20th May Update: Both us and our USA supplier of Somnifix have tried many times to contact the Somnifix manufacturer, but they do not ever reply to our messages and never answer the telephone, so we don't know whether we will ever get this product back. This is a known problem with the Somnifix company from our research on the internet and nobody knows what is going on!

The Good News, however, is  about the long-awaited SleepSeals for which most people who were part of our trial found to be even more successful due to the inhalation valve. Therefore, if you would like to be notified when the SleepSeals arrive (hopefully in July) and click on the 'notify me when available link) the website will let you know when they're here. 

Link to the SleepSeals is https://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/sleepseal-inhalation-valve-helps-prevent-mouth-leaks.html

The Somnifix Mouth Strips are a safe way to keep the mouth closed, as there is a breathing vent for times if nasal breathing becomes restricted to enable mouth inhalation and exhalation. Please note that we never recommend mouth taping with no vent as it can be dangerous. 

Nasal breathing is the healthiest way to breathe for many reasons, although difficult for people with nasal obstructions, congestion, stuffiness etc., but for people able to breathe through their nose and need encouragement to keep their mouth closed, the Somnifix Mouth Strips are a good solution.

Benefits for everyone, irrespective of whether your are diagnosed and treated for sleep apnoea:-

• Helps promote nose breathing if you have a clear nasal passages.
   
• Reduces open mouth snoring.
   
• Helps reduce a dry mouth which is usually caused through mouth breathing and can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
   
• Can help re-train the body to nose breathing, as long as there are no nasal obstructions or stuffiness.

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Added benefits for CPAP and non-invasive ventilator users:-

• Can help reduce mask leaks caused by mouth movement.
   
• Could be successful in enabling people to change from a full face mask to a nasal one, if nose breathing is possible all night with the mouth closed.
   
• CPAP and ventilator therapy will be more well-treated by minimising mouth breathing when using a nasal mask.
   
• Helps prevent drooling in the mask by keeping the mouth closed.
   
• It is quite possible that lower automatic CPAP pressures could happen and the humidification level be adjusted lower with successful nasal breathing and a closed mouth.
   
• If successful results happen with the above, more restful and uninterrupted sleep could be achieved.

Directions for Use:-

Package Contents:-

The Somnifix Mouth Strips with breathing vent are supplied in a box of 28 individually wrapped single use strips.

They are both gluten and latex-free free, along with being hypoallergenic due to the silicone-based adhesive which is very gentle on sensitive skin and lips.

Tips and Advice:-

Some people can easily adapt to nose breathing, but for others it will be a struggle, and if it is too difficult to maintain clear nasal passages then it is not advisable to use any kind of mouth strips.

The Somnifix Mouth Strips can be used in combination of other methods, such as our latex-free nasal strips, chinstraps, Dr Dakota neck cushion, prescribed or natural saline nose sprays and in-nose dilators (always check for quality CE-marked dilators as there are many cheap ones of bad quality on the market). 
 

Some FAO's from Somnifix

Will Somnifix stick to the lips on people with beards or moustaches?
Adhesion quality depends the amount of facial hair. The strips stick well for facial hair thats 10-14 days long. If you have a moustache but no facial hair under the lower lip, you will experience good adhesion. If you have a full beard and moustache, the strips may not adhere as well.

What if my nose blocks up in the middle of the night?
Our strips feature a patented breathing vent that allows for limited oral airflow if necessary, so you can rest easy knowing there is always a mouth breathing option available.

My mouth strips falls off in the night. What am I doing wrong?
Prior to application, ensure that you diligently wash and dry the lips and surrounding area, making sure that the area is void of any balms or moisturizers. Once the lips are dry, the strip will stick. Our specially-engineered adhesive is the first of its kind to be created for lip adhesion—but it is very gentle, so any lubricants will compromise the adhesive.

I can't breathe through my nose. Will Somnifix help with this?
We only recommend our mouth strips for individuals who can comfortably and consistently breathe through their nose. If you are not able to do so, we suggest consulting with your healthcare provider.

Can I use Somnifix instead of my CPAP?
No. Our Mouth Strips are not an independent solution for sleep apnea and should not be worn on their own if you've been diagnosed. They can, however, be used in combination with your CPAP to help improve compliance.

Can I use Somnifix with a full face CPAP mask?
Yes, you can use it with a full face mask, however for best results we recommend using it with a nasal mask or nasal pillows because pressure is typically lower on nasal vs full face masks. However, we do have some users who have had success using it with a full face mask!
 

Important Information + Warnings:-

Somnifix should NOT be used if the following applies:-

• Do not use if you have nasal breathing difficulties.
• Do not use if you have a BMI of 35+ unless you are also using a CPAP or ventilator at the same time.
• Do not use if you have very low blood pressure.
• Do not use if you have severe heart or breathing problems.
• Do not use if you have a cold or sinus infection.
• Do not use if your have severely chapped lips or non-intact skin around the mouth.
• Do not use if you have consumed alcohol or taken sedatives.

