Belsomra for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 4)

• RPF
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2023

"Hoped this would help with chronic insomnia, took for five days, first two days 10mg no effect, even sleeping worse, upped to 20mg no sleep at all, and increased tinnitus, muscle weakness. Will not be taking again."

• JoAnna
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 14, 2024

"This stuff is perfect for me - it really works! It is different than Xanax or Ambien. You can take either of those drugs and they kind of knock you out. With Belsomra, it works best if I take it on an empty stomach, at least two hours after eating, and I go to bed as soon as I take it. It takes longer to go to sleep, but once I fall asleep, it is a very restful sleep, and if I wake up, I fall right back to sleep easily. It is expensive, but worth it... especially if you are older. The other drugs are known to contribute to dementia. Belsomra works on a different part of the brain so no risk of dementia."

• Sirbo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2015

"You cannot be on Ambian and switch to this drug. It does not work on the same receptors and you will go into Ambian withdrawal in the first night, and blame in on this. I've been on Ambien for 2 years and been through withdrawal several times. Nightmares, muscle shocks and a quick dream of getting punched in the face that puts you in state of being afraid to fall back to sleep. 0 hours of sleep my first night. I went to work while having hallucinations. Don't blame the new drug, blame that it's being advertised as being an alternative."

• Matthew...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 23, 2019

"I am an OIF veteran and I developed shift work syndrome from not getting much if any sleep on my 2 deployments. With SWS or narcolepsy, I don’t get much REM sleep. So they put me on Ambien, but loud noises would wake me up, make me walk around and hallucinate without any memory of doing it. Then I was put on Lunesta and one night I didn’t fall asleep right away and I started to hallucinate and they put me on antipsychotics. I gave up on sleeping pills for a while until I stopped dreaming period. Seriously, I was getting 0% REM sleep. So my doctor gave me some 10mg and 20mg samples of Belsomra. I didn’t like them because they didn’t make you drowsy like the other sleeping pills and you have to actually try to go to sleep. But once I got use to it, the 10mg made me have vivid, violent, bloody dreams and the 20mg made me have sci-fi dreams about parallel universes and stuff. So... I take 20s now. Lol I’m just happy to dream again."

• Bobbbb
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 9, 2017

"I took 15 mg dose for about a year almost nightly. At best it only had a mild effect at helping me fall asleep and did not allow me to sleep longer than my usual four to five hours. Two unfortunate side effects occurred. Occasionally I would get sleep paralysis which is being fully aware mentally while your body is frozen in a sleep State. This lasts for a few minutes. The other unfortunate side effect is intense grogginess for most of the next day. I found that I spent much of the time during that year sitting in a chair during the day because I did not have the mental or physical energy to get up and do anything. Obviously one gets a tolerance for the drug soon and I would say that after about a month there was virtually no benefit"

• Jenan...
• September 29, 2015

"Took 10 mg of Belsomra and I started yeawning within 90 min. I went to bed and had nightmare that I was strangling all my pet birds. I woke up within two hours and felt unsteady, heart was racing and felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. I felt irritable and nauseated too. Needless to stay I didn't lay down again and it took 12 hours for all the horrible side effect to go away. Maybe I had an allergic reaction to it, but nevertheless I am NEVER taking this devil's pill again. Back to the Lorazepam. Wish I could give Belsomra negative rating."

• Sleep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2015

"I've had insomnia for twenty years. I've tried everything and only Ambien works for me. Knowing this, my doctor suddenly wants to to try Belsomra and gave me all the free samples- 5, 10, 20 mg. they all give me nightmares. Not just standard nightmares- like the worst possible nightmares, vivid and frightening nightmares for hours straight. Then I would wake multiple times and be wide awake. I threw all those pills in the trash. I would not recommend Belsomra to anyone for insomnia. It's a total marketing scam. And here's the kicker- the company knows that this medication causes nightmares and doesn't list it as a side effect. Sad."

• Barb
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2024

"For 15 years I’ve been waking after 3-4 hours, and usually can’t get back to sleep. I’ve tried supplements, drugs, cannabinoids, therapy. They either didn’t help much, or left me groggy the next day. My doctor finally had me try 10 mg. Belsomra. After 4 days, I was ready to quit, but my doctor increased the dose to 15 mg. After 3 days at 15 mg, OMG! I felt rested for the first time in 15+ years! I’ve only been on B for about 10 days, so I don’t know how it will work long-term, but nothing I’ve taken before has come close to working this well! I read with interest the review from the person who has PTSD. I also have PTSD, and I think she’s right that B calms the part of the brain that kept me awake. I’m so glad I found B—I may finally have my life back! So far, no bad side effects. :)"

• Anon
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2022

"Was put on 10mg of Belsomra. Within a week, my mood swings, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts have gotten progressively worse. AND it doesn’t work. Still awake hours after taking it. So I didn’t experience any weird side effects (like sleep paralysis) but it also made me feel worse overall. Treat the reason why you have insomnia first. This has just been my experience."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 6, 2015

"I had high hopes for Belsomra. My neuro mentioned it to me last Fall and I was first in line for a prescription when it became available in ~January. Ambien CR has proven effective over the years. Clonazepam is a great occasional substitute. But Belsomra? Nothing. No impact whatsoever. 20 mg, nothing. 40 mg, nothing. I'd happily pay the $100 per mon if it worked."

• Rwink...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 12, 2017

"Works great for me I tried Seroquel, Lunesta, and Ambien with poor results Belsomra was the key the key I've found is following the directions of taking it on a empty stomach 30 minutes before you want to sleep. I have experienced no side effects fortunately I got approval from my insurance they pay the full amount"

• thela...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2015

"Geez, people - brain chemistry is a personal thing, and so are your issues - don't tell other people "don't waste your money" because you tried something for one night and had nightmares. As for me, it works pretty well. I've tried everything, and the only things that work are the benzo's and benzo-like drugs, however, I would need to increase the dose every night to overcome tolerance, which means I can only take them for a few nights a month. The Belsomra seems to have no side effects for me whatsoever, just a gentle urge to sleep (which can be easily ignored if necessary, unlike a good dose of ambien which is dangerous) and the ability to stay asleep or fall back asleep."

• Central...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2015

"For all you strugglers out there, there's an amazing drug called Seroquel. It will put you to sleep in an instant each and every night, I promise you. Just be careful what you wish for. The side effects are killer. I'm going onto Belsomra in a few days. I long for all the side effects you complain about. I think I would lie awake for a month if it meant I could get off Seroquel. But I sleep like the proverbial baby. I thought I was the only person in the world who suffered this much "

• EyesW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2015

"Wanted to give a rating of 0, but that is not an option! My diagnosis is Primary Insomnia. Both my doctor and I though this would be the medication that would finally help. Well, it did not. Tried 10mg for 3 nights with no luck. Doctor upped me to 20mg. Tried 20mg for 3 more night and still did not work. By the end of 6 days using this junk with so little sleep I was fed up! Back to alternating my old standbys as they are inexpensive and effective. My old standby's are Dalmane (flurazepam) and Luminal (phenobarbital). My insurance did not cover the Belsomra, the trial voucher was only good for 10 tablets so the rest was paid out of pocket"

• Coker
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2019

"So strange how medications affect different people. My experience with Belsomra at 20 mg was worse than disappointing. I have followed the instructions to the letter and after trying it for 4 nights absolutely nothing, I cannot sleep. My large bedroom is silent, no lights, distracting sounds, perfect mattress and pillow.......zero sleep. I will return to the Dr. tomorrow and request another option. Belsomra at highest strength did not work for me. (Not to mention the exorbitant price)."

• MHHS
• April 12, 2015

"Have suffered with insomnia for years. Tried many medications with Zolpidem ER (Generic Ambien ER) 12.5 the only one that helped. Even then, still was not getting great results at times. Tried 10 mg of Belsomra, hoping for a better result. This was one of the worst nights I have ever had in my life. Was wide awake until 4:30, followed by horrible, segmented, almost hallucinogenic dreams. After my alarm woke me, I was in the strangest state of mind, where I had to make myself speak. I finally told my husband, I'm sorry, I've got plenty of conversation in my head, but I have to MAKE myself speak. I was afraid to drive after this, and had my son drive me. This condition eventually got better. One dose. Never again."

