Thursday, August 2, 2012

Loooooon-esta

Has anyone ever taken Lunesta? I had the craziest experience with it. I've been on Ambien for years and it works amazingly well, but recently my doctor gave me some samples of Lunesta because, well, it was free and I didn't have insurance for a little while as I waited for my insurance to kick in at my job. Last night I decided to try the Lunesta to see how it worked for me.

Within 20 minutes I had a horribly bitter taste in my mouth. It was as if I had bitten into an unripe, rotten orange, rind, pith, and all. I got up to drink some water (didn't help) and brush my teeth again (didn't help). I ate a few crackers and then brushed my teeth again (didn't help). I tried to ignore it and went back to bed to read and wait to feel sleepy.

After that, the stomach cramps started. I was back in the bathroom over and over again. Then I started to feel sleepy but I was nauseated and still had the awful taste in my mouth.

I finally fell asleep and had CRAZY dreams. Nightmares, really. I kept waking up. Even while I was sleeping, I KNEW that I was sleeping badly. It was like I was having a sleep anxiety attack.

I woke up at about 5:30 from another nightmare with my heart pounding. I couldn't get back to sleep, I was so anxious. I STILL have the bad taste in my mouth (not as bad but it's still there) and oddly I'm SUPER hungry and craving sugar like crazy. I don't have sweets in the house so I haven't given in, but wow...it's the weirdest thing.

I'm never taking that crap again.

7 comments:

Lynda said...

Hmm...I take Lunesta every night and have never had any of those symptoms. I used to take Ambien (& loved it), but then started sleep-walking and woke up one morning next to an empty can of Spaghetti-O's with a giant bruise (12"+) on my thigh. I don't sleep as well on Lunesta, but it usually gets the job done.

I guess these things affect us all differently.

Kelli said...

My Husband had weird dreams on it too...

Sandy said...

That is some reaction. Throw them out. Hope you get a good nights sleep tonight.

Cheri said...

Yeppers. Same thing, doctor gave me samples, and said, "you may have a funny taste" I said, Oh that is fine, he said, "no, even with water" I took it one day - that was the first and last day. I can't remember if there were other symptoms or if it was just that even water was un-drinkable. And I am the type of person that white knuckles it through a lot of side effects usually. Not worth it for me either.

Rhonda said...

I hear lots of people have weird dreams on it. Never heard of any weird tastes in mouths though. I agree with Sandy - GET RID OF IT! :(

Lap Band Gal said...

Yikes! I have never taken Lunesta.

I stick with my Ambien...so I can do fun things like have Ambien-induced amnesia while I text and call people (that I shouldn't be texting/calling, EVER) and then not remember said texting and calling.

Redonkulous.

One day I will progress to Ambien-crafting and wake up to a bad-ass afgan or scrapbook :)

Steph said...

Oh goodness that sounds horrible! I've never taken that or Ambien, and when I was having insomnia, I was on Tramadol and that helped me. I stopped taking it once I had my insomina under control, but when I am restless, I've found that Walgreens brand Unisom works well in the gel caps. It's called "Walsom" how original!

I'm mailing you two packages out tomorrow. They have to weigh a certain weight, so don't laugh at what I send you because I have a feeling it will be goofy!