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anyone had any luck with Belsomra to put you to sleep

Posted by lizjlb @lizjlb, Oct 7, 2025

I take ambien for a couple of years , have copd. Somehow I got insomnia. Ambien usually works for putting me to sleep, not always. but I am always sleepy the next day. What do you all use, if you have COPD, as it makes a difference if you have COPD, not all sleep pills are good for you either that. doc recommended Belsomra? any ideas?

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gousc | @gousc | 4 days ago
In reply to @zombiewoof "I used 10 mg Zolpidem for quite a while but it left me groggy in the..." + (show)
Profile picture for zombiewoof @zombiewoof

I used 10 mg Zolpidem for quite a while but it left me groggy in the morning. I overcame this by going on a five mile morning walk or a 20 mile bike ride. This really helped (also lost weight and got in better shape). I switched to Belsomra about two months ago. I found it to be less effective and it consistently gave me headaches at night. I switched back to Zolpidem. For me Belsomra did not provide the nighttime sleep I need.

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@zombiewoof
Thank you for you reply. I too unfortunately had negative experiences eith Belsomra. The 19mg did absolutely nothing. 15 mg not much. Last night a tried 20mg. Fell asleep okay but after 2 hours I was wide awake. Ill try it again tonight. If it doesn't help I'm going back on 12.5 of Ambien Cr and 50 mg Trazidone. That combination worked wonders for me until I became resistant. I have had a long enough break from it so it will likely work again.
Im also practicing CBTI under a doctor's supervision. Shows a lot of promise but hard.

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gousc | @gousc | 4 days ago
In reply to @aethos "I find that Belsomra, 20 mg helps me get to sleep quickly but doesn’t keep me..." + (show)
Profile picture for aethos @aethos

I find that Belsomra, 20 mg helps me get to sleep quickly but doesn’t keep me asleep. I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep. I also take Trazodone, which I have been using for 35 years but the combo isn’t working that well for me. Ambien works better with it for me but my doctor won’t prescribe Ambien and Belsomra. Not sure what I will do. I have been taking sleep meds for so long I have given up the hope that I will ever get off of them. I am 72.

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@aethos
Me too exactly. Sometimes a short break from the Ambien will help you reset meaning it should start working again. Its a tough roller-coaster we are all riding.

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gousc | @gousc | 4 days ago
In reply to @kndaustin71 "@aethos at 72 now is not the time to try new things. Go with what has..." + (show)
Profile picture for kdalda75 @kndaustin71

@aethos at 72 now is not the time to try new things. Go with what has worked for you in the past and explain this as calmly and nicely as you can to your physician. If he is not understanding.......find a new one. I tired of these physicians making supercilious decisions for geriatric patients when they have had success with what they have been on for years. He must have not taken that course in Med School.!

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@kndaustin71 I spent 40 years in pharmaceuticals so I like to think I have significantly more knowledge than a GP on most medications. Most doctors get very little training on sleep therapy. Psychiatrists are the best for this, especially ones that know CBTI. Usually the younger ones, not the old dinosaurs who generally do not stay current.

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lizjlb | @lizjlb | 3 days ago
In reply to @gousc "@zombiewoof Thank you for you reply. I too unfortunately had negative experiences eith Belsomra. The 19mg..." + (show)
Profile picture for gousc @gousc

@zombiewoof
Thank you for you reply. I too unfortunately had negative experiences eith Belsomra. The 19mg did absolutely nothing. 15 mg not much. Last night a tried 20mg. Fell asleep okay but after 2 hours I was wide awake. Ill try it again tonight. If it doesn't help I'm going back on 12.5 of Ambien Cr and 50 mg Trazidone. That combination worked wonders for me until I became resistant. I have had a long enough break from it so it will likely work again.
Im also practicing CBTI under a doctor's supervision. Shows a lot of promise but hard.

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@gousc they prescribed ambien and trazadone together? seems weird since they both supposedly help with sleep. I know trazadone is mostly an antidepressant but ? Are you able to go to sleep with no problem on these meds? I tried the 12.5 but did not put me to sleep. I don’t have a problem with staying asleep as a rule so was wondering. how does the trazadone fit into this?

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lizjlb | @lizjlb | 3 days ago
In reply to @gousc "@zombiewoof Thank you for you reply. I too unfortunately had negative experiences eith Belsomra. The 19mg..." + (show)
Profile picture for gousc @gousc

@zombiewoof
Thank you for you reply. I too unfortunately had negative experiences eith Belsomra. The 19mg did absolutely nothing. 15 mg not much. Last night a tried 20mg. Fell asleep okay but after 2 hours I was wide awake. Ill try it again tonight. If it doesn't help I'm going back on 12.5 of Ambien Cr and 50 mg Trazidone. That combination worked wonders for me until I became resistant. I have had a long enough break from it so it will likely work again.
Im also practicing CBTI under a doctor's supervision. Shows a lot of promise but hard.

Jump to this post

@gousc i saw a quick response from you but then it disappeared, could you reply again to my comment, Ill see if I can actually get it this time. thanks
@gousc they prescribed ambien and trazadone together? seems weird since they both supposedly help with sleep. I know trazadone is mostly an antidepressant but ? Are you able to go to sleep with no problem on these meds? I tried the 12.5 but did not put me to sleep. I don’t have a problem with staying asleep as a rule so was wondering. how does the trazadone fit into this?

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gousc | @gousc | 2 hours ago

No. I started on 10mg and that did absolutely nothing. I then went up to 20mg. About 4 hours of sleep and extremely vivid dreams. I felt this is an awful medication

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