Eszopiclone and Bad Taste: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Hiy...
• July 8, 2010

For Insomnia "This drug worked wonders for me! I had terrible insomnia and was averaging only a few hours of sleep a night. I started taking 2 mg of Lunesta a year ago. It helped me with anxiety and allowed me to get 8 hours of sleep a night. I have always been afraid of forming a dependency on sleep aids, so after one year of using Lunesta, I weaned myself off, just to put my mind to ease. It was very easy to do! I cut my pill in half for a few weeks, then stopped taking it. No withdrawal symptoms. I then decided to keep taking 1 mg, but it's comforting for me to know that I'm not dependent on it. Taking this drug was the best decision I ever made. If I swallow it immediately with water, I don't get a bad taste."

• Anonymous
• September 2, 2010

For Insomnia "I've been taking Lunesta 2 mg for the past year. It is very effective. I fall asleep within the hour and feel rested in the morning. It also relaxes me. The sour taste went away completely after a month of use. The best if you take it on an empty stomach. The only thing I'm concerned about is that my body will get used to it and then it won't help. For now it's still a lifesaver for me after suffering from insomnia since I was a teenager. My doctor doesn't recommend that I take it for more than three times a week because I'm still young, however, I have no choice and have to take it every night. I can't sleep otherwise. I have kids to take care of and a full-time job. I MUST sleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2012

For Insomnia "Put me to sleep almost every night at first, however, I never felt like I had a great night's sleep. Then, after a few months, it became less effective. Started waking at five o'clock and needing to take supplemental medicines to get some sleep. Am switching to something that might also help with anxiety too. (By the way, did not experience the foul taste thing at all.)"

• Bus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2016

For Insomnia "I was taking Ambien 15 mg for a while, but my body built a tolerance to it. Over 2 weeks ago, my doctor changed my prescription to Lunesta 3 mg. I finally got up the nerve to take it after doing all the research. This is the first I have taken, and I must say the aftertaste after about 5 minutes of taking it is absolutely horrible. Even breathing in through my mouth or nose heightens it. It strongly reminds me of how my mouth would taste after taking chemotherapy for cancer. It's causing a horrible flashback for me. This will be the first and last Lunesta I take. You also can't eat or drink anything as it tastes horrible too. I guess I will have to go back to Ambien."

• cal...
• August 19, 2009

For Insomnia "I've been taking Lunesta for almost a year, and it has worked wonders for me. I make sure I take it on an empty stomach, and I make sure I have at least 7 hours of sleep. I do get that weird taste in my mouth, but I don't mind, it's really not that bad. I have a toddler, and I am able to wake up in the middle of the night without a problem. If I do need to wake up in the middle of the night, I am alert, and then I am able to fall right back to sleep. Overall, I've had a great experience."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2018

For Insomnia "Started taking the generic form of Lunesta a few months ago for insomnia. As long as I don't eat too close to the time I take it, it works wonders. I only take it a couple of times a week because I don't want to end up with diminishing returns from taking it more often. Still trying to figure out how to prevent the horrid taste that develops the next day, but for the sleep, I'll suffer for a day or two."

• jpr...
• August 30, 2013

For Insomnia "Used it for one night, had nightmares all night, restless, tense, weird taste in my mouth. Yikes. Longer story: Used Ambien for almost a year, then needed something to last all night. Had to try Lunesta before insurance would cover Ambien CR. Tried it for one night, and it really was that bad. I was so happy to see it was time to wake up in the morning, so it would stop."

• fox...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2022

For Insomnia "Terrible medication for the ones who develop the bad taste side effect. I'd rather never take this again. I can't get this taste out of my mouth, throat, or nose. I took this to go to sleep during a cPTSD episode, and it made everything worse on top of the fact I can't eat or drink without tasting bitterness. I'm also still awake. Alert and awake. This just doesn't work for some people, at all."

