[haleys]

I was put on Lunesta because I have trouble falling asleep, I've been on Lunesta for almost 3 months and now I have no trouble falling asleep when I take the pill, but now I wake up 2-3 times in the middle of the night and am up for 10-20 minutes. I have never in my life had problems with waking up in the middle of the night, just falling asleep, so I'm guessing it's the Lunesta. Anyone else experienced this?

Does anyone else have the weird metallic taste in their mouth when they wake up when they take the Lunesta?

[curlymom]

Hi there,

I am not on Lunesta but I take Ambien, also for sleep. I found that I also wake during the night and the only thing I can relate it to is the Ambien. I have been on it over a year and they are now taking me off. I have tried taking Tylenol PM and although it doesn't get me to sleep as fast, I find I have a more restful sleep and I don't wake during the night. I have also been eating better and now started working out so I hope that helps too.

I don't get the bad taste from Ambien.

Good Luck and Sweet Dreams

Curly mom

[jellybean3557]

Hi,

I have been recently prescribed Lunesta. I take 3 mg due to Fibromyalsia and the fact that I have CHRONIC INSOMNIA, I seem to never sleep right. If I do sleep on my own it is for 2 hours max. I was going to tell you that I have been on it for about 2 months and at first it was the best thing ever. NOW, I am waking up in the middle of the night as well, but I can go back to sleep. I use to not feel hung over in the mornings when I started and now I do.... Do not know why.

I also get that taste in my mouth, sometimes it feels like my throat is actually burning until I drink water. It leaves an awful bitter taste in your mouth. I was told that Lunesta was best to help you fall asleep and keep you asleep, but I am wondering what is wrong with me that I do not stay asleep. LOL

So if you get any answers PLEASE share them with me I would LOVE to know why.

Thanks,
Jess

[Mel]

I have fibromyalgia too, and have been on a kajillion drugs over the last 15 years attempting to get a reasonable night's sleep. The best combo I ever took was klonopin and serzone, but serzone was taken off the market about a year ago. The generic is still available, but I figure if the drug has been "black labeled" by the FDA, I probably don't want to take it

I took Sonesta for a while and had all the problems you are describing. Now I just take klonopin. Doesn't work as well, but not as many side effects.

The metallic taste is "dry mouth". It's a common side effect of a lot of drugs- your salivary glands are not fully functioning. You may also have dry, itchy eyes but not always. Some of the ways I've found to combat dry mouth are to add a few drops of lemon juice to my water bottle and sip all day. The lemon makes you salivate more. Also, there is a toothpaste, mouthwash and gum made by Biotene which are really helpful. Most drug stores and large groceries carry it. Regular toothpaste and mouthwash have alcohol in them which dry out your tissues...not what you want to do!

Combatting dry mouth is important because saliva is what helps fight bacteria in your mouth. Without it, you'll have excessive plaque buildup, gum disease, and tooth dcay. Floss and extra cleaning are your friend if you have to stay on a med which causes it!

Mel

[haleys]

Jess, I have an appointment with a sleep specialist on October 14th, so I'm going to tell him about it and see what he thinks. I'm guessing he's going to want me to have a sleep study done, but I'm only going to be in town for that weekend from school (the doctor is at home). So, I hope he doesn't want to have one done.

I guess I've also built up a tolerance for Lunesta. I'm on the 3mg and it doesn't even make me go to sleep anymore, I've recently, on my own accord, starting taking one and a half pills because I'm desperate for sleep. Hopefully I'll get some answers from the sleep specialist.

I never have dry mouth on it, just a metallic taste, but my mouth feels very salivated...

Good luck to you all with your sleep!

[marbleflys]

I've taken Ambien 10mg on and off for a few years, you build up a tolerance for it and it doesn't work as well, I can still only get about 5-6 hours out it....(i always wake up at night to use the bathroom anyway, but the hard part is getting back to sleep)

My doctor gave me Lunesta to take when he put me on steroid therapy (prednisone short-term for a wicked case of poison ivy)...I DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL...I feel druggy the next day, really depressed and lethargec this is on 1 mg. I've only tried it 2X. nothing unpleasant about a taste or metalic, but when I take Ambien, I feel like I've got a sore throat the next morning for a few hours.

What works best for me is Ativan, it acts much slower so I'll take it about 930 and be asleep by 1030-1045.