We NEVER recommend mouth taping with any kind of tape without a breathing hole for emergencies when mouth breathing is required, as this can be very dangerous for some people. This is not a sales tactic - it is a genuine safety concern! Furthermore, certain glues on the back of tape can be toxic for inhaling!

Somnifix are not approved for use on children at this time.

Always ensure you apply the Somnifix with the breathing vent in the middle of your lips.
 

CPAP Patient Explaining how the Somnifix helped him

How to apply the Somnifix Mouth Strips

ORDERS

Shipping

We try our best to ship all orders received by us Monday-Friday on the same working day if received before 12 noon, and more often than not orders processed before 3pm will be despatched the same day whenever possible.  Weekend or UK bank holiday orders are sent out the next working day.  An automated email is sent when products have been despatched so please check your spam box and add us to your safe senders list.  Also, if you do not receive an email confirmation, please check that you have typed the correct email address in your account.

All orders are sent via 1st class mail within the UK.  Masks and some other more expensive products are always sent via 'signed for' insured delivery and cannot be left in 'safe' places, but there is the option for an alternative shipping address when processing the orders. 

Delivery charges are worked out automatically by weight and you can clearly see the delivery charges before making a payment.  On the rare occasion delivery charges are miscalculated by the website, a refund will be sent, as it is not our policy to make money on postage charges and neither do we add the cost of delivery into the price and offer so-called  'free delivery' like some sites and Ebay pressurise sellers to do! 

Wherever possible with larger parcels, we try to re-use boxes to keep shipping costs down and protect the environment.

If a product is out of stock and the order contains multiple items, the 'in stock' items will be sent immediately and further items will follow upon arrival with no further postage charges incurred.  

Important for International Orders

We can ship most products internationally, but all prices are in UK British Pounds and if paying by debit or credit card the bank will automatically convert to the current conversation rate.  Likewise, if you choose the Paypal option, they will convert into your currency for you as payment is made.  

International orders are sent via tracked Airmail, and whilst we're happy to ship internationally, we cannot be held responsible for any delays at Customs at your end, or charges that may be added in your own country, such as customs fees and import tax on delivery, which are determined by your country’s import laws and are beyond our control. Therefore, it is the customer’s responsibility to pay these charges, and certain courier companies will not be able to deliver the goods to you without pre-payment of any charges. From our experience, it appears to be randomised as to which parcels incur extra charges, but please know that all accompanying paperwork is filled in correctly when shipping and there is nothing more we can do, as much as we'd like to.

If you purchase from us out of the UK or you move to another country after purchasing products, please be aware that the warranty for CPAP machines, masks and parts from the manufacturers are under warranty  with the manufacturer based in the UK, so you will be responsible for sending the product back to us and will need to pay postage to get the product back to you after exchange or repair, as the manufacturer will not pay for shipping in any country outside of the UK.

RETURNS

Masks, CPAP machines and and most other products are exempt from a refund or exchange unless faulty due to health and hygiene issues - as stated in our 'Terms and Conditions', and in particular due to the risk of cross contamination as they cannot be re-sold. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 28.(3)(a) confirms exemption as follows:-  "exemption in the case of a contract for the supply of sealed goods which are not suitable for return due to health protection or hygiene reasons, if they become unsealed after delivery."

Unopened (sealed) products in their original packing can be returned within 14 days for a refund of the product cost, but the purchaser is to pay the return postage, and we would advise retaining proof of postage. This excludes any faulty goods, for which postage will be reimbursed.  A full refund for the price of the product will be issued when received by us, less the original postage charges when the order was sent to you.

VAT DECLARATION/INFORMATION

Most of the products we sell are eligible for Zero Rated VAT in the UK, and in order to qualify, you should meet the criteria for the following HMRC VAT Declaration:-

1. You or the person you are purchasing on behalf of have "a condition that the medical profession treats as a chronic sickness, that is a long term health condition" (sleep apnoea and sleep disordered breathing, which require therapy, are such conditions).
2. "The goods or services are for the personal or domestic use of the customer."

Please note, you do not need to be registered as disabled or in receipt of any other benefits in order to be eligible for VAT relief - you only need to meet the criteria of the above 2 points.

We cannot advise on individual cases, but more information can be found on HMRC’s website under notice 701/7 on the following link  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-7017-vat-reliefs-for-disabled-people. 

If you are not eligible for Zero Rated VAT then please make sure that the VAT Relief box in unticked so that VAT is applied to the order.

If you are purchasing on behalf of someone else who meets the above criteria, you must provide their name and address, and you will be prompted of this during the checkout process.

Customers living outside of the UK do not pay UK VAT charges, so please leave the the VAT Relief box ticked.  However, we cannot be held responsible for any additional costs incurred when the products reach your own country.

If you are purchasing with the intention of re-selling any products, you are liable to pay VAT on all products so you must untick the 'zero rate eligibility' box which will add VAT to your order.

Any products that our not eligible for zero rate VAT, will not display the VAT Declaration, and VAT will be added at checkout.