Ambien to Sonata - Sleep Disorders Message Board

Toonces1 · 02-22-2009, 08:22 PM

I am going to try to make the switch from ambien to sonata, which I just found out is available in generic. Does anyone know if the generic sonata comes in a pill form that can be spilt, or is it a capsule?

nochange · 02-23-2009, 01:06 AM

hello toonces1. i've never tried sonata but i've tried ambien for a day. didn't like it a bit.
if i may ask, what's the reason you need to take sleeping pills in the first place. i would like to know cause my doctor is baffled i cannot sleep cause of my neck pain. she thinks i'm jokking with her. please let me know so i won't feel alone in this.thank you.
i also believe i will never be able to sleep naturally again. it's never say never but doesn't look like that.
and one last question: how long did you sleep while on ambien?. thank you for your time

Toonces1 · 02-23-2009, 04:56 PM

I have an almost complete inability to fall asleep. Once asleep I am usually okay and sleep all night. I have been taking ambien for about 4 years, and I usually sleep through the night and am even a little groggy in the morning. I tried sonata once and it did not make me groggy, so now I want to go back on it since it's available in generic. My doctor said I will probably be on sleeping medication for the rest of my life. I seem to have a irregular sleep-wake pattern, and feel like I could stay up until 3-4 in the morning every night. If I don't take the ambien, I will be awake until about 3:30-4 every night.

I also have cronic neck and shoulder pain resulting from a spinal surgery last year. The pain does interfere with my ability to fall asleep too. Ironically, pain meds actually make it harder for me to sleep, despite their sedation.

What are your issues?

nochange · 02-24-2009, 02:14 AM

toonses1, i've been dianogsed with 2 minor bulging disks in my neck. I'm not for surgery, that's what they say. still, i cannot fall asleep period since the accident, not even for an hour. i can be awake 24/7 for months and months. i'm taking now lyrica and a sleeping pill together. that helps me sleep for only 4-5 hours and that's it.
is it really possible that 2 minor bulging disks in my neck stop my ability to sleep forever? it's so hard to live like that. i feel so alone with this. i so much want to sleep 9 hours like before the accident. that's so impossible. i so miss those days i was able to.

SPORT46 · 09-02-2010, 07:27 AM

what was your experience with Sonata? I see this is a last year thread, but am hoping you could let me know how it works. I'm asking my doctor to try it. I don't like the next day side effects of ambien, even at a low dose.