Lunesta for Sleep. Anyone With Experience With It?

Posted by dfb @dfb, Feb 2, 2024

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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Profile picture for gmamrj @gmamrj

I have withdrawn from .5 mg of Ativan a night that I have been taking for 6 years.It has been 12 days since my last .125mg of Ativan. This is a nightmare. I can’t sleep. Lucky to get 3 hours a night and that is in segments. I might mention that I am 82 years old.PCP has prescribed Vistaril. 50 mg before bed. Not working.Now he has prescribed Lunesta which I haven’t tried yet.Which is worse .25 mg of Ativan a night or Lunesta????I am at wits in. Not able to function.

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Blessings.
I have seen a sleep doctor who had prescribed Lunesta 2mg a night. So far it is working. Also she told me to get with a psychologist to do CBT-i therapy.
I also ordered some books that will help.
You will get this. Praying for you tonight

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Profile picture for gmamrj @gmamrj

I have withdrawn from .5 mg of Ativan a night that I have been taking for 6 years.It has been 12 days since my last .125mg of Ativan. This is a nightmare. I can’t sleep. Lucky to get 3 hours a night and that is in segments. I might mention that I am 82 years old.PCP has prescribed Vistaril. 50 mg before bed. Not working.Now he has prescribed Lunesta which I haven’t tried yet.Which is worse .25 mg of Ativan a night or Lunesta????I am at wits in. Not able to function.

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Blessings.
You will get this!!
I am seeing a sleep doctor who has prescribed 2mg of Lunesta at night.
Also she suggested that I look into CBD-i therapy. I have heard great things about this.
Also you can order books on this.
Prayers

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Profile picture for judybradford @judybradford

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.

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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.

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Profile picture for gmamrj @gmamrj

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.

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I’ve been weaning off of Xanax and now Valium since April 2024 after an 18 year habit of Xanax prescribed by my doctor my new Doctor Who is a psychiatrist put me on lunesta to help with my insomnia as I’m down to 1.5 mg Valium which is a super low dose. I have been reading you shouldn’t take lunesta while weaning off a next due to the effects on GABA. My psychiatrist says it’s fine..has anyone taken a sleep aid like lunesta or ambien while weaning off a benzo? Please help if you can! I can’t tolerate Hydroxyzine or trazadone as they dry me out too much and don’t make me sleepy either..I’m at a Loss..thanks

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Profile picture for annhahn2025 @annhahn2025

I’ve been weaning off of Xanax and now Valium since April 2024 after an 18 year habit of Xanax prescribed by my doctor my new Doctor Who is a psychiatrist put me on lunesta to help with my insomnia as I’m down to 1.5 mg Valium which is a super low dose. I have been reading you shouldn’t take lunesta while weaning off a next due to the effects on GABA. My psychiatrist says it’s fine..has anyone taken a sleep aid like lunesta or ambien while weaning off a benzo? Please help if you can! I can’t tolerate Hydroxyzine or trazadone as they dry me out too much and don’t make me sleepy either..I’m at a Loss..thanks

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I’m thinking of starting Zoloft or Buspar to help with my anxiety while weaning off the Valium…
Has anyone else started an antidepressant while weaning off a benzo?

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Profile picture for gmamrj @gmamrj

I have withdrawn from .5 mg of Ativan a night that I have been taking for 6 years.It has been 12 days since my last .125mg of Ativan. This is a nightmare. I can’t sleep. Lucky to get 3 hours a night and that is in segments. I might mention that I am 82 years old.PCP has prescribed Vistaril. 50 mg before bed. Not working.Now he has prescribed Lunesta which I haven’t tried yet.Which is worse .25 mg of Ativan a night or Lunesta????I am at wits in. Not able to function.

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I am recovering from head injury after 7 months. I was taking Ativan. .5. now Tring to taper off. And wondering what withdrawal symptoms to expect.

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Profile picture for margaretallen @margaretallen

I am recovering from head injury after 7 months. I was taking Ativan. .5. now Tring to taper off. And wondering what withdrawal symptoms to expect.

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My dosage is only .5 for the doctor says that should be bad I'm a bit shaky but it should be gone in 2 to 3 days my problem then is what do I do if I start getting anxious again lol I'm on an antidepressant too which I'm not going to go off

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Profile picture for margaretallen @margaretallen

I am recovering from head injury after 7 months. I was taking Ativan. .5. now Tring to taper off. And wondering what withdrawal symptoms to expect.

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It will be helpful for you that you’re taking an antidepressant and also being on a very low dose for a short time. It’s still advisable to go very slowly with reducing your dose and getting a tapering schedule is also important, you can get it from your doctor or even online.

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Profile picture for frouke @frouke

It will be helpful for you that you’re taking an antidepressant and also being on a very low dose for a short time. It’s still advisable to go very slowly with reducing your dose and getting a tapering schedule is also important, you can get it from your doctor or even online.

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@frouke
Thanks I actually talked to my pharmacist and got some help it should only take a week or two if this dosage

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Profile picture for margaretallen @margaretallen

@frouke
Thanks I actually talked to my pharmacist and got some help it should only take a week or two if this dosage

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@margaretallen Try to go by how you feel, if you’re getting anxiety enough to disturb your day then slow down and reduce your dose a little more. A pharmacist knows drugs but they can’t determine how you’re going to feel.

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