People who are suffering from sleeplessness may have a respite, as Reals Pharmaceutical Limited has introduced ‘Reals Night Aid’, a new Over- the -Counter (OTC) sleep aid for the relief of occasional sleeplessness.
The new OTC drug which was formally presented to the public last week at the 89th Annual Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) conference in Minna, Niger State, enables users to sleep soundly and wake up fully refreshed with no hang-over effect.
Dropping the hint at the launch held inside Justice Legbo Kutigi Hall, Minna, Group managing director of Reals Pharmaceutical Company, Israel Ade Popoola said the new product was introduced into the Nigerian pharmaceutical market as a result of rising incidence of sleeplessness also known as insomnia, which is the manifestation of inability to get enough sleep despite adequate time.
Describing symptoms of sleeplessness, Popoola, a former board of fellow chairman identified: delayed sleep onset (getting to sleep), early morning wake ups (waking too early), unrefreshing sleep (poor quality sleep), and trouble maintaining sleep (staying asleep)
He stated that sleeplessness is a condition of unsatisfactory sleep, either in terms of sleep onset, sleep maintenance or early waking.
This condition, the pharmacist further observed, is a disorder that subsequently impairs day-time well-being and subjective and functioning of the affected.
He added that “sleeplessness may be associated with fatigue, mood disturbances, problems with interpersonal relationships, occupational difficulties and a reduced quality of life and has a negative impact on both physical and mental health.”
Sleeplessness, he also informed, may be as a result of the current “economic recession”, which is believed to be impoverishing majority of Nigerians who daily struggle hard to make both ends meet.
Sleeplessness is said to be common among 40% of adults, with a chronic case in about 10%. Women are said to be more affected by sleeplessness than men.
Reals Night Aid, which is now available all over the country, is in the oral form and effective as Night time sleep aid. It is also recommended for the treatment of allergic conditions, useful in motion sickness and as Anti Parkinsonism.
Dosage is specified for individuals according to the need and response of the patient. However, a 50mg is recommended for adults at bedtime; but in other indications, 25 to 50mg three or four times daily. For the children, (over 20 1bs) 12.5mg to 25mg three or four times daily are recommended. However, maximum daily dosage should not exceed 300mg.
To calculate the dose on the basis of body weight or surface weight area, the recommended dosage is 5mg/kg/24 hours.
Reals Pharmaceuticals Limited commenced its operation as the local scientific and marketing office of Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Limited, now AstraZeneca, U.K. Today, the scope of its operations has extended to the marketing of a number of innovative pharmaceutical products in the world.
Olusola Bello
