Sleeping Tablets in the UK: What You Can Actually Get
Every prescription and pharmacy sleep option available in the UK, who qualifies for each, and how long you can take it.
Part of our Insomnia condition guide.
In short: There is no UK sleeping tablet you can take indefinitely. Every option is time-limited — two weeks for z-drugs, 13 weeks for melatonin, a three-month review for daridorexant. Which one you qualify for depends less on how badly you sleep than on how long it has gone on and how old you are.
Find Out What You Qualify For
Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (#9011198). Complete a confidential online consultation and a pharmacist independent prescriber will review which licensed option, if any, is clinically appropriate for you.
View Insomnia Treatments →The short answer, in one table
| Option | Prescription? | Who it is for | Maximum duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zopiclone, zolpidem | Yes, controlled drug | Severe short-term insomnia with a clear trigger | 2 weeks, preferably under 1 |
| Benzodiazepines (temazepam, nitrazepam) | Yes, controlled drug | Rarely used for insomnia now | 2 weeks, preferably under 1 |
| Prolonged-release melatonin | Yes | Adults 55+ with poor sleep quality | 13 weeks |
| Daridorexant (Quviviq) | Yes | Insomnia 3+ months, 3+ nights a week, after CBT-I | Review at 3 months |
| Sedating antihistamines (Nytol, Sominex) | No, pharmacy | Occasional bad nights only | A few days; tolerance is rapid |
| Herbal (valerian) | No | Occasional use | Not defined; weak evidence |
| Immediate-release melatonin 3mg | Yes | Jet lag, not insomnia | Short travel courses |
Which one applies to you
Two questions do almost all the sorting. Answer them and the list above collapses to one or two realistic options.
1
How long has this been going on?
Under three months is short-term insomnia. Three months or more, on three or more nights a week, is chronic insomnia — and that is a different clinical problem with different treatment, not simply a longer version of the same one.
2
Are you 55 or over?
Prolonged-release melatonin is licensed only from 55. Below that age it falls outside the licence, which is a decision a prescriber must make explicitly and discuss with you.
| Your situation | Realistic options |
|---|---|
| Bad patch, clear trigger, under 3 months | Sleep hygiene first. A short z-drug course only if daytime impairment is severe and distressing. |
| 3+ months, under 55 | CBT-I first. Then daridorexant if CBT-I has failed or is unavailable. |
| 3+ months, 55 or over | CBT-I first. Then prolonged-release melatonin, or daridorexant. |
| Occasional bad night before something important | A pharmacy sedating antihistamine, used genuinely occasionally. |
| Jet lag | Immediate-release melatonin 3mg — a different medicine for a different problem. |
| Snoring, gasping, heavy daytime sleepiness | None of the above. Get assessed for sleep apnoea first. |
Z-drugs: zopiclone and zolpidem
The z-drugs are what most people mean by "sleeping tablets". They act on GABA, the brain's main inhibitory system, producing sedation. They work quickly and reliably.
They are also capped at two weeks, preferably less than one, and that limit is not negotiable padding — tolerance begins within days to a couple of weeks and dependence can follow within weeks. Both are Schedule 4 Part 1 controlled drugs in the UK.
- Zopiclone 7.5mg at bedtime (3.75mg in older people, if essential). Characteristically causes a bitter metallic taste. No driving for 12 hours.
- Zolpidem 10mg at bedtime (5mg maximum in older people). At least 8 hours before any skilled task.
- Guidance is to avoid them in older adults, and in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Contraindicated in severe obstructive sleep apnoea, respiratory failure, myasthenia gravis and severe liver impairment
- If one has not worked, the other should not simply be prescribed instead
Our full zopiclone guide covers the dose, the metallic taste, rebound insomnia and coming off it. Access Doctor does not supply z-drugs.
Benzodiazepines
Temazepam, nitrazepam and loprazolam were the standard hypnotics before the z-drugs, and they are now rarely prescribed for insomnia in the UK. They carry the same two-week limit, a higher dependence risk, and longer half-lives that produce more next-day impairment.
Where they are still used it is usually short-term, in specific circumstances, and under close supervision. They are not something to seek out as an alternative when a z-drug has stopped working — that is the same class of medicine and the same wall.
Prolonged-release melatonin
Melatonin is the hormone that signals night to your body. As a medicine in the UK it is prescription-only, which surprises people familiar with American supplement aisles.
- Licensed for adults aged 55 and over, for primary insomnia characterised by poor quality of sleep
- Maximum 13 weeks
- One 2mg tablet, one to two hours before bed, after food, swallowed whole
- Available as Circadin, the originator brand, and as a generic modified-release tablet — the same medicine at a lower cost over a full course
- No tapering needed to stop
Do not confuse the two melatonin products. Prolonged-release 2mg releases slowly across the night and suits poor sleep quality. Immediate-release 3mg produces a sharp evening peak that shifts the body clock, and is licensed for jet lag rather than insomnia. They are not interchangeable. Our melatonin vs Circadin guide sets out the difference.
