Unisom Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Trouble sleeping lately? You may be considering trying Unisom. This popular line of over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids can be a helpful short-term solution.

But Unisom isn’t just one medication — it’s the brand name for a line of a few different medications. And each Unisom product can have unique dosage information. You may want to learn about each Unisom product before deciding which is right for you — this includes how much to take and how often you should take it. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about typical Unisom dosages.

Note: This article won’t cover Unisom products that contain melatonin. Check out our melatonin dosage guide for more details.

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What’s the typical Unisom dosage?

The Unisom line offers a few products. They each contain one of two antihistamines that can help you fall asleep: diphenhydramine or doxylamine. The specific Unisom dosage depends on which product you’re taking. So it’s a good idea to read the OTC label on the product packaging carefully beforehand.

Adults and adolescents ages 12 years and older can take the same Unisom dosages. Children under 12 shouldn’t take antihistamines for sleep. That’s because younger children can experience irritability or hyperactivity from antihistamines. So Unisom might not have the intended effect for this age range.

Regardless of which Unisom product you take, you should try to commit at least 8 hours to sleep. Both diphenhydramine and doxylamine can cause next-day drowsiness. This side effect may be more intense if you wake up less than 8 hours after taking a dose. And it can make it dangerous to drive or do other activities that require alertness.

We’ll discuss the dosages for five Unisom products in more detail.

Unisom SleepTabs dosage

Each Unisom SleepTabs tablet contains 25 mg of doxylamine. The typical Unisom SleepTab dosage is 1 tablet (25 mg) by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime as needed. Don’t take more than 1 tablet daily. Speak with your healthcare provider if you’ve been taking Unisom SleepTabs for 2 weeks (14 days) in a row.

Unisom SleepGels dosage

Each Unisom SleepGel capsule contains 50 mg of diphenhydramine. The typical Unisom SleepGel dosage is 1 capsule (50 mg) by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime as needed. Don’t take more than 1 capsule daily. Speak with your provider if you’ve been taking Unisom SleepGels for 2 weeks in a row.

Unisom SleepMinis dosage

Each Unisom SleepMini capsule contains 25 mg of diphenhydramine. The typical Unisom SleepMini dosage is 2 capsules (50 mg) by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime as needed. Don’t take more than 2 capsules daily. Speak with your provider if you’ve been taking Unisom SleepMinis for 2 weeks in a row.

Unisom SleepMelts dosage

Each Unisom SleepMelt tablet contains 25 mg of diphenhydramine. The typical Unisom SleepGel dosage is 2 tablets (50 mg) about 30 minutes before bedtime as needed. Don’t take more than 2 tablets daily. Speak with your healthcare provider if you’ve been taking Unisom SleepMelts for 2 weeks in a row.

Unlike the other forms of Unisom, you should not swallow the SleepMelts whole. There are two ways you can take Unisom SleepMelts. You can place the tablets on your tongue and let them dissolve. You can also chew and swallow the tablets.

Unisom PM Pain dosage

Unisom PM Pain contains an additional ingredient to help relieve pain. It may be useful if minor aches or pains are causing trouble sleeping. Each Unisom PM Pain caplet contains:

• 325 mg of acetaminophen (for pain relief), the active ingredient in Tylenol

• 50 mg of diphenhydramine

The typical Unisom PM Pain dosage is 1 caplet at bedtime. Don’t take more than 1 caplet in 24 hours. Speak with your provider if you’ve been taking Unisom PM Pain for pain relief for 10 days in a row. You should also contact them if you’ve been taking it for sleep for 2 weeks in a row.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

There are no standard Unisom dosage adjustments recommended for people with certain health conditions. But there are people who shouldn’t take Unisom, or should take it with caution.

Speak to your healthcare provider before taking Unisom products if you:

• Are 65 years of age or older

• Have glaucoma

• Have a chronic breathing problem, such as emphysema

• Have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate

• Take other medications that cause drowsiness, such as opioids

• Take other antihistamines, including those you apply to the skin

Additionally, you should ask your provider before taking Unisom PM Pain if you:

• Have liver problems

• Take other medications that contain acetaminophen

• Drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day

• Take warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)

What should you do if you take too much Unisom?

Taking an extra dose or two of Unisom by accident is unlikely to cause serious harm. But you may experience more side effects than usual. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and dry mouth.

Taking an excessive amount of Unisom can be dangerous. It can cause symptoms like hallucinations, agitation, and excessive drowsiness. In severe cases, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms can also happen.

Taking too much Unisom PM Pain comes with added risks because it also contains acetaminophen. Too much acetaminophen can cause or contribute to liver damage, which can be fatal. It’s important to know if you take other medications that contain this ingredient. Most people shouldn’t take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen total in a 24-hour period.

If you or a loved one has taken too much Unisom, it’s recommended to contact a healthcare provider — even if you aren’t having any noticeable symptoms. You can also contact Poison Control online or by calling 1-800-222-1222. If you’re experiencing any symptoms that seem severe or life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

How to save on Unisom

There are ways to save on Unisom, which is available OTC as both a brand-name and generic medication. If your healthcare provider writes you a prescription for Unisom, GoodRx can help you save on the cost of your medication.

With Goodrx, the price of generic Unisom that contains diphenhydramine may be as low as $2.52 at certain pharmacies. The price of generic Unisom that contains doxylamine may be as low as $4.86.

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Written by:

Dima Cheetany, PharmD

Dima Cheetany is a clinical pharmacist, clinical instructor, and academic detailer at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy in 2016.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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