Poisoning due to an over-the-counter hypnotic, Sleep-Qik (hyoscine, cyproheptadine, valerian).

Poisoning due to an over-the-counter hypnotic, Sleep-Qik (hyoscine, cyproheptadine, valerian).

The clinical features and risk of hepatotoxicity of 'Sleep-Qik' (valerian dry extract 75 mg, hyoscine hydrobromide 0.25 mg, cyproheptadine hydrochloride 2 mg) were determined in 23 patients treated in our hospital between 1988 and 1991. The main clinical problems were central nervous system depression and anticholinergic poisoning. There was no clinical evidence of acute hepatitis in the 23 pat...

Over-the-Counter Sleep Aid Medications and Insomnia

Insomnia is defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep and/or nonrestorative sleep which impairs daytime function. Self treatment with over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids, herbal and dietary supplements, and/or alcohol is common. Problems associated with insomnia self treatment are ineffectiveness, tolerance, dependency, and potentially harmful side effects. Studies of OTC sleep aids a...

Valerian - A Sleep Aid and Anxiolytic

Atropine or hyoscine in treatment of acute organophosphate poisoning?

The abdominal wall was infiltrated with lignocaine and incised in the mid-line. 3 litres of semisolid food was removed from the stomach and exploration revealed gross gaseous distension of small and large bowel, with infarction of the small bowel, and gas bubbles in the mesenteric veins. The ischaemic bowel was decompressed and packed with hot towels without any improvement and the patient died...

Can valerian improve the sleep of insomniacs after benzodiazepine withdrawal?

PURPOSE The authors studied the sleep of patients with insomnia who complained of poor sleep despite chronic use of benzodiazepines (BZDs). The sample consisted of 19 patients (mean age 43.3+/-10.6 years) with primary insomnia (DSM-IV), who had taken BZDs nightly, for 7.1+/-5.4 years. The control group was composed of 18 healthy individuals (mean age 37+/-8 years). Sleep electroencephalogram (E...