Daridorexant (Quviviq)
The newest option, and the only one designed around insomnia lasting months rather than days. It blocks orexin, the brain's wake signal, instead of sedating you.
NICE recommends it where insomnia symptoms occur on three or more nights per week, have lasted at least three months, and considerably affect daytime functioning — but only if CBT-I has been tried and has not worked, or is unavailable or unsuitable.
- 50mg once per night, within 30 minutes of going to bed (25mg in some circumstances)
- Reviewed within three months; trial data covers up to 12 months
- No tolerance or dependence seen in trials, and no tapering required
- Around nine hours before driving, particularly in the first days
- Contraindicated in narcolepsy and with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
See our full Quviviq guide for dose, side effects and the criteria in detail.
Over-the-counter sleep aids
UK pharmacy sleep aids are almost all sedating antihistamines. The drowsiness is a side effect of the antihistamine rather than a designed mechanism.
| Product | Active ingredient | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nytol One-A-Night 50mg | Diphenhydramine | Taken once at bedtime |
| Nytol Original 25mg | Diphenhydramine | Lower strength |
| Sominex 20mg | Promethazine | Longer-acting; more next-day grogginess |
Used honestly, these are for the occasional bad night — the evening before something that matters, a disrupted week. What they are not is a solution to a sleep problem measured in weeks.
- Tolerance develops within a few days of regular use, so the benefit fades quickly
- Next-day grogginess, dry mouth and constipation are common
- Avoid in older adults — sedating antihistamines are associated with confusion and falls
- NICE guidance does not recommend over-the-counter treatments as a management strategy for insomnia
A useful rule of thumb: if you have been buying over-the-counter sleep aids for more than two weeks, that is a signal to get the insomnia assessed rather than a reason to buy more. Tolerance means you are getting progressively less from them anyway.
Herbal remedies
Kalms Night and similar products contain valerian, a traditional herbal remedy registered for temporary sleep disturbance. Evidence for valerian in insomnia is weak, and registration under the traditional herbal scheme reflects long-standing use rather than demonstrated efficacy.
It is generally well tolerated. It should not be combined with alcohol or other sedatives, and you should tell your prescriber you are taking it — herbal products are frequently omitted from medication lists and can interact.
Sedating antidepressants and antihistamines
Low-dose amitriptyline, mirtazapine and similar medicines are sometimes prescribed where insomnia sits alongside depression, anxiety or chronic pain. Prescribed for insomnia alone, they are off-licence, and UK guidance does not recommend them as a routine hypnotic.
Where they are used, it is generally because they treat two things at once — the pain or the mood, and the sleep. That is a different rationale from reaching for a sedative, and it should be an explicit conversation with your prescriber rather than an assumption.
What you cannot get in the UK
- Over-the-counter melatonin — prescription-only here, unlike the United States. See our guide to why
- Zopiclone or zolpidem without a prescription — both are controlled drugs; any site selling them without an assessment is operating illegally
- Suvorexant, lemborexant — other orexin antagonists, not currently available in the UK
- Indefinite repeat hypnotics — no UK sleeping tablet is licensed for open-ended use
Counterfeit sleeping tablets are a real and documented danger. Medicines bought from unregulated websites are not UK-regulated products, and z-drug counterfeits have been found containing nothing, a different drug, or a considerably more dangerous one. To check a UK online pharmacy, look for a GPhC registration number and verify it on the General Pharmaceutical Council register. Access Doctor is GPhC-registered pharmacy #9011198.
The option that beats all of them
For insomnia lasting three months or more, the treatment with the best evidence is not on the list above, because it is not a medicine.
CBT-I — cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia — is the first-line treatment in UK guidance for chronic insomnia in adults of any age, ahead of every tablet here. It is a structured six-to-eight-week programme, and its defining feature is that the improvement usually holds after it finishes. When a sleeping tablet stops, the insomnia is generally still there.
It is also worth knowing that daridorexant's NICE recommendation is written around CBT-I having been tried first. Understanding what CBT-I is, and whether it is available where you live, is therefore directly relevant to what you can be prescribed. Our CBT-I guide covers both.
How to get a prescription
1
Through your GP
GPs can prescribe every option here, including daridorexant in line with NICE TA922. Ask specifically about CBT-I availability as well — it varies by area.
2
Through a regulated online pharmacy
A consultation is reviewed by a pharmacist independent prescriber. No appointment needed, but a genuine clinical assessment is required and treatment is not guaranteed.
