take one to two tablets.
- Take the tablets with water.
- Take the dose at bedtime.
- Use the medicine occasionally.
- Avoid using it repeatedly for more than several days.
I should not give SOMNIL TABLET to children under 12 years of age.
Taking it with food
Not specified in the source.
How long I should use it
SOMNIL TABLET should be used occasionally. I should not use it successively for periods longer than several days.
This means it is not meant to become my long-term nightly sleep routine.
Missed dose
Not specified in the source.
Because SOMNIL TABLET is taken at bedtime for sleep, I should not take extra tablets to make up for a missed dose unless a healthcare professional tells me to.
Overdose
If I or someone else takes too much SOMNIL TABLET, urgent medical help is needed.
In children, overdose may cause central nervous system stimulation. This may include:
- Ataxia, meaning poor coordination
- Excitement
- Tremors
- Psychoses
- Hallucinations
- Convulsions
- Hyperpyrexia, meaning very high body temperature
Serious overdose in children may lead to:
- Deepening coma
- Cardiorespiratory collapse
- Death from respiratory failure
In adults, overdose more often causes central nervous system depression. This may include:
- Drowsiness
- Coma
- Convulsions
It may progress to:
- Respiratory failure
- Possible cardiovascular collapse
The source says treatment is supportive and symptomatic.
Warning: If an overdose is suspected, I should seek urgent medical help immediately.
Practical tips for safer use
To use SOMNIL TABLET more safely, I should:
- Take it only at bedtime
- Take it with water
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid driving or using machinery after taking it
- Keep it in the original packaging until needed
- Store it safely away from children
- Use it only occasionally
Dosing table
| Age group | Dose | Frequency | Maximum daily dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults and children 12 years and older | 1 to 2 tablets with water | At bedtime | 2 tablets at bedtime |
| Children under 12 years | Do not administer | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Note: Each tablet contains 25 mg doxylamine succinate. One tablet contains 25 mg, and two tablets contain 50 mg.
Possible side effects
SOMNIL TABLET can cause side effects. I may not experience all of them, but I should know what to look out for.
Common
The source lists these frequent effects:
- Sedation, from slight drowsiness to deep sleep
- Dizziness
- Incoordination
This means I may feel sleepy, unsteady, clumsy, or less alert. If this happens, I should not drive, use machinery, or do tasks that need concentration.
Less common
Less common side effects may affect different parts of the body.
Blood-related effects
- Agranulocytosis
- Leucopenia
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Thrombocytopenia
These are medical terms for changes in blood cells. The source does not provide symptoms for these conditions.
Immune system effects
- Hypersensitivity reactions
- Bronchospasm
- Angioedema
- Anaphylaxis
These may be signs of an allergic reaction and can be serious.
Appetite effects
- Loss of appetite
- Increased appetite
Mood and mental effects
- Euphoria
- Depression
- Irritability
- Nightmares
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Psychomotor impairment
- Confusion
Psychomotor impairment means my thinking and movement may be slowed or affected.
Nervous system effects
- Headache
- Tremor
- Convulsions
- Epileptiform seizures in patients with focal lesions of the cerebral cortex
- Paraesthesias, meaning tingling or abnormal sensations
- Extrapyramidal effects
The source does not explain extrapyramidal effects further.
Eye effects
- Blurred vision
Ear effects
- Tinnitus, meaning ringing or noise in the ears
Heart effects
- Tachycardia, meaning a fast heartbeat
- Palpitations
- Dysrhythmias, meaning abnormal heart rhythms
Blood pressure effects
- Hypotension, meaning low blood pressure
Breathing and chest effects
- Tightness of the chest
- Thickened respiratory tract secretions
Digestive effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Epigastric pain, meaning pain in the upper stomach area
- Dry mouth
- Increased gastric reflux
Skin and hair effects
- Rash
- Alopecia, meaning hair loss
Muscle effects
- Muscular weakness
- Myalgia, meaning muscle pain
Urinary effects
- Difficulty in micturition, meaning difficulty passing urine
- Dysuria, meaning painful or uncomfortable urination
General effects
- Fatigue
- Sweating
Other listed effect
- Cross-sensitivity reactions
Serious — seek urgent help
I should seek urgent medical help if I notice serious symptoms, especially:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Signs of anaphylaxis
- Convulsions
- Severe confusion
- Hallucinations
- Extreme drowsiness
- Coma or unresponsiveness
- Collapse
- Very fast or irregular heartbeat
- Suspected overdose
Warning: An overdose can be especially dangerous in children and may lead to convulsions, coma, breathing failure, and death. I should always keep this medicine out of reach of children.