• jag...
• October 17, 2011

For Insomnia "I have been taking Lunesta since about 2004. I have tried to take Rozerem, Ambien, Ambien CR, and nothing works as well as this. But now my copay is $76.00 a month on top of my doctor's visit. The aftertaste does go away. I know it said not to take for a long period of time, but I was not able to sleep with anything else but Lunesta. Now my insurance is changing again, and I will basically have to pay full price. I love this medicine, it is the only thing that works, and I need something that could possibly be a substitute."

• Sho...
• June 13, 2016

For Insomnia "I started out taking the lowest dose. Two hours later, still awake. Took the max dose prescribed. It is now 5:30 in the morning, and I have had no sleep. And have a bad taste in my mouth. I took a sip of water and about gagged from the nasty taste. Worst stuff ever."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2011

For Insomnia "I am a professional program designer and had a problem with thought activity, which made getting sleep a real chore. It became such a problem that my physician recommended my taking Lunesta 3 mg about a year and a half ago. I have not really noticed the aftertaste many have reported, but do have some dreams (mostly repetitive type problems that are work-related), but the trade-off is a really good night's sleep. I have energy the next day (my own, not enhanced). It will usually deliver 7 to 8 hours and not wake to a drugged feeling. I wish there was a generic, which would save me money."

• bla...
• January 9, 2012

For Insomnia "I've been taking Lunesta (3 mg) for 3 years now. The only side effect I've noticed is the bad taste, but that is minor. Sleep with this has been great, no bad dreams, no anxiety. Stress and irritation are way down now that I get a solid 7-8 hours/night. I've just started a weight loss program (4 months) and had no problem dropping the expected 1.5 lbs/week that the method I'm using (calorie counting) is designed for."

• Jmg...
• July 30, 2011

For Insomnia "I'm a chronic insomniac and have tried just about every medicine and remedy available. Lunesta 3 mg works the best for me, although after 10 days, I no longer sleep through the night. I wake up after 3 or 4 hours, but I can usually fall back asleep for another 3 hours, which is better than not sleeping at all. The only time I've noticed the bad taste is when I cut a pill in half. Don't do it!"

• ADB...
• October 30, 2007

For Insomnia "This medication has a horrible aftertaste, kind of like the effect Altoids has in your mouth, but a harsh chemical taste that lasts for a very long time and makes everything taste horrible, even purified water. I took the pill about 9 pm last night, and the taste finally went away about 11 am this morning. My dreams were vivid as well but not too pleasant. I will not take this medication again."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 16, 2022

For Insomnia "So I was previously prescribed Ambien! It worked great for me, and I had no complaints! My doctor previously switched me to Lunesta, no joke I’ve tried almost everything… the bitter taste I get in my mouth is probably enough to veer away from taking it :( I can’t sleep… so I can’t win! Literally everything tastes like a metal poison… I filled my mouth with water, juices, milk, and tried not letting it touch my tongue. I even tried getting it down without touching my throat! This horrible taste won’t go away, and it lasts all day. Everything just tastes off to me… I just ordered clear capsules to try putting them in one, and I saw something online about a berry that helps change taste… this is my last hope with this! Honestly, it works great to sleep, but the taste is a big negative for me."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 16, 2022

For Insomnia "So I was previously prescribed Ambien! It worked great for me, and I had no complaints! My doctor previously switched me to Lunesta, no joke I’ve tried almost everything… the bitter taste I get in my mouth is probably enough to veer away from taking it :( I can’t sleep… so I can’t win! Literally everything tastes like a metal poison… I filled my mouth with water, juices, milk, and tried not letting it touch my tongue. I even tried getting it down without touching my throat! This horrible taste won’t go away, and it lasts all day. Everything just tastes off to me… I just ordered clear capsules to try putting them in one, and I saw something online about a berry that helps change taste… this is my last hope with this! Honestly, it works great to sleep, but the taste is a big negative for me."