• Grand...
• February 20, 2016

"Here is my problem with Belsomra. I am a 50 year old male - 6' 2'' 190lbs. I am currently prescribed the 20mg dosage and it seems to work okay some of the time. By accident I doubled dosed one evening - 40mg - and had the best sleep of my life. Woke up refreshed after eight hours of sleep and had great energy and alertness the entire day. I feel I need a higher dosage for it to work for me."

• bjdude
• June 12, 2015

"Its very strange at first, serious nightmares, its almost like lucid dreaming, very 3D, and you have more ability to make decisions in the dream. It takes me at least 2 hrs for it to work, and I have taken it and stayed in bed for hours with a horrible nights sleep. It works different than ambien, it gives me a sedative feel. Make sure you have at least 7 hrs to sleep. Once you get used to it, the negative side effects I think go down. The half life is longer than Ambien and that's good but it still does not have the effect of a quick acting sleep med. More expensive too because its new and there is no generic yet."

• lotus...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 11, 2016

"I developed insomnia when pregnant, nearly 16 years ago! Doctors have tried everything.Medidation. Melatonin, improving sleep hygeine, restoril, trazadone, seroquel, ambien, lunesta, and belsomra. Even when double the doses of these medicines, nothing helps EXCEPT belsomra. Granted, I have to take the max dose. But I have a 1 hour commute one way to work each day. I've never felt drowsy, just well rested."

• julie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2023

"I tried Belsomra for the first time... 10 mg for 3 days had no effect. Then, while my first 20 mg dose enabled me to sleep for 8 hours, I didn't sleep well on the same dosage the next 2 nights, but did fall asleep during the afternoons both days. At one point, I experienced a dull headache. The plastic containers were difficult to open and they produced lots of waste. The cost at $7 per tablet was extremely high for a product having such poor results."

• Krissis
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2023

"After gaining a ton of weight with Seroquel, my doctor prescribed me Belsomra. I haven’t slept for more than two hours at a time and cried ALL night and most of the next days. I have a call into my doctor for a follow-up. I have had no sleep at all."

• KTJ
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2017

"I started Belsomra 15mg about 3 wks ago. It has not worked for me at all. After taking the medication earlier (7:45-8:00 pm) and spending several sleepless nights my Dr increased my dosage to 1 & 1/2 tablets. The last few nights I have been up past 4am. Even when I finally dose off I wake up at least once an hour. I will call my Dr in the morning, I'll be awake. Exhausted! But awake!"

• pjs
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2016

"Worked very well. Did have next day drowsiness, but only the first day. Am only taking 10mg. I had none of these bizarre side effects I've read about. The important thing for me is that this is NOT a benzodiazepine. More researching is showing that benzodiazepines and other GABA activators may be causing permanent memory loss, that includes Zolpidem. I've been able to come off my Gabapentin and Lorazepam at night."

• LynnB...
• April 3, 2015

"My doctor (a psychopharmologist-one who specializes in medication) started telling me about Belsomra 2 years ago. I have acute insomnia and no drug ever worked. He explained how Belsomra works in a completely different way than any other drug for sleep. He also explained that it took 2 years to get FDA approval because Merck (the manufacturer) was NOT willing to have it classified as an addictive controlled substance when the fact that addiction is far less than on any other drug for sleep. The FDA also had issues w/ the dose-studies show 15-20 mg is optimal. Merck finally "caved" to both issues but if you're taking 5-10 and it isn't working, ask about increasing it. Works for me!"

• HyperA
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 2, 2019

"I exercise, eat right, avoid blue light at night, etc., but still have trouble falling asleep and usually wake up in a 'highly alert' state after 1-3 cycles, usually during or after REM sleep, with no emotional or biological trigger required. I'm not the type of person who can take a nap either, no matter how sleep deprived. Belsomra doesn't prevent me from waking up at least once during the night, but it DOES put me back to sleep in under 20 minutes as opposed to the 2-3 hours it would normally take. Also, I find it FAR LESS sedating/paralyzing than Mirtazapine (and even some benzos) even though its effects do linger somewhat into the next day as well."