3
Through a sleep clinic
For complex cases, or where another sleep disorder is suspected. Waiting lists are often long, and referral usually comes via your GP.
Whichever route, expect the same questions: how long, how many nights a week, what it does to your day, what you have already tried, whether you snore, and what else you take. Those questions are the criteria, not an obstacle course.
When a tablet is the wrong answer entirely
Seek urgent medical advice if poor sleep comes with thoughts of self-harm, or if you are falling asleep involuntarily during the day — particularly at the wheel.
Get assessed rather than medicated if any of these apply:
- Loud snoring, choking, gasping or witnessed pauses in breathing — possible obstructive sleep apnoea, which sedatives can worsen
- Excessive daytime sleepiness rather than fatigue — nodding off unintentionally
- An irresistible urge to move your legs in the evening — possible restless legs syndrome
- Night-time heartburn, pain, night sweats or breathlessness — treat the driver, not the symptom
- Low mood or anxiety alongside the insomnia
- Shift work — a circadian problem needing a different approach
Start a Confidential Consultation
A GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber will review your consultation and tell you which licensed option is appropriate — or if a tablet is not the right answer. Regulated UK pharmacy #9011198, discreet delivery, nothing issued without clinical assessment.
View Insomnia Treatments →Frequently Asked Questions
What sleeping tablets can you get in the UK?
On prescription: the z-drugs zopiclone and zolpidem for short-term use, benzodiazepines such as temazepam which are now rarely used for insomnia, prolonged-release melatonin for adults aged 55 and over, and daridorexant, sold as Quviviq, for long-term insomnia. From a pharmacy without a prescription: sedating antihistamines such as Nytol and Sominex, and herbal valerian preparations such as Kalms Night. Immediate-release melatonin 3mg is also prescription-only but is licensed for jet lag rather than insomnia. There is no UK sleeping tablet licensed for indefinite use.
What is the strongest sleeping tablet in the UK?
This is the wrong question to ask, and asking it usually leads people somewhere unhelpful. Sleeping tablets are not ranked by strength but matched to how long the insomnia has lasted and to your age and health. Z-drugs produce the most obvious sedation but are capped at two weeks because tolerance and dependence develop, so they are useless for a problem measured in months. Daridorexant is not more sedating than a z-drug, but it is the only option designed to be reviewed at three months rather than stopped at two weeks. The useful question is which option you qualify for, not which one hits hardest.
How long can you take sleeping tablets for?
Every UK option is time-limited. Z-drugs and benzodiazepines are capped at two weeks and preferably less than one, because of tolerance and dependence. Prolonged-release melatonin is licensed for a maximum of 13 weeks. Daridorexant must be reviewed within three months of starting and stopped if insomnia has not responded adequately, with clinical trial data covering up to twelve months. Over-the-counter sedating antihistamines lose their effect within a few days of regular use. No sleeping tablet available in the UK is licensed for open-ended use.
Can I get sleeping tablets without seeing a GP?
Yes, through a regulated online pharmacy, but not without a clinical assessment. A pharmacist independent prescriber reviews an online consultation and can issue a licensed treatment where it is appropriate. You can also buy sedating antihistamines and herbal preparations from a pharmacy without any prescription. What you cannot legitimately do is buy prescription-only medicines without an assessment: zopiclone and zolpidem are controlled drugs, and any UK-facing site offering them without a consultation is operating illegally and is not supplying UK-regulated medicines.
Which sleeping tablet is best for long-term insomnia?
For insomnia lasting three months or more, the treatment with the best evidence is not a tablet at all. CBT-I, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, is the first-line treatment in UK guidance for chronic insomnia in adults of any age, and its benefit usually persists after the programme ends. Among medicines, daridorexant is the only one designed for insomnia lasting months, and NICE recommends it specifically where CBT-I has been tried and has not worked or is unavailable. Prolonged-release melatonin is an option for adults aged 55 and over, for up to 13 weeks. Z-drugs are not suitable for long-term insomnia at any age.
Do over-the-counter sleeping tablets work?
Their effect is modest and short-lived. Most UK pharmacy sleep aids contain a sedating antihistamine, either diphenhydramine in Nytol or promethazine in Sominex, and the drowsiness is a side effect of the antihistamine rather than a designed mechanism. Tolerance develops within a few days of regular use, so they suit the occasional bad night rather than an ongoing problem. Next-day grogginess, dry mouth and constipation are common, and they should be avoided in older adults because sedating antihistamines are associated with confusion and falls. NICE guidance does not recommend over-the-counter treatments as a management strategy for insomnia.
Why is melatonin prescription-only in the UK?
