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Lunesta Vs Ambien
posted by Sleepless in Toledo on 14 Jan 2007 at 1:52 pm
I have tried nearly every sleep aid including over the counter meds. My insomnia may be more pronounced than most and therefore I'm not sure any med will be effective. I typically get about 3 hrs. sleep a night and have for 10-15 yrs.
I see no difference between Lunesta and Ambien in terms of effectiveness, but I agree the metallic aftertaste of Lunesta lasts thru the following day and affects everyting you eat. That alone makes it intolerable. The vote has to go to Ambien. However, I have never slept more than 3 hrs. without awakening with any med.
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Follow-Up Opinions Pages: 1
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| Lunesta Vs Ambien |
| posted by Dee on 22 Jun 2007 at 2:13 pm |
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I have also used both Lunesta and Ambien over the last few years and must disagree. I have found Lunesta to be more helpful in providing a good night's sleep and have not experienced an after taste with either product. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Sleepless In Toledo |
| posted by B. J. Bailey on 23 July 2007 at 11:25 pm |
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Dear Sleepless in Toledo, My goodness! There's somebody in the World who has the same problem as I. I have not slept more than 3 hours continuously at night (OK, every year or so, it might be 4 hours) since 1988, and it's getting worse. I know most of the reasons, and any sleeping aids make me feel worse. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta Vs. Ambien |
| posted by J. Rossi on 17 Aug 2007 at 10:16 pm |
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The metallic taste Lunesta leaves in your mouth is definitely worth switching to Ambien. Neither work 100% but I've found both are pretty equal in effectiveness...Ambien just seems to not have the metallic taste problem! | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta Vs Ambien |
| posted by Tonya on 15 Feb 2008 at 4:41 pm |
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Just FYI- When I spoke to my Doctor about a sleep aid, he recommended not taking ambien due to possible memory loss. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien Vs Lunesta |
| posted by Keith Hayes on 03 Apr 2008 at 5:21 pm |
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I would have to say that Ambien is the best. It knocks me out ASAP and I don't feel groggy in the morning, what a great product! | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Losing Memory In Oklahoma |
| posted by TT on 13 Oct 2008 at 6:19 am |
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I have been taking ambien for 8-10 years. I get on average 4-5 hrs of sleep but my short term memory & long term memory are getting worse & worse. I'm going to have to stop taking & switch to something else. Anyone try melatonin (I'm not sure I spelled right)? | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Melatonin Response |
| posted by OTC sleep aides on 10 Dec 2008 at 11:56 pm |
I have been taking a sleep aid every night for the last two years and I first started with Melatonin. I've read a lot about it and it seems that the best place to get it is GNC because they have Melatonin 3mg time released. Most stores carry this type of Melatonin, but GNC's Melatonin is kosher and vegetarian. I can honestly say that it does make a huge difference, as I tried the other kinds. It helped me for about 6 months and then it just stopped so I switched to Unisom. I love it, but my psychiatrist disagrees. It is very similar to Benadryl and it'll knock you out.
I was just prescribed to Lunesta and tonight will be my first night taking it. I'm really hoping it doesn't give me the metallic taste some people get. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Melatonin Works |
| posted by wallflower848 on 31 Dec 2008 at 10:20 am |
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I have used melatonin from time to time for sleep. In a current bout with a pinched nerve, so have been sleepless a lot of nights. Taking 3-4 Melatonin worked for me, there was a little grogginess when I woke, but then again this pain is what is interrupting my normal sleep patterns. Just got some samples of Lunesta, going to try that tonight an see what happens. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| OTC Sleep Meds |
| posted by Y. Perry on 06 Mar 2009 at 12:08 pm |
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I like Ambien the best, it works pretty good and doesn't make me feel groggy all the next day. Haven't tried Lunesta yet. Can't take any of the OTC sleep aids because they all give me the "Restless Leg Syndrome" thing, which is even worse than not sleeping. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta vs. Ambien |
| posted by CARMEN on 13 Mar 2009 at 10:31 pm |
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I have had both. Ambien cr gives me a bad headache. Lunesta does leave a metallic taste in my mouth, but it works great! I have also had ambien 3 mg, it didn't work as well as lunesta. I vote lunesta, hands down! | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Melatonin |
| posted by frederick dose on 01 Apr 2009 at 3:58 pm |
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some have opined that melatonin is great, and it does have an effect--your body produces it (more in winter and thus we feel more alert when spring comes), but when taken externally you have to watch the hepatic (liver) effect--as you should with ALL meds AS WELL AS VITAMINS AND NATURAL PRODUCTS. A surprising number of natural alternatives can be toxic to your liver, or create hepatic problems, etc. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien memory loss |
| posted by BB on 05 Apr 2009 at 11:02 am |
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I have taken ambien for 4 years. Stopped it just 2 days ago due to increasing short term memory loss. It was getting very bad. Can't sleep but starting to get my memory back. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Stupid Doctor |
| posted by Nancie on 30 Apr 2009 at 3:47 pm |
I have taken Lunesta and Ambien for several years. I believe very few if any people on these drugs suffer memory loss. I hae been under the care of a dr. at a sleep clinic for years. I do find that if I take a pill and read a bit before going to sleep the next day I can't remember what I read the night before. Big deal.....no lasting memory loss.
