Called EasyQuil Night Act, it is claimed to be the first liquid formulation containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride as the sole active ingredient in the Korean sleep aid market.
According to statistics from National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), the country’s government agency managing its universal healthcare system, the number of patients with sleep disorders exceeded 1.24 million in 2023.
Sleep disorders can be caused by environmental factors such as irregular lifestyle habits, jet lag, and noise. If left untreated, they can worsen into chronic insomnia, making continuous management crucial.
“EasyQuil Night Act can be absorbed by the body more rapidly than other sleep aid formulations due to its liquid format. It is also easy to carry around, thanks to its packaging. This allows those experiencing sleep difficulties to take it anytime, anywhere.
“While sleep disorders require ongoing management, we hope that the product will help alleviate temporary insomnia symptoms,” said a representative from Dong-A Pharmaceutical.
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride is a first-generation antihistamine known to help with allergies, motion sickness, and short-term insomnia. Its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and act on the central nervous system to produce sleep-inducing and sedative effects.
“Compared to other sedatives, it is less likely to cause tolerance, resulting in minimal residual drowsiness the next day.”
The product comes in grape, plum, and lavender flavors. It is individually packaged in pouches and can be taken without water, increasing the convenience of consumption.
Currently, EasyQuil Night Act is sold over the counter in Korean pharmacies and can be consumed by people aged 15 years or older, with the recommended dosage being one pouch per day.
Increasing accessibility
In December 2025, Dong-A Pharmaceutical also introduced Pharm Basic, a health functional foods brand jointly developed with the Korean Pharmaceutical Association.
With products sold exclusively in pharmacies, the partnership is aimed at providing consumers with high-quality pharmacy-grade products at an affordable price of under KRW10,000 (USD6.77).
“In a situation where consumers are feeling burdened by health management due to the ongoing economic recession, we planned to make health functional foods accessible to everyone and continue contributing to improving national health through Pharm Basic,” the company said.
The brand’s line-up covers eight major health categories that are reportedly most sought-after by consumers—namely eye health (lutein and zeaxanthin), blood circulation (omega-3), gut (probiotics), comprehensive nutrition (multivitamins and minerals), liver (milk thistle and vitamin B complex), blood pressure (coenzyme Q10 complex), joints and bones (Boswellia complex), and blood sugar and body fat (catechin and banaba complex).
In addition, Dong-A Pharmaceutical said that the products use highly absorbable and high-purity raw materials to raise quality, including active ingredients “whose efficacy has been proven through clinical trials”.
“All products are health functional foods recognized for their functionality by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and are standardized for a 30-day supply, while the once-daily intake of one tablet (capsule/sachet) has been uniformed to enhance convenience.
“Through automation of the manufacturing process and mass production, high quality has been maintained while realizing reasonable prices.”
