Lunesta. Looking to switch. (pain, doctor, symptoms, tremor)

[sag67]

Hi all. I been on Lunesta (sleeping) for about 10 years. I started with 1mg and worked up to the current 3mg dosage which is the strongest it comes in. Lately, i have noticed that it has not been working as well as it used to. Many nights where i can't fall asleep. Planning on going to see primary doctor. I was wondering if anyone takes a different sleeping med and what your experience is with it. Trying to get some info before going in to see doc. Thanks again for any info.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

You can help yourself by practicing good sleep hygiene. Bedroom is ONLY for sex and sleep. No TV, books, radio, talking. If you can't fall asleep in 20 min or so, get up, leave the bedroom, and go do something elsewhere. Try deep breathing when you first go to bed, every out breath should be longer than the in breath.

[GTOlover]

OP would talk to your doctor since after a decade you may suffer Benizopidine withdrawal effects coming off Lunesta which is a Benzo based hypnotic medication.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome—often abbreviated to benzo withdrawal—is the cluster of symptoms that emerge when a person who has taken benzodiazepines, either medically or recreationally, and has developed a physical dependence undergoes dosage reduction or discontinuation. Development of physical dependence and or addiction and the resulting withdrawal symptoms, some of which may last for years, may result from either drug seeking behaviors or from taking the medication as prescribed.

Benzodiazepine withdrawal is characterized by sleep disturbance, irritability, increased tension and anxiety, panic attacks, hand tremor, sweating, difficulty with concentration, confusion and cognitive difficulty, memory problems, dry retching and nausea, weight loss, palpitations, headache, muscular pain and stiffness, a host of perceptual changes, hallucinations, seizures, psychosis, and suicide(see "Signs and Symptoms" section below for full list).

Further, these symptoms are notable for the manner in which they wax and wane and vary in severity from day to day or week by week instead of steadily decreasing in a straightforward monotonic manner.

It is a potentially serious condition, and is complex and often protracted in time course.

Long-term use, defined as daily use for at least three months, is not desirable because of the associated increased risk of dependence, dose escalation, loss of efficacy, increased risk of accidents and falls, particularly for the elderly, as well as cognitive, neurological, and intellectual impairments.

Use of short-acting hypnotics, while being effective at initiating sleep, worsen the second half of sleep due to withdrawal effects. Nevertheless, long-term users of benzodiazepines should not be forced to withdraw against their will.

source: Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia