Book an Online Sleep Consultation
Specialist physician-led insomnia care by secure video — initial and follow-up consultations for patients across South Africa.
What's included:
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review of your sleep history
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insomnia pattern assessment
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medical and medication review
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screening for alarm symptoms
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discussion of behavioural strategies
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discussion of non-prescription sleep support
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prescription medication consideration where clinically appropriate
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written treatment plan where appropriate
Choose an available time slot.
Pay securely online.
Receive confirmation and Google Meet link.
Complete the pre-consult intake form.
Attend your online consultation.
Receive your plan and next steps.
Prescription medication
Prescription medication is not available for direct purchase. It may only be considered after medical consultation and where clinically appropriate.
Select a date & time
See available slots before you pay — no payment until you confirm.
What Slumbr will and will not prescribe
Sleep medicine is one of the most over-prescribed corners of clinical practice. Slumbr's formulary is deliberately narrow — we prescribe what the evidence supports, in the form the evidence supports, and we are explicit about what we will not. The list is short on purpose.
Prescription medicine for longer-term use
Where the evidence supports daily use and the safety profile is clean, treatment can continue on an ongoing basis after a consultation, with repeat dispensing arranged for you. Drug-class names only — specific molecules are agreed during the consultation.
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Dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA) — preferred class for hyperarousal
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Compounded low-dose H1-selective agent — flagship for sleep maintenance
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Prolonged-release melatonin — first-line for adults 55 and over
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Low-dose sedating antidepressant — where mood symptoms accompany the sleep problem
Registered medicines are dispensed at their regulated Single Exit Price. For prescription medicines, a hard cap of 6 repeats applies per SA Medicines Act 22A(6), after which a follow-up consultation is required.
Once-off only, after consultation
Z-drugs and benzodiazepines for primary insomnia. These work — briefly. The evidence is clear that chronic use causes tolerance and rebound. Slumbr prescribes them as short courses only — less than 2–4 weeks, in line with international guidance. Each repeat is a fresh clinical decision.
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Short-course Z-drug for sleep onset — fixed course, less than 2–4 weeks
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Short-course Z-drug for sleep maintenance — fixed course, less than 2–4 weeks
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Brief Z-drug adjunct during circadian re-timing — handful of doses only
No subscription option. After the course ends, a follow-up consultation is required to continue or change treatment.
What we will not prescribe
There are medicines often prescribed for sleep that we have removed from the Slumbr formulary because the evidence does not support them, or the harm-to-benefit ratio is wrong.
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High-dose benzodiazepines as first-line for primary insomnia — dependence and arousal rebound
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Off-label quetiapine for primary insomnia — cardiometabolic harm, no efficacy basis
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Agomelatine — liver-dysfunction risk we are not willing to accept for a sleep indication
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Compounded combinations without clear single-agent rationale
If a previous prescriber put you on any of these for sleep, a consultation with us can structure a safe transition.
If you are in crisis
Slumbr Sleep Clinic does not provide emergency care. If you are in crisis or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please call SADAG on 0800 567 567 (24/7) or your nearest emergency department.