Drs have opinions and are not always right....this dr seems to be uninformed!!!! | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| I Have Tried Them All And... |
| posted by Josef on 01 May 2009 at 7:22 pm |
In my opion Ambien works the best. I now take .5 mg of Xanax at 6pm, then take Ambien at 10 PM and follow that up with Melatonin at 11:30.
Then watch the late show and hopefully get to sleep after that. No thing else allows me to get more sleep and yes I also have to use a CPAP machine.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Treatment |
| posted by Scott on 11 May 2009 at 7:05 am |
I hope you do well without meds. Some have a difficult time getting off Ambien. I have been on Lunesta for about a month. No metal taste -- for me.
Has anyone tried light therapy with success?| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| James |
| posted by Anon on 16 Jun 2009 at 5:27 pm |
I'm sorry but it is a crime to feel good these days. Its like every drug that can potentially give somebody euphoria is a scheduled drug and a requires a prescription. All that does is require somebody to jump through a red hoop and spend a little more money than they want. Except for alcohol which is "socially acceptable". I don't see a dependency label on the bottle except for a government warning that starts with pregnant women and then warns against operating machinery.
All the really expensive "novel" drugs still have a patent and give "no euphoria" at all....or they are soon to be condemned. (I am not including illegal "street" drugs or painkillers....whole different argument entirely) The warnings on the new drugs are mile long though. Anyone heard of tardive dyskinesia? Spelled correctly. Google it. It is associated with all the new antipsychotic drugs and antidepressants. I'm sorry but discontinuation symptoms and addiction might as well be the same thing.
Darn it if I am going to spend my hard earned money on something it better darn well cure a disease or make me "feel good". That means euphoria and decreased anxiety. (For me) Others may be masochists. (I still believe that is a morbid way to achieve euphoria that I can't understand) It all comes down to euphoria. It is not a bad word. It means a sense of well being. We should research the safest way to achieve it with the least side effects.
Yes I do exercise 30 minutes a day and I admit it works well. Not everyone has the ability or the time though. Give me euphoria in a bottle....please.... or cure a serious disease. Alcohol is a primitive sedative. I am not against it. Just give me a darn pill with no hangover.
I am sorry if I offended anyone.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta - My experience |
| posted by Tes on 24 Jun 2009 at 7:21 pm |
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I have been prescribed and taking Lunesta for just under 3 months now. The metallic taste was more in the first month. I started putting a box of Ranch flavored wheat thins next to my bed and about 5 minutes after taking my pill, I eat 1 of the wheat thins - somehow that has helped me with the nasty taste problem. Also, I wanted to mention that I started wearing an eye mask to help block out any light - which was a big problem for me. It has helped quite a bit. The only "glitch" for lack of a better word.. is that the Lunesta doesn't seem to work every night - it might work great tonight, then in 2 nights it will simply help me to relax, but not to sleep. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta Vs Ambien |
| posted by Rhonda on 07 July 2009 at 1:16 am |
I have now been on Lunesta for about a week. The taste in my mouth is almost unbearable. I am hoping it will go away soon. I also notice that I get a headache, sometimes. The other thing is that it is now 1:11am and here I am posting here so clearly I am not asleep. Sometimes it works sometimes not??
Ambien! When I took this drug the last thing I remember is being in bed and taking my pill. However, that was not the last thing I DID! I would get up, eat, hallucinate and get out the video camera and tape my family TRYING to sleep, I was laughing the whole time like we were on vacation!
CRAZY!
