mgray
05-02-2005, 08:57 PM
I stopped @ my sleep doctor's office today to pick up scripts for Klonopin and Ambien. The nurse said she could not give me a script for Ambien now that I was on Lunesta. I told her that I only took Lunesta for four or five nights and gave up because I was only getting two to four hours of sleep before waking.
The nurse said the doctor had very high hopes for Lunesta and had given it to almost all of his patients. He started at the 2 mg dosage but when the complaints began coming in, he prescribed 3 mg and the calls continued. The nurse said of all of his insomnia patients, only one has reported success with Lunesta. Everyone else that they have spoken to has had the same experience that I had, that is, you will only get four or fewer hours of sleep before wakening.
She said the doctor was very disappointed because Sepracor had hyped this medication so much but he was eagerly anticipating the next visit from the Sepracor representative because they were going to have a serious conversation about Lunesta's lack of effectiveness.
I thanked the nurse for the Klonopin and Ambien scripts and now you know the rest of the story.
The nurse said the doctor had very high hopes for Lunesta and had given it to almost all of his patients. He started at the 2 mg dosage but when the complaints began coming in, he prescribed 3 mg and the calls continued. The nurse said of all of his insomnia patients, only one has reported success with Lunesta. Everyone else that they have spoken to has had the same experience that I had, that is, you will only get four or fewer hours of sleep before wakening.
She said the doctor was very disappointed because Sepracor had hyped this medication so much but he was eagerly anticipating the next visit from the Sepracor representative because they were going to have a serious conversation about Lunesta's lack of effectiveness.
I thanked the nurse for the Klonopin and Ambien scripts and now you know the rest of the story.
Sponsor
kaykay5
05-03-2005, 05:27 PM
mgray
What dose of klonopin and ambien do you take to get some sleep? Lunesta also did not work for me, but then nothing does. I wake up after only two hrs. sleep no matter what I take, and then wake up every 1/2 hr or hr. after that the rest of the night. I may get 4 hrs. sleep total a night on a good night.
I currently take 1mg Klonopin and 10mg ambien.
What dose of klonopin and ambien do you take to get some sleep? Lunesta also did not work for me, but then nothing does. I wake up after only two hrs. sleep no matter what I take, and then wake up every 1/2 hr or hr. after that the rest of the night. I may get 4 hrs. sleep total a night on a good night.
I currently take 1mg Klonopin and 10mg ambien.
mgray
05-03-2005, 08:08 PM
KK5, I am on double your dosage. The doctor directed me to take 2 mg of klonopin at bedtime. On my first awakening, I am to take the two 10 mg of Ambien. I tried Lunesta at 3 mg and it didn't last more than three hours. I couldn't get back to sleep and I was afraid to take more of it so I read for the remainder of the night. I eventually got another two hours by napping after lunch.
BTW, the klonopin and Ambien combination works pretty well for me. I took one klonopin and one Ambien last night around midnight and woke up at 6:30 am. For me, that is one good night's sleep.
BTW, the klonopin and Ambien combination works pretty well for me. I took one klonopin and one Ambien last night around midnight and woke up at 6:30 am. For me, that is one good night's sleep.
Anti Social
05-05-2005, 05:20 PM
You better watch out w/ the Klonopin & Ambien.Both are very strong & addicitive drugs.Please be careful
mgray
05-05-2005, 08:50 PM
Thanks for the advice ... I liked the prose, nice touch. I have quit taking both at different times. The Ambien doesn't seem to bother me outside of a couple days of rebound effect. The Klonopin will leave me jittery and anxious for almost a week before it loosens it's grip. Of course there is a huge penalty ... I don't sleep and the RLS returns in a very angry mood. I don't like taking all of these medications and worry about the beating I am giving my liver. The alternative, insomnia, seems the worse choice at this time. There have been times when I would have sold my soul to the devil for 8 hours of solid sleep. I can understand why interrogaters use sleep deprivation because you can only go so long before you will do almost anything to just sleep. After a certain number of days, the need to sleep overcomes the desires for sex or food or just about everything else.
