Lunesta - yes

[Magnum]

After my last treatment, the Insomnia has been worse than ever. I have no problem going to sleep. Let me add I use Medical Marijuana under my doctor's direction. I use very little to help me get to sleep. That part works great. However, as some of you may have experienced, staying asleep is an entirely different matter.

I've tried Themazapan as well as Ambien CR, and one more I can't think the name of. None worked. As a matter of fact, I actually felt worse.

I've tried two Lunesta tabs, one tab each for the past two nights. I got seven hour sleep, without waking up at all on both occasions. I read every line of the literature that comes with it and was surprised that Lunesta contains a "hypnotic agent".

Doesn’t matter, sleep is very appreciated, and I feel mentally more alert. I felt I could actually have slept more than seven hours, but I'm much happier than the average 4-5 hours I've been getting.

the bottom line: This sleeping aid is supposed to not leave any after effects the following day. The doctor was right. However, the only side effects I found, which are oblique in their exposition, is that you don't (or at least I don't) dream. the other side effect is a sour mouth, which you can negate with mints or filet mignon and lobster, with duck liver pate on wheat thins, followed by freshly squeezed orange jounce or a berry smoothie.

The most appealing factor here is the fact that you are not punch-drunk or in the Twilight Zone the day after, and the doctor said there are no compromising factors for your liver to deal with. May you sleep in peace..

Mag

[Tater-ToT]

WoW...
I Agree that I got more Quality Sleep with the Lunesta than I ever did the ambien... but I couldn't take it because the Lunesta DID Give me a Major Hang-Over effect the next day & the Ambien didn't....

So Although I was able to sleep LONGER with Lunesta... I couldn't stand the next day groginess!

I found that IF I broke my ambien in half & took the first half, & put my other half on the bedside table, that when I woke up I could take the other half & go right back to sleep..... so a half a tab taken twice worked very well, & a 1/2 tab would put you to sleep every bit as fast as a whole one!

I guess as with anything else we all react diferently to different medications... but I am glad it is working for you... I'm envious...Whaaaaaa!!!!
:)

[NYgirl]

I found that if I put the Ambien CR in half...it must absorp differently because pretty much it keeps me sleeping - or I go back to sleep easily.  When I was taking it in one piece...it was like taking nothing.

I'm odd, shoot me - but I thought about it and realized the coating might be too thick for my system and that is why it wasn't really working LOL.


I find that I don't dream on the sleeping pills AT ALL but then when it wears off finally YOWZA! Talk about VIVID DREAMS!  They all come crashing in and are startling and I wake up screaming and laughing and yelling and stuff --- my daughter used to come in an wake me up every night in fact going MOM you're SCREAMING again!  Wake up bad dream!

Why oh WHY they couldn't be George Clooney type dreams you got me but.................nope!

[sfbaygirl]

I used ambien and it keeps me asleep for 4 hrs only. I switched to Lunesta and got better sleep for a few days, then it was back to the 4 hr wake up. Also I felt groggy. When I had a migraine, I noticed on the bottle that it can cause headaches, so I stopped. I am back to Ambien. My dr. says I can take another if I wake up 4 hrs later, so I do sometimes. I don't feel groggy. Maybe I will try the halves, although these aren't narcotic I still don't want to be dependent on them after tx.

[Algernon]

Post TX insomnia is intense for me too.  

I haven't tried Lunesta but it sounds like its worth a shot.

I believe that the package insert on the Ambien CR explicitly says that you should not break it in half.  I don't know why but there you go.  NYGIRL:  maybe the secret to your success has to do with breaking that rule.  I think I'll try it (the "whole" pill did nothing to me).

[anise]

Yep, post treatment insomnia is awful.  My NP gave me Trazadone 50 mg and one night I forgot I took one and have actually taken two.  I sleep like  a baby.  A bit groggy in the morning, but that is a small price to pay (for me) for getting  no sleep.
I told  my NP about it and she said it is o.k. to take two as they are a long researched drug.

[Magnum]

I should have added that I took the 2mg instead of the 3mg dosage. Lunesta comes in those strengths. The doctor said to try the weaker one first. In my case, that dosage has worked so far. You may try the 3mg and see if that will help you...

Magnum