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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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advpntsys | @advpntsys | Oct 28 9:18am
In reply to @johnbishop "@judybradford, I think you might find these discussions helpful to connect with other members using Belsomra...." + (show)
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@judybradford, I think you might find these discussions helpful to connect with other members using Belsomra.

-- Anyone had any luck with Belsomra to put you to sleep?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-had-any-luck-with-belsomra-to-put-you-to-sleep/
-- Two New Sleep Meds: Dayvido and Belsomra: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/two-new-sleep-meds/

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Has anyone tried either of these to get off of ambein?

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azdogmama | @azdogmama | Oct 28 11:00am
In reply to @judybradford "Has anyone had any experience with 10 mg. of Belsomra (suvorexant)/ My sleep specialist has prescribed..." + (show)
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Has anyone had any experience with 10 mg. of Belsomra (suvorexant)/ My sleep specialist has prescribed it for a "holiday" from my usual 3 mg. Doxepin, for when the Doxepin isn't working so well and needs a restart.

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@judybradford
Yes, it put me to sleep quickly. I had to take it just before going to bed. It is supposed to mimic sleep architecture more than the Z-drugs.
Everyone is different. For me, the smallest dose was still too strong. I was groggy the next day and sometimes had a splitting headache. I really wanted to like this drug, but oh well...
It would stop working after a while. I would transition to another sleep med until it quit working and then go back to Belsomra. Unfortunately, Belsomra is out of the rotation as mentioned above.
Good luck. Insomnia is awful.

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aethos | @aethos | 6 days ago

I found if I take it with trazodone it works well for me. I’ve had sleep problems for 37 years, I know because that’s when my twins were born. I take 20 mg of Belsomra and 100 mg Trazodone.

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spamela | @spamela | 1 day ago
In reply to @aethos "I find that Belsomra, 20 mg helps me get to sleep quickly but doesn’t keep me..." + (show)
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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 have you tried Lunesta? I used to take that and it worked quite well

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 1 day ago
In reply to @spamela "@aethos have you tried Lunesta? I used to take that and it worked quite well" + (show)
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@aethos have you tried Lunesta? I used to take that and it worked quite well

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@spamela - hello, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm guessing from your suggestion of a medication that you have had trouble falling asleep in the past? Will you briefly share that story? Are you still having sleep challenges?

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con123 | @con123 | 8 hours ago

Lunesta works well for me, but I have to split the pill and take half at lights out, and the other half around 2-3am due to waking and my mind starting to be too busy. I have no negative side effects and sleep dr. Said using it this way is fine. I’m getting 7-8 hours per night.

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