Lunesta and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Det...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2019

For Insomnia "I've been on prescription pain meds for years. Detoxing for two weeks now. Couldn't fall asleep till 1-2 a.m., then I'd wake up 2 hrs later. I was so exhausted that I went to my doctor yesterday to ask for help. 2 mg Lunesta, my error to have taken it too soon after eating, so it took longer to work - about an hour to kick in before I finally fell asleep. Woke up twice in 12 hrs to pee (I am a 60-year-old male) and went right back to sleep. Even dreamed, so I hit REM sleep! Ambien is a benzo. I was already on Ativan. So Ambien was not an option. Lunesta worked well for me. 12 hrs sleep! Yay."

• Sle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 9, 2013

For Insomnia "I've had sleep disruption for many years. I took Ambien for years, now Lunesta. Gradually reduced from 3 mg to 0 mg, with zero problems. My mind was clearer. With new severe stress and sleep disruptions again, recently went back on Lunesta. Started with 1 mg, then 2, then 3. Trouble is, now still waking up after about 4 hours, then waking and sleeping throughout the next 4 hours. I also use Belleruth Naparstek's 'Sleep' guided imagery CD to fall asleep and her 'General Wellness' and 'Stress and Anxiety' in the early morning, or Jon Kabat-Zinn's 'Body Scan' during those 4 hours when my sleep is intermittent. I'm finding that I am sleepy and tired when I get out of bed now at 3 mg and feel overly medicated, yet it isn't working well after 4 hours."

• Fli...
• January 13, 2016

For Insomnia "I used to take Lunesta, and it worked fine, but I went back to Ambien. Then I stopped both, and my insomnia is back a year later. Personal issues. I decided to try Lunesta because Ambien would make me so tired I couldn't wake up in the morning. With Lunesta, I can wake up before my alarm clock. That's exactly what I needed. I haven't tried taking it for more than 2 months. Hopefully, the effect doesn't wear off. If so, I'll have to just go back to Benadryl."

• gat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2024

For Insomnia "I started taking eszopiclone in December of 2022 when my husband had a sudden health trauma and was hospitalized and then had to go to rehab. It was a very stressful time and I was unable to sleep from the get-go. The doctor tried hydroxyzine and trazodone, and those both made me feel tired and zombie-like. I tried clonidine and it made me feel tired the next day. I take 1 to 2 mg as needed at night of Lunesta. As long as I get at least 7 hours of sleep, I seem to function just fine the next day. I have had three 30-day prescriptions over a year and a half period since I started it, so I have had no trouble with addiction or having to up my dose. I take it as needed and have really needed to be on something for sleep as needed for years since I have bipolar II. Occasionally I notice a little bit of anxiety in the afternoon the day after I take the medication, but if it happens it quickly passes. Has mild antidepressant effect at 2mg. Studies back this for perimenopausal women like me."

• Lit...
• May 5, 2016

For Insomnia "I have insomnia. My doctor prescribed Lunesta to help me sleep because I was going three days straight without sleeping... not a very good feeling. The first day I took Lunesta, I literally passed out, a good night's sleep, unfortunately, that was my only night of sleep. Now it keeps me fully awake. The odd part is that I don't feel tired, only my eyes look tired. The problem is that I am back to not sleeping up to three days."

• Lun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2018

For Insomnia "I thought it was awesome at first. Put me right to sleep, but woke up after 6 hrs completely wide awake. By 4 pm, I am exhausted because 6 hours isn't enough. I only sleep 6 hrs every night with this (usually I sleep 10, but not very good quality). It is probably useful simply to reset my bedtime to 10 pm rather than 1 am, but it doesn't help with overall sleep."

• Sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2019

For Insomnia "I took 2.5 mg of Lunesta the other night. I felt drowsy initially, but when I went to try and fall asleep, I couldn't. I laid in bed, exhausted and unable to sleep no matter how hard I tried. I took it again the second night, and I may have caught an hour or two of sleep. I'm honestly not sure. I know they say to give it a week or two to kick in, but my sleep is worse than it was before. It's going to be a long and exhausting few weeks."