• bro...
• May 26, 2011

For Insomnia "Lunesta is wonderful. I am a chronic insomniac that can't sleep at all without medication, so far (2 weeks) Lunesta is the best I have ever used. I have been on 9 different sleep medicines, from antidepressants to benzodiazepines, etc., and 3 mg Lunesta has helped the most. I was on Ambien for some time, both regular and CR, and with both, I would wake up after 4 hours. Lunesta gets me a solid 7 hrs of sleep and has changed my life! Only the bad thing is the taste, but I am getting used to it now, oh, and it isn't cheap! Patent expires in 2 years, then generic will be available, but this medicine is worth the cost, nothing else works as well for sleep onset and maintenance."

• ACE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2018

For Insomnia "Just got off my Ambien due to the fact I was talking to myself, and I would wake up with food all over me. I even had sex without remembering, and my brain was like erased the next morning. Now I take Lunesta for 2 months, along with Doxepin. Doxepin helps you stay asleep, the Lunesta just helps me doze off. As for that bad taste, you can scrape it off or simply wrap a single piece of tissue around it and swallow, and voilà, no more bad taste. Hope it helped, but get the Doxepin, and you will sleep all night and not be tired."

• hte...
• July 20, 2010

For Insomnia "I've been using Lunesta for almost a week now, and it's wonderful! It puts me to sleep relatively quickly (20 minutes as opposed to the several hours it usually takes). It keeps me asleep 8 hours, sometimes longer if I don't have to work in the morning. There is a bit of a 'nasty' taste in the mouth in the morning, but it isn't that bad and goes away after breakfast and teeth brushing. Also, the first few days I was a little drowsy still after waking up, probably because the medicine was still in effect and my body wasn't used to so much sleep at once. Now I wake up energized, and I would definitely recommend this medicine to others! A little pricey though."

• bar...
• August 13, 2009

For Insomnia "I've been taking Lunesta for about a month and cannot get any rest. Not sure if I need an increase in the dosage. Yes, I have the bad taste. I take it on an empty stomach and stay up and just wait to go to sleep. Doesn't happen."

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2012

For Insomnia "I tried Lunesta for severe insomnia, and it didn't work for me. It gave me a very bitter, nasty taste in my mouth within 30 minutes after taking it. It didn't make me sleepy, and the taste made it even harder to fall asleep. I had to end up taking 1 mg Xanax to fall asleep that night."

• Cor...
• April 19, 2018

For Insomnia "I just moved to the USA from Canada and mollyanne43. I used to take zopiclone. I was on it for 6 yrs, it was the best sleep med I've ever used, also having a bad aftertaste, but who cares if you get to actually sleep. They put me on Lunesta here, and the first night was ok, I guess. I slept about 4 hrs, but now going on 6 days later, I haven't slept. I want to cry because I have a 4-month-old and a 4-year-old. I so, so wish I could get my zopiclone here:( not happy with Lunesta."

• mss...
• June 17, 2008

For Insomnia "If you can get past the nasty taste in your mouth (which eventually you won't notice), this medicine is great. I have tried Ambien, which made me forget anything that happened before bed. Lunesta seems to have the best results, I really cannot sleep without it now."

• Dal...
• October 15, 2017

For Insomnia "Genuinely hate this medicine! The side effects of dry mouth and a terrible taste (even though pills are coated) make it impossible not to drink extra water. Drinking extra water caused me to wake to pee in the middle of the night every night. One night I was so groggy and out of it - feeling really drugged - I fell and hit my head, shoulder, and elbow. In the week I took Lunesta, I never got more than 4-5 hours of sleep and each night had to use the bathroom. My sleep tracker showed little REM. Dry mouth was constant day and night. I never woke refreshed once and always felt like I had a residual “hangover” of a drugged feeling in the AM. I took Lunesta because Ambien seemed to stop working for me. I took it years ago and couldn’t remember why I disliked it."

• ray...
• September 23, 2009

For Insomnia "I take 3 mg of Lunesta before bedtime. I have no bad aftertaste. I wake feeling refreshed. I awake some nights, but I'm able to fall back to sleep and still feel refreshed when I awake. I do wish the price would come down."