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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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I have not had any side effects from the Lunesta. I dream every night, but they are pleasant dreams and not overly vivid. If I get up to go to the bathroom or to get water, I am fine. I'm awake and know exactly what I am doing. I've been taking it since late March of this year.
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1 ReactionThank you. That’s encouraging.
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1 ReactionThose of you who are takin Lunesta. Have you had any weird side effects? I need to sleep so bad but am scared of doing weird and harmful things. Like falling downstairs , driving car?????
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1 ReactionI can't understand why doctors always want to mess with a persons medications and instead of making things better, get it all screwed up? Why mess with things when everything is working well? I have a long history of having to take benzodiazepines starting when I was in HS. I started out with librium, then valium, and finally lorazepam. I have taken lorazepam for many years and now my present PCP wants me off of it. I have tried a lot of the newer meds for depression and anxiety and none of them worked well enough to stay on them. Now I feel I am being used as a guinea pig again.
I have no quality of life, and nothing to live for, but I am supposed to try new meds again and for what? Ativan is the only medicine that worked well for me and now I have to start trying out new drugs? I am seventy seven years old so I probably don't have many years left anyway. I just want to live out my life without a lot of needless obstacles.
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3 ReactionsI am so sorry you are having to go thru this.
Doctors should understand how important quality of life is for us mature women.
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1 ReactionThank You for reading this and I appreciate your understanding. This problem goes for men as well since I am a man but have been basically a basket case having to deal with depression and anxiety most of my life.
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1 ReactionYes. Men and women.
Praying you can find peace and comfort.
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1 ReactionHas 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 am amazed that you have gotten so far in such a short time! All the recommendations I read indicate a MUCH slower taper from benzodiazepines than you did, which may be why it’s hitting you so hard. I am trying to do the same with Xanax and the length of time to stop after taking .5 mg (a very low dose) for almost 10+ years is crazy! You have given me hope and I am so grateful for that! Please hang in there! You’ve come so far and they are horrible drugs. For the last 6 months, I have been in a state of depression and anxiety because I’ve taken it so long. Now my body and brain have to have it without my getting any benefits. I know it’s hard not to give in when you’re tossing and turning all night. It’s what I do every night. Woke up at 2:15 AM today after going to bed at 10:30. Some days I make it as far as 4 AM. I hope you are able to ditch this stuff for good. Your story has encouraged me to start trying. I couldn’t face it when I was reading At least six months to get over them. Thank you so much for giving me a different and more positive outlook! Good luck to you!
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