• Hda...
• October 17, 2017

For Insomnia "Recently, I got married, and my insurance changed. The new insurance would not pay for the sleeping medicine I have been on for the last two years. They said I had to try Lunesta, Ambien, or one other before they would approve it. Last night made one full week that I was on Lunesta. Here are the reasons why I HATE it: 1. My mouth gets dry. 2. In the morning, my mouth tastes like I've been drinking spoiled milk. 3. I am so very depressed, I take antidepressants already. 4. I am so exhausted I do not feel like I can function. 5. I do not stay asleep. 6. I feel like the entire world could implode around me, and I still would not care. This medicine is by far the worst thing I've ever been on. I wouldn't even recommend this medication to anyone!!!"

• Jac...
• October 25, 2021

For Insomnia "It doesn't work at all for me. My doctor prescribed 5 mg. I was so disappointed. I'm exhausted. I'm feeling out of sorts due to lack of sleep. It may work for some people, but nothing for me. Not a wink. I'm waiting on a return call from my doctor. I must add the price was $150.00 with my insurance for 30 pills. So, so disappointed and so, so tired."

• Jac...
• October 25, 2021

For Insomnia "It doesn't work at all for me. My doctor prescribed 5 mg. I was so disappointed. I'm exhausted. I'm feeling out of sorts due to lack of sleep. It may work for some people, but nothing for me. Not a wink. I'm waiting on a return call from my doctor. I must add the price was $150.00 with my insurance for 30 pills. So, so disappointed and so, so tired."

• Rai...
• October 16, 2017

For Insomnia "I was prescribed Lunesta a few years ago and took it for about 2 months, hated it and got off of it. Last night I was desperate to sleep, and I couldn't remember why I hated it, so I took another one. First of all, this was 17 hrs ago and my mouth still tastes like I sucked the coating off a bunch of ibuprofen. It makes it really hard to drink water because it exaggerates the taste. Secondly, it makes me feel hungover and oppressively tired all day. Third, it lets me sleep only 6 or 7 hours despite feeling like I could sleep all day when I wake up. Is it the worst? No. It does work to that extent but the side effects are, if not medically serious, pretty annoying and uncomfortable."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 7, 2025

For Insomnia "I have mixed feelings on using Lunesta. While it does help me fall asleep and stay asleep, I typically need at least 8-9 hours of sleep in order to wake up feeling normal. I do notice that later in the day I may have a small headache and feel a bit tired in the afternoon. I power through, but do notice I feel tired again around 8 pm. All in all, the fact that I fall asleep easily is worth the rest of the side effects."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2025

For Insomnia "This is the third drug prescribed for insomnia. I am a 73-year-old female, with insomnia for at least 30 years. I take 2 mg nightly. I am in relatively good health. This is the only medication I take on a daily basis. I have been using Lunesta for approximately 3 months. It has helped me to fall asleep quickly (within 30-60 minutes), but I rarely sleep more than six hours per night. It does seem to make me feel calmer. Side effects which persist: constant headache, foods having an odd taste, loss of appetite, leg cramps. Only recently, I feel tired and exhausted all the time, often staying in bed for long periods; some depression, and within the past few weeks, serious muscle and joint pain in hands and legs. While I have tolerated Lunesta better than other meds prescribed, I am now getting discouraged with a new set of side effects. This is something to be discussed with my doctor. Is only getting 6 hours of sleep worth the side effects when I was sleeping the same number of hours using an OTC med?"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2025

For Insomnia "This is the third drug prescribed for insomnia. I am a 73-year-old female, with insomnia for at least 30 years. I take 2 mg nightly. I am in relatively good health. This is the only medication I take on a daily basis. I have been using Lunesta for approximately 3 months. It has helped me to fall asleep quickly (within 30-60 minutes), but I rarely sleep more than six hours per night. It does seem to make me feel calmer. Side effects which persist: constant headache, foods having an odd taste, loss of appetite, leg cramps. Only recently, I feel tired and exhausted all the time, often staying in bed for long periods; some depression, and within the past few weeks, serious muscle and joint pain in hands and legs. While I have tolerated Lunesta better than other meds prescribed, I am now getting discouraged with a new set of side effects. This is something to be discussed with my doctor. Is only getting 6 hours of sleep worth the side effects when I was sleeping the same number of hours using an OTC med?"

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2024

"Very tired the next day, want to sleep half the day."