What is Sominex?
Sominex is an over the counter medicine that is used to treat a variety of different symptoms associated with allergies including:runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itching, skin rash and other cold symptoms.
Why are there stock issues?
The stock issues have come from ingredient shortages in the supply chain limiting the production output. Due to this the manufacturer Teva had to temporarily discontinue the product until the production rights were bought by Dexcel Pharma who decided to prioritise the distribution to clinical services run by the NHS and formulated a retail alternative until the issues were resolved. The alternative, Sominex Herbal 30 Tablets this version replaces the promethazine hydrochloride with valerian, hops, and passionflower. The Herbal blend is more suited as a sleeping aid than allergy medicine.
What is promethazine hydrochloride?
Promethazine hydrochloride is a type of antihistamine that is more likely to make you drowsy than other antihistamines. As such this medicine is used for both allergies and short term insomnia brought on by allergy like symptoms such as coughs, colds and itches.
When will Sominex be back in stock?
After speaking to Dexcel Pharma it does seem like these production issues and ingredient shortages have been resolved and they aim to have the product ready for retail around June 2025. As we work closely with all our suppliers we will have this back in stock as soon as it is available to retailers. You can sign up for an email notification [here] (/product/sominex-8-tablets). We will email you as soon as the product is back on our shelves!
What are the alternatives?
While you wait for Sominex to be available again and you are specifically looking for promethazine hydrochloride you might want to consider using [Phenergan] (/product/phenergan-25mg-56-tablets). Although it is a little stronger containing 5mg more promethazine hydrochloride, it is more available. However, please consult a medical professional before increasing your typical dosage to make sure this medication is right for you.
Alternatively if you are looking for a more natural sleeping aid we recommend Sominex Herbal.