The invention relates to the field of medicine and to the chemical-pharmaceutical industry, and pertains to agents for use in the case of sleep disorders. A pharmaceutical composition for initiating and maintaining the sleep process and for preventing, in animals and humans, conditions associated with various types of sleep disorders, said composition being characterized in that it includes effective quantities of doxylamine succinate and slow-release melatonin. The technical result consists in synergistic therapeutic effects, biological succession, and reduced side effects.