Because it is regulated as a medicine here rather than as a food supplement, which is how it is sold in the United States. Prolonged-release melatonin 2mg is licensed for the short-term treatment of primary insomnia characterised by poor quality of sleep in adults aged 55 and over, for a maximum of 13 weeks. Immediate-release melatonin 3mg is licensed for jet lag. Melatonin bought from overseas websites is not a UK-regulated medicine and its actual content can differ substantially from what the label claims.
What is the difference between zopiclone and Quviviq?
They work in opposite directions on different systems. Zopiclone acts on GABA and sedates the brain broadly; daridorexant, sold as Quviviq, blocks orexin, the signal that keeps you awake. The practical difference is duration. Zopiclone is capped at two weeks, preferably under one, because tolerance and dependence develop, which makes it unsuitable for insomnia lasting months. Daridorexant showed no tolerance or dependence in trials, needs no tapering, and is reviewed at three months rather than stopped at two weeks. Zopiclone is also a controlled drug, and it requires twelve hours before driving against around nine for daridorexant.
Can I take sleeping tablets every night?
Not any of the ones licensed in the UK, for any length of time. Z-drugs lose their effect within days to weeks and produce dependence with continued nightly use. Over-the-counter antihistamines develop tolerance within a few days. Prolonged-release melatonin is taken nightly but only for a maximum of thirteen weeks. Daridorexant is taken nightly but must be reviewed at three months and stopped if it is not working. If you are taking something every night indefinitely, that is a sign the underlying insomnia has not been treated, and it is worth having it properly assessed.
When should I not take a sleeping tablet at all?
If you snore loudly with choking, gasping or witnessed pauses in breathing, get assessed for obstructive sleep apnoea first, because sedatives can make it worse. The same applies if you have excessive daytime sleepiness rather than fatigue, meaning you nod off unintentionally. An irresistible urge to move your legs in the evening suggests restless legs syndrome. Night-time heartburn, pain, night sweats or breathlessness need the driver treated rather than the symptom masked. Low mood or anxiety alongside insomnia needs treating in its own right, and shift work is a circadian problem needing a different approach. Seek urgent advice if poor sleep comes with thoughts of self-harm, or if you are falling asleep at the wheel.
Are sleeping tablets safe for older people?
Z-drugs and benzodiazepines are best avoided. UK guidance is not to prescribe hypnotics to older people because of the increased risk of falls, fractures and confusion, and where a z-drug is judged essential the dose is halved. Over-the-counter sedating antihistamines should also be avoided in older adults for the same reasons. Prolonged-release melatonin is the option specifically licensed from age 55 and has a much more favourable profile. Daridorexant needs no dose adjustment over 65, though data in the over-75s are limited, and trials did not show an increased risk of falls compared with placebo.
How do I know if an online pharmacy is legitimate?
Look for a GPhC registration number displayed on the site and verify it on the General Pharmaceutical Council register, which is public and free to search. A legitimate service will require a genuine clinical consultation rather than a tick-box, and it will sometimes decline to supply. Treat as a warning sign any site that sells prescription-only medicines with no assessment, offers controlled drugs such as zopiclone or zolpidem without a prescription, or ships from overseas without UK registration. Counterfeit z-drugs are a documented problem and have been found to contain nothing, a different drug, or a considerably more dangerous one.
These are the sleep treatments available through Access Doctor, following an online consultation reviewed by a prescriber.
Insomnia · Rx
Quviviq (Daridorexant) 50mg
For long-term insomnia where CBT-I has been tried and has not worked.
View product →Insomnia · Rx
Circadin 2mg Prolonged-Release Melatonin
For primary insomnia with poor sleep quality in adults aged 55 and over.
View product →Insomnia · Rx
Melatonin 2mg Modified-Release
The same medicine as Circadin in generic form, at a lower cost over a 13-week course.
View product →Sleep · Pharmacy
Nytol One-A-Night 50mg
Diphenhydramine for occasional short-term sleep disturbance. Not for continuous use.
View product →Sleep · Pharmacy
Sominex 20mg
Promethazine for temporary sleep disturbance. Tolerance develops with regular use.
View product →Sleep · Herbal
Kalms Night One-A-Night 385mg
Traditional herbal valerian preparation for temporary sleep disturbance.
View product →References
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Insomnia. Last revised June 2026. cks.nice.org.uk
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Daridorexant for treating long-term insomnia (TA922). 18 October 2023. nice.org.uk
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Guidance on the use of zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone for the short-term management of insomnia (TA77). 2004. nice.org.uk
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Sleepio to treat insomnia and insomnia symptoms (MTG70). 20 May 2022. nice.org.uk
- NHS. Insomnia. nhs.uk
- Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary: hypnotics and anxiolytics. bnf.nice.org.uk
- Home Office. Circular 008/2014: reclassification of tramadol, zopiclone and zaleplon as controlled drugs. 2014. gov.uk
- General Pharmaceutical Council. Registers. pharmacyregulation.org
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999.