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Lunesta for Sleep. Anyone With Experience With It?
In the never-ending quest to overcome the sleep disturbances that have been with me since I was prescribed Venlafaxine (I've been off Venlafaxine for three months), my provider has proscribed Lunesta.
I hate taking more medication. But I need to sleep. It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to treat depression and anxiety if I'm not sleeping.
I'm going to give it a shot. I'm curious if anyone else has been on it.
Mirtazapine did not help me at all.
Thank you, for your comments.
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Why are you taking yourself off Ativan? If the dosage is on the low side, then the risk of getting hooked on it is much lower and not worrisome. But anyway -- I tried Lunesta and it was very effective, but it had a side effect for me , which was being a bitter taste in my mouth all morning. You could try some OTC meds if your doctor is OK with them, like either 5 mg of melatonin just before bedtime, and/or an antihistamine sleep aid sold by Costco - doxylamine succinate (named "Sleep Aid" (start with 1/2 tab). If you have anxiety the you could still stay on a benzo, like the longer acting clonazepam. I've been on 2 mg of that before bedtime for many years without issues. I've gone off of it for a few days at a time, and there was no side effect other than my GAD anxiety creeping back up after 2 days or so.
Thank you for your reply.
I took myself off Ativan because of all the negative comments I read on internet. Silly me.
I have an appointment with PCP in a few days. I think I will tell him I want to stay on Ativan.
Took less than .25 the last two nights and slept great.
I appreciate your comments.
Blessings.
Has anyone that has taken Lunesta had any of the bad side affects that are stated as possible?
As stated before I have slowly tapered off .5 mg of Ativan.
Dr prescribed hydroxyzine for sleep. Didn’t work. Made me extremely anxious. Now wants me to try Lunesta. ????
I’m about ready to go back to Ativan. 2-3.hours of sleep is not working for me.
That is such a small dose of Ativan. If it works go for it!
I am really considering going back on it. At my age…82 what difference will it make?
Thanks for your comment.
I tapered off of Ativan because it was a benzo and wasn’t helping me sleep anymore. All
My doctors wanted me off it. I transitioned to mirtazapine which allows me to sleep…finally.
I also had genetic testing to find out which drugs would work for me. You may want to look into that. Best wishes!!
Thank you
I am working with my pharmacist. Actually did genetic testing today to see what drugs will work for me. I am really weird. Melatonin sets me on a role .. like drinking 8 cups of coffee.
Tried lexapro and that was a nightmare. Hopefully the testing will help
Do not think doctors know that much about pharmacology. They just prescribe pills!!!!
Has anyone had an opposite effect with Lunesta? Slept great the first night I took it. Second night slept 2 hours and have been jumping out of my skin all day. Very anxious.
I tried Lunesta many years ago, and it worked for a while, maybe two weeks. But then when I tried to get off it, I had horrible withdrawal symptoms - anxiety, shakiness. They say it's not addictive, but I think those are the signs of withdrawal from an addictive drug.
I had this happen with, of all things, melatonin. Sent me straight into a panic attack! I take Ambien when needed and have had good luck with that.