Storage and disposal
How I should store it
I should store SOMNIL TABLET:
- At or below 25 °C
- Protected from light
- Protected from moisture
- In the original packaging until needed
I must keep it out of reach of children.
Expiry guidance
Not specified in the source.
Disposal
Not specified in the source.
Practical safety note: Because this medicine can cause serious harm if taken incorrectly, especially by children, I should keep it in a safe place and not leave tablets lying around.
What the medicine contains
Active ingredient
Each SOMNIL TABLET contains:
- Doxylamine succinate 25 mg
Other ingredients
SOMNIL TABLET also contains:
- Colour lennon lake blue, also listed as C.I. 73015
- Magnesium stearate
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Purified talc
- Sodium starch glycollate
- Starch maize
Sugar content
SOMNIL TABLET is:
- Sugar free
Pack information and appearance
What the tablet looks like
SOMNIL TABLET is described as:
- Pale blue
- Flat
- Bevelled edged
- Bisected on one side
- Imprinted with “C28” on the other side
“Bisected” means there is a line across one side of the tablet.
Pack sizes
SOMNIL TABLET may be packed as:
- 12 tablets
- 24 tablets
- 100 tablets
The 12- and 24-tablet packs are in blister strips inside an outer cardboard carton.
The 100-tablet pack is in a white polypropylene securitainer with a white low-density polyethylene cap and tamper-evident seal. It also contains a high-density polyethylene desiccant disc and a white polyester coil.
Not all pack sizes are necessarily marketed.
Registration and company details
The South African registration number is:
- Q/2.2/186
The holder of the certificate of registration is:
- Pharmacare Limited
- Healthcare Park
- Woodlands Drive
- Woodmead 2191
The date of registration is 28 January 1982. The most recent amendment to the professional information as approved by the Authority is dated 21 February 1994.
The source also lists:
- Botswana: B9322880 S3
- Namibia: NS1 15/2.2/0122
Written by: RxZest Editorial Team
Editorial review: Checked for readability, structure, and source alignment
Based on SAHPRA-approved information : SOMNIL TABLET
Last updated: [03/05/2026]
Practical FAQs
Can I take SOMNIL TABLET every night?
No. The source says SOMNIL TABLET should be used occasionally and should not be used successively for periods longer than several days.
Can I give SOMNIL TABLET to my child?
I should not give SOMNIL TABLET to a child under 12 years old.
Can I drink alcohol while taking SOMNIL TABLET?
I should avoid alcohol. Alcohol can make the drowsiness and poor concentration caused by SOMNIL TABLET worse.
Can I drive after taking SOMNIL TABLET?
No. SOMNIL TABLET can cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, and impaired concentration. I should not drive or use machinery after taking it.
What should I do if I feel very sleepy after taking it?
Sleepiness is a known effect. The source says sedation may range from slight drowsiness to deep sleep. I should rest and avoid driving, machinery, or tasks that need focus.
Can I take SOMNIL TABLET if I am pregnant?
No. Pregnancy is listed as a reason not to use this medicine, and the source says safety and efficacy in pregnancy have not been established.
Can I take SOMNIL TABLET while breastfeeding?
No. Breastfeeding is listed as a reason not to use this medicine, and the source says safety and efficacy in lactation have not been established.
What if I have glaucoma or trouble passing urine?
I should speak to a doctor or pharmacist first. The source says SOMNIL TABLET should be used with care in closed-angle glaucoma and urinary retention.
What if I take too much?
I should seek urgent medical help. Overdose can cause serious effects such as severe drowsiness, coma, convulsions, breathing failure, and cardiovascular collapse.
Does SOMNIL TABLET contain sugar?
No. The source states that SOMNIL TABLET is sugar free.