I have also been on amitryptiline for 3 years and just stopped because my Dr. was concerned about the 15 lb weight gain. Actually that was the best sleep I have ever had and no side effects, well except weight gain.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta Is The One. |
| posted by kat on 07 July 2009 at 10:00 pm |
I have had chronic insomnia all of my life. I have several disorders including bipolar1. The minute I put my head down the worry and anxiety starts. Lunesta promotes the falling asleep part that I have always needed the most. Still I have to take 6mg (the usual dose is 3mg) When I took ambien I would sleep walk, talk, cook, eat and more and not remember any of it.
With Lunesta, I can FALL asleep, which gets me past the hardest part....I can deal with the metalic taste (which you forget about after a while) because I am so grateful to be able to lie down and know I will be asleep in 15 minutes...It has helped with the treatment of many of my disorders as sleep is important in treating any kind of mental health disorder.
I have a lot of memory loss and it could be from anything. I get monthly ECT, and take other medications too. But to have the worry of not being able to fall asleep taken away, even if it just helps a little, its one less worry to deal with.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien and Lunesta |
| posted by Craig on 08 July 2009 at 11:55 am |
I agree with your opinion on the original Ambien. I had the same problem but not with AmbienCR yet it doesn't work all the time. I'm going to try your approach because Lunesta 3 mg didnt work for me. All the other aids don't give me any relieve but the more you take them the less they work.
One medical expert said the only cure is to go "cold turkey" and quit them all and just do the best you can. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Hear Hear! |
| posted by neil on 09 July 2009 at 2:46 pm |
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well-stated my friend, i was going to post something similar but you took the words outta my mouth. theres way to much business behind living comfortably... basically all the things you said :) | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien Vs Lunesta |
| posted by Jen on 10 July 2009 at 12:56 am |
I have been taking Ambien 10mg and Ambien CR, today my doctor said that he thinks Lunesta would work better since I'm still waking up in the night. So here i am typing away at 1am wide awake and have taken now 4mg.
I do belive i will be going back to my Ambien cr my husband LOVES the side effects if you know what i mean...| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta V. Ambien |
| posted by Cabrio on 13 July 2009 at 10:13 pm |
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Ambien worked but made me feel lousy and 'drugged' in the morning. It was a super weird high before I went to bed - I liked it but knew it wasn't normal and I liked going to work feeling alive. Tried Lunesta at 3mg which worked really quickly (no metal taste-but my mom gets this prob) but again made me feel loopy in the morning. Took that for about 2 months and went down to 2mg...it takes about 45 min to want to fall asleep. My antidepressant (cymbalta) make me stay awake 19/7 with little sleep. No morning side effects. A life saver (both Lunesta and Cymbalta!). | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta Wins Handsdown |
| posted by Folkwolf101 on 23 July 2009 at 11:09 am |
With Ambien, it worked in getting me to sleep right away. Unfortunately, it works for only 3 to 4 hours. Lunesta works for the whole night. Every late night I awaken to pee and then return to bed. With Ambien, I am immediately wide awake with the brain chattering away. But with Lunesta, I remain in sleep mode and quickly doze off again.
If it were not for the interruptions to the bathroom, I might like Ambien. But, a full night's sleep is very important to me.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| I've Been On Lunesta, Ambien CR And Rozerem |
| posted by Bad Back Boy on 24 July 2009 at 9:16 pm |
My experiences pertain to my use of these three meds (not all at the same time), due to pain matters related to a severe back injury.
1. Lunesta, as you all probably know, it comes in 1, 2 and 3 mgs. I started out on three, but after the benefit wore off, a doctor gave me what's called an "off paper" prescription, for SIX mgs. "Off paper" means a use or application beyond what the FDA approved. I guess doctors can do this. And it did the trick for a good long while for me. Ultimately, another doctor switched me to Ambien CR and Rozerem.
As for the metallic aftertaste from Lunesta, I have a completely different take on it. I feel that the metallic aftertaste (which is not at all unbearable to me), was a rather comforting reminder that the med is kicking in. Almost Pavlovian to me. This med helped me, but I have to trust my other doctors who strongly urged me to get off of it, as it is addictive, they say.
2. Ambien CR...it look a while for this to work for me, and it finally did when my doctor prescribed it for use simultaneously with Rozerem. It seems to work well.
3. Recently, when I didn't refill my prescription for Ambien CR in time (before running out of them), I had to get through the night only with Rozerem, and it was very difficult.
My doctor advised today that it's not a good idea to stay on Ambien CR for too long, but that's not a priority for me. My experience being only on Rozerem was a sign to me that the Ambien CR definitely helps me sleep, and rest, he advises, is critical to dealing with a painful injury.
Anyway, that's my two cents.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
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