Content about Sleep

SPARTA TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Rise-N-Shine recently highlighted its Wake Up on Time supplement formulated to help night owls transform into morning people. Taken right before bed, Wake Up on Time starts to work six to eight hours later by releasing energy supplements for an alert, refreshed feeling.

“It's more than a vitamin; it's time in a bottle because, instead of hitting the snooze button over and over again, our product allows you bounce out of bed, ready to go,” Cathy Beggan, founder of Rise-N-Shine stated. 

STAMFORD, Conn. — An insomnia drug made by Purdue Pharma "significantly" reduced the time it took patients to return to sleep after they'd woke up in the middle of the night, according to a new study.

The placebo-controlled study, published in the journal Sleep, tested the drug Intermezzo (zolpidem tartrate) sublingual tablets on 295 adults with primary insomnia and difficulty returning to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night. Purdue said Intermezzo was the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating such patients.

While the term homeopathy may remain as foreign to the American consumer as allopathy, as a relative “class” within each of the respective categories where homeopathic remedies exist, more and more shoppers are placing those homeopathic products in their baskets.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — A study of an experimental drug for insomnia indicated that patients who stop taking it continue having sleeping problems, according to results of a clinical trial announced Monday.

Merck released data from a phase-3 trial of suvorexant in which patients who had been taking the drug daily for a year were switched to placebo for a two-month "discontinuation phase." Patients who were switched from the drug to placebo showed sleeping difficulties similar to those who had consistently taken placebo.

DARIEN, Ill. — Sleep deprivation prompts an immediate response from the body's immune system, according to a new study.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble on Monday officially announced the introduction of ZzzQuil, a sleep aid addition to its Vicks NyQuil and Vicks DayQuil brands.

“ZzzQuil not only helps reduce the time it takes for a person to fall asleep, but [also] allows them to sleep soundly so they can wake up rested and refreshed,” stated Dave Tomasi, marketing director of North America for Vicks. “It is a sleep-only solution that delivers effective relief to consumers suffering from occasional sleeplessness.”

For those marketers staying awake at night thinking about new ways to drive category growth, Biotab Nutraceuticals may have happened upon a new opportunity — seasonality in sleep aids. 


“Twice each year, [daylight savings time changes] have an impact on a person’s internal clock,” said Biotab chief marketing officer Robert Wilhovsky, who markets Alteril. So in the week following a clock change, sales of sleep aids spike, he said.


PHILADELPHIA — People who suffer from sleep disturbances are at major risk for obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease, according to new research released Thursday from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

SAN DIEGO — Cardium Therapeutics on Tuesday announced the availability of MedPodium Nutra-Apps — small, pharmaceutically sealed, tasteless, easy-use capsules in pocket-sized packaging. MedPodium's Nutra-Apps Neo-Energy and Neo-Carb Bloc products now are available in select convenience stores in the Southern and Southwestern United States, and Cardium plans to introduce two additional Nutra-Apps products — Neo-Chill for relaxation and to help reduce stress, and Neo-Sleep to help promote restful sleep. 

BLAUVELT, N.Y. — Concepts in Health on Wednesday reported it successfully has defended its MidNite Sleep Remedy patent from possible infringement by Contract Pharmacal, which had been manufacturing a store-brand version.

According to Concepts, Contract Pharmacal agreed to discontinue manufacturing and selling CVS Natural Sleep Aid or any substantially similar product. Additionally, CPC will not challenge the validity or enforceability of the MidNite patent (U.S. Patent 6,703,412).

ATLANTA — Harmonix has launched Sleep Formula 39, a nonprescription sleep aid.

Available in twin packs of 2-oz. single-serving bottles, the product is made with a proprietary combination of ingredients, including 5-HTP, melatonin, GABA and L-Tryptophan, according to the company.

Sleep Formula 39 is available on GNC.com and select retailers.