Lunesta and Sleep Issues

[dangergirl]

I've always had sleep issues - either getting to sleep, staying asleep or getting enough sleep. Rarely, I can get a good night's sleep...those are glorious nights indeed. My pdoc rx'd 2mg of Lunesta when needed. The first night was amazing - 8 solid hours. The second night, got to sleep ok, woke a few times, but was able to get back to sleep - 7 better than average hours. Thought I'd try it on my own after that. I've done at most, three days in a row, but by the third night, it's as if I'm not taking it anyway, so I basically save it until nights when I really need it.

So, the Lunesta doesn't seem to help unless I don't take it for a few days and then let it hit me for one day at a time, but the biggest problem is this: it seems that the day after I take it, around 3 or 4pm or so, I get exhausted. I mean, to the core, bone tired, can't stay awake. This is not a result of anything else that I can put my finger on bc nothing else has changed. It's frustrating bc it wipes me out for at least two hours.

Anyone have any ideas about this? I'll be interviewing soon, want to sleep but can't be a zombie for the interviews and am feeling a little stressed about this (which is going to make it even harder to sleep).

[jillista]

I wish there was something helpful I could tell you, but all I can really do is commiserate. I haven't had that experience with Lunesta, it actually worked okay for me, but I've never found the holy grail of 8 hours AND feeling rested the next day. All I can think of is that it isn't necessarily the Lunesta by itself but how it's working with your other meds and what time you take those. Good luck with finding something that works - being tired is so sucky!

[Spuffy]

Will your doc try 3 mg? People experiencing daytime somnolence tend to get hit in the late afternoon, during a natural dip in the release of wakefulness hormones. Many conditions marked by poor nighttime sleep will present in exaggerated sleepiness around 3 p.m. Before your doc digs for other causes, I'd see if more Lunesta = better quality sleep (including arousals you might not recall/be aware of) = less of a crash. I don't remember at the moment if you've tried other sleep meds.

You might also restrict yourself to a light lunch, then follow with a snack around this time. Tea time.

But then, don't take sleep advice from me. I'm up writing this.

[Mindful Momma]

i've taken lunesta at the higher doseage and it doesn't really help me. all it does is put a terrible taste in my mouth the next day. so i stopped taking it all together. i'm on ambien and xanax now. i know, not a good combination but i've got chronic insomnia and haven't been able to sleep on my own in years!

[dangergirl]

Spuffy - you're a crack up! I was thinking about upping the dose - pdoc said I could double it if need be. He gave me 2mg to start, so I'll try halving and doing 3mg first. I didn't know that about crashing later the next day bc of not sleeping well the night before, thanks for the info.

Haleystar - I'd heard that about the coppery taste...to be honest, after the dry mouth from Seroquel, I could handle a bad taste in my mouth if I could just sleep. I hate taking pills to do it, but if that's what it takes, that's what it takes.

[Mindful Momma]

the copery taste is the least of the problems. when you first take it, at least for me, the taste isn't so bad, it's in the morning when you wake up that is the problem. your mouth feels disgusting and you've got a terrible taste in your mouth that doesn't go away until it's time to take it again the next night. thus, making everything you eat/drink taste like copper.

[Spuffy]

thus, making everything you eat/drink taste like copper.

Like a second-rate Midas touch!

I've seen that before about Lunesta. The available options depress me. Rozarem was like taking nothing at all for me. Sonata caused me to break out in a rash. Ambien works for 3.75 hours. I guess I'm waiting on Reverienoxata.

[Mindful Momma]

did you take it on an empty stomach? was it the cr version?

ambien will usually knock me out but i also take xanax xr 2mg to shut down my head/body.

[Spuffy]

did you take it on an empty stomach? was it the cr version?

ambien will usually knock me out but i also take xanax xr 2mg to shut down my head/body.

Frustratingly, CR didn't extend my sleep. Adding hydroxyzine to just 5 mg regular flavor zolpidem usually does. But, then, I'm a little weird: Xanax makes me panicky. Thank you for asking about food intake. I sometimes get a craving after taking my sleep pills and that could cause issues.

[Mindful Momma]

did you take it on an empty stomach? was it the cr version?

ambien will usually knock me out but i also take xanax xr 2mg to shut down my head/body.

Frustratingly, CR didn't extend my sleep. Adding hydroxyzine to just 5 mg regular flavor zolpidem usually does. But, then, I'm a little weird: Xanax makes me panicky. Thank you for asking about food intake. I sometimes get a craving after taking my sleep pills and that could cause issues.

no problem. they say that you should take it on an empty stomach, meaning you can't have anything to eat 2-3 hours before taking it and you shouldn't really be eating anything afterwards because it you're supposed to be sleeping. i sometimes will take it before dinner and that works. i find that if i take it on a super empty stomach it makes me nauseated.