Anti Social
05-06-2005, 01:51 PM
I understand.It can be a tough situation to deal with.I was on Ambien on & off for about 2 yrs & can say Im glad I am off now.I am now on Trazadone & not really satisfied w/ that one either.But on the upside,Trazadone isnt addictive like Ambien
jbot
05-08-2005, 02:25 AM
Well my dr gave me samples thank goodness.The 1st night I did not go to sleep until about 6hrs after i took it I only slept about 3 hrs and it was time to go to work.. So the next night I didn`t go to sleep all night.The end of that wonder drug story.Tonight I`m back on my ambien.I was hoping I could find something that would give me a good nights rest and not be habbit forming at the same time but no luck for me. Maybe for some of you that has never taken any kind of sleep aid it might work wonders for you. My advice is get a few night samples from dr or don`t let him write a script for over 7 pills then you won`t be out as much money if they don`t work.
I really do hope they will work for some of you and good luck. :yawn:
I really do hope they will work for some of you and good luck. :yawn:
lilywood
08-16-2005, 06:21 PM
Any advice regarding 1 or 2 glasses of wine the same night as taking Ambien and Klonopin? Thanks.
septemberwoman
08-16-2005, 07:54 PM
Hi,
Lunesta doesn't work for me at all if I take it even NEAR eating. I mean even a small amount of food. The package insert said not to take it before or after eating a large fatty meal, but it works FAIR, not good on a completely empty stomach.
I still take it for the pain relief it gives me. I told my doctor it helped with my Fibromyalgia and he said that sounded like it actually could help due to the action the drug takes in the brain. If it didn't help with pain, no way I would take it. It gives me a hideous taste in my mouth for about 8 hours whether it worked or not any particular night.
IMHO, alcohol and sleep meds (or any depressant) don't mix. If I drink some alcohol I try to do it for lunch or very early--before 6 p.m. Probably a rule of thumb would be to allow time for all alcohol to have cleared the body before taking the meds.
Lunesta doesn't work for me at all if I take it even NEAR eating. I mean even a small amount of food. The package insert said not to take it before or after eating a large fatty meal, but it works FAIR, not good on a completely empty stomach.
I still take it for the pain relief it gives me. I told my doctor it helped with my Fibromyalgia and he said that sounded like it actually could help due to the action the drug takes in the brain. If it didn't help with pain, no way I would take it. It gives me a hideous taste in my mouth for about 8 hours whether it worked or not any particular night.
IMHO, alcohol and sleep meds (or any depressant) don't mix. If I drink some alcohol I try to do it for lunch or very early--before 6 p.m. Probably a rule of thumb would be to allow time for all alcohol to have cleared the body before taking the meds.
septemberwoman
08-16-2005, 07:58 PM
MGRY:
I just had a sleep study and they have put me on a sample of Requip for my RLS and movement disorder. Can't tell if it works or not yet but it makes me VERY sleepy.
karen
I just had a sleep study and they have put me on a sample of Requip for my RLS and movement disorder. Can't tell if it works or not yet but it makes me VERY sleepy.
karen
gemarti
08-23-2005, 09:53 PM
September Woman,
I was also put on Requip. By the time I reached the 1 Mg stage, my legs had really calmed down. I had to give it up because it made me so sleepy or groggy for most of the next day. I just didn't have much energy at all. I am now back on the Klonopin and Ambien.
I suppose there are worse illnesses to have but chronic insomnia just gradually eats away at you until you are so tired. Oh for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
I was also put on Requip. By the time I reached the 1 Mg stage, my legs had really calmed down. I had to give it up because it made me so sleepy or groggy for most of the next day. I just didn't have much energy at all. I am now back on the Klonopin and Ambien.
I suppose there are worse illnesses to have but chronic insomnia just gradually eats away at you until you are so tired. Oh for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
RN w/fibro
08-24-2005, 05:11 AM
I went off Ambien (very slowly per pharmacist) due to the typical and problematic memory lapses; I'd get up during the night and do all kinds of things that I couldn't remember in the morning. I consider it a dangerous drug. I've been on Lunesta about two weeks. It's been taking me 1 1/2 to 2 hours to fall asleep with it and I awaken about twice. The bad taste starts about 20 minutes after taking the med and recurs off and on throughout the next day. Bothersome, but tolerable--I use sugar free hard candy. Tonight it's been 4 hours without falling asleep so I got up to check the board. I get NO sleep without a med so am anxiously awaiting the new Rx's that will be on the market soon. Good luck to other isomniacs--we need it! :yawn: