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Original poster

Help! Ive had a glass of wine and need to take nytol

64 replies

Sc0tlandbye · 04/09/2026 20:26

I had a large (okay, very large) glass of wine.
Am I okay to take Nytol in 3 or 4 hours? Ice been going through a terrible bout of insomnia and really need to be operational tomorrow:(

OP posts:
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Darragon · 05/09/2026 12:23

Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 08:40

So is this Promethazine/Phenargan commonplace? I see i can buy it online but is it likely to be in stock at a standard pharmacy as ideally I would be able to pick some up in town today and give it a try tonight (sans wine!)

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Like all anticholinergics, promethazine is associated with an increased risk of dementia. As is diphenhydramine (Nytol).

Original poster
Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 11:49

UniquePinkSwan · 05/09/2026 11:28

Don’t be ridiculous. I sometimes wonder how people get to adulthood thinking things like this

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There's nothing ridiculous about it. The notice clearly states not to drink alcohol with it

OP posts:
Original poster
Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 11:49

MurphysColeslaw · 05/09/2026 11:19

Did they question you for what you wanted it for?

Yes they did, they asked me if it was for nausea, I said no for insomnia, which then resulted in the pharmacist having a hushed conversation with another pharmacist while i stood there feeling like "uh oh". They seemed to be trying to decide between two different boxes of the same thing but with different branding 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
UniquePinkSwan · 05/09/2026 11:28

Sc0tlandbye · 04/09/2026 20:48

I normally feel fine!

I was worried about dying in my sleep 😂

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Don’t be ridiculous. I sometimes wonder how people get to adulthood thinking things like this

AbsintheMakesTheHeartGrowFonder · 05/09/2026 11:24

Nytol is literally just a mild antihistamine that makes some people mildly drowsy. It’s not a ‘sleeping tablet’ as such. If it was you wouldn’t be able to buy it over the counter. You’re going to be fine.

Drinking a glass of wine and taking a Nytol is really not akin to knocking back a bottle of vodka and a handful of barbiturates. Calm down.

MurphysColeslaw · 05/09/2026 11:19

Did they question you for what you wanted it for?

Original poster
Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 11:12

Just updating in case anyone reads this thread at a later date and has the same experience!
I went to boots for the Promethazine and they said they dont stock it. In superdrug they said it is no longer sold without prescription. I got it from an independent chemist on my high street.
Will give it a whack tonight!

OP posts:
SwanUpmanship · 05/09/2026 08:50

Shellityhorn · 05/09/2026 08:42

Yes, it’s an over the counter medication, but you’ll be asked a few questions by the pharmacist before they sell it to you.

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I was originally prescribed it as a sleeping aid, which is how I discovered it. It's cheaper to buy OTC than on prescription BUT in my experience pharmacists are iffy about letting you have it without a prescription for sleep purposes, you are better off citing any allergies you may have as your primary reason for wanting it.

Slight derail but it really pisses me off that you have to pay more for something on prescription than you do for exactly the same thing OTC!

Shellityhorn · 05/09/2026 08:45

And you can buy Night Nurse over the counter, with Promethazine (same as the active ingredient in Phenergan) in it. Don’t know about questions for that, but I’d imagine so, to ensure you’re aware of its strong sedating effect.

MurphysColeslaw · 05/09/2026 08:45

Suicide rates would go through the roof if all it took was a large Shiraz and a couple of Nytols to stop you waking up.

Shellityhorn · 05/09/2026 08:42

Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 08:40

So is this Promethazine/Phenargan commonplace? I see i can buy it online but is it likely to be in stock at a standard pharmacy as ideally I would be able to pick some up in town today and give it a try tonight (sans wine!)

Show quote history

Yes, it’s an over the counter medication, but you’ll be asked a few questions by the pharmacist before they sell it to you.

Original poster
Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 08:40

SpanThatWorld · 05/09/2026 07:26

It's Phenergan. One of the old school "knock you out with a mallet" antihistamines.

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So is this Promethazine/Phenargan commonplace? I see i can buy it online but is it likely to be in stock at a standard pharmacy as ideally I would be able to pick some up in town today and give it a try tonight (sans wine!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 08:38

JacquesHarlow · 05/09/2026 05:41

what aspect about your life @Sc0tlandbye are you willing to take control of?

You said you “need” to take a Nytol. Did you “need” to have a glass of wine last night also, if it turns out you could have anticipated you would “need” Nytol later on?

Or worse, do you accept that the alcohol itself could be keeping you awake?

Do you suffer from anxiety, do you have weight or health issues which could be exacerbating staying awake?

I feel for you with insomnia (ignore the time I’m posting, I’m about to go to the gym, this is normal for me) but I also think that without confronting the other root causes of things, or saying to yourself “if Nytol is the only things that works for me, I’ll forgo alcohol for a bit”, then you’re just chasing round in a circle

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I know youre right. Im just trying to deal with quite a few things that are building up. A huge deadline, also a bad financial situation while I also try and complete on a property, plus grief. Its a horrible mix and some of these things will resolve later in the month. Ive always had sleep trouble in difficult periods, ever since I was a child.
I just need to get through the next week or two

OP posts:
Shellityhorn · 05/09/2026 07:54

SwanUpmanship · 05/09/2026 07:46

Yes, I can vouch for this😆

If you take it with alcohol, though, you are totally out for the count within 15 mins and falling asleep all the next day too - really would not recommend it after wine.

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I don’t think I’ve taken Night Nurse in years, but it did leave me feeling groggy in the morning.

SwanUpmanship · 05/09/2026 07:46

SpanThatWorld · 05/09/2026 07:26

It's Phenergan. One of the old school "knock you out with a mallet" antihistamines.

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Yes, I can vouch for this😆

If you take it with alcohol, though, you are totally out for the count within 15 mins and falling asleep all the next day too - really would not recommend it after wine.

SpanThatWorld · 05/09/2026 07:26

Sc0tlandbye · 04/09/2026 21:05

Interesting! So you can just walk into Boots and request this?

Show quote history

It's Phenergan. One of the old school "knock you out with a mallet" antihistamines.

JacquesHarlow · 05/09/2026 05:41

Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 04:27

Ffs took the nytol but awake at 4 😭

what aspect about your life @Sc0tlandbye are you willing to take control of?

You said you “need” to take a Nytol. Did you “need” to have a glass of wine last night also, if it turns out you could have anticipated you would “need” Nytol later on?

Or worse, do you accept that the alcohol itself could be keeping you awake?

Do you suffer from anxiety, do you have weight or health issues which could be exacerbating staying awake?

I feel for you with insomnia (ignore the time I’m posting, I’m about to go to the gym, this is normal for me) but I also think that without confronting the other root causes of things, or saying to yourself “if Nytol is the only things that works for me, I’ll forgo alcohol for a bit”, then you’re just chasing round in a circle

Original poster
Sc0tlandbye · 05/09/2026 04:27

Ffs took the nytol but awake at 4 😭

OP posts:
HappiestSleeping · 05/09/2026 00:20

To all my fellow insomniacs, we should look on the bright side. Only four more sleeps until Christmas. 🤦‍♂️

Fizbosshoes · 04/09/2026 23:46

I occassionally take the boots own version. The warning not to take with alcohol has worked with me, so i never have but I do sometimes feel zombie-ish in the morning. Im pretty small for an adult (v short and below average weight so I dont know if it has a bigger impact)

Shellityhorn · 04/09/2026 23:32

Sc0tlandbye · 04/09/2026 22:30

Thats reassuring! Ive never had priblems with nytol either, always feel great upon waking

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Nor me, and I’ve certainly mixed it either alcohol in the past. Though, curiously, Nytol seems to act very differently on different people. I felt sleepy about 20 minutes after taking it. DH needs an hour to an hour and a half for it to hit. He says he feels it in the morning. I never did.

Id say avoiding longterm use is probably more important, OP.

Radioheads · 04/09/2026 23:15

I have and it has never caused me a problem. The 10 gram amount.

Maddy70 · 04/09/2026 23:04

Yes of course you are ok

putitonthewrongway · 04/09/2026 23:02

Frumpitydoo · 04/09/2026 20:59

Promethazine is available over the counter and is what they use in hospitals for insomniac patients now Zopiclone et al are being phased out. You need a 40-50mg dose for sleep. You are welcome!

That’s what they say but crikey they knock me out and I’d never get up the next day! 25mg is enough for me especially after a glass of wine!

DeanGaffneysCumFace · 04/09/2026 22:58

Strawberrydelight78 · 04/09/2026 21:49

I’m on Mirtazapine also take Kalms one a night as well or I don’t sleep. Sometimes after alcohol never wait 4 hours it’s usually about an hour always been fine. So I’m sure you taking Nytol will be ok.

I had to come off mirtazapine because it made me sleep 18 hours a day, it was horrible. When they diagnosed me with bipolar I was put on Quetiapine and I had to come off that within 7 days as the restless legs nearly ended me.
I can't cope with the 'pines meds.

As for the nytol and 1 wine, you should be fine but it's up to you to decide

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