Eszopiclone and Bad Taste: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Hda...
• October 17, 2017

Eszopiclone 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!!!"

• Shu...
• June 20, 2009

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "This medicine worked fine for me to help me get to sleep and stay asleep, but it gave me a terrible taste in my mouth, made everything taste like soap. Maybe useful if you're really trying to lose weight, and nothing else helps. Food tasting like soap definitely makes it hard to enjoy eating."

• lil...
• July 8, 2009

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "I started using Lunesta over 2 years ago after trying Restoril for several months, which would put me to sleep, but then I'd wake up at 2 or 3 am and not get back to sleep until dawn. My doctor prescribed Ambien, but that made me have heart palpitations, so she switched me to Lunesta. The only side effect I've had is the 'yucky taste' in my mouth...brushing your tongue and the roof of your mouth upon awakening takes care of that. The cost is high, as others have mentioned, but after years of not getting a good night's sleep, it's well worth it to me."

• leo...
• September 26, 2010

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "It was a pretty good sleep aid overall. I did not build a tolerance, but decided to stop using it because it left a bad taste in my mouth. As soon as the bitter taste kicked in, I could easily fall asleep. I could get a full 8 hours of good sleep on it, too bad the taste lasted until noon the next day, and nothing could get the taste away."

• leo...
• September 26, 2010

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "It was a pretty good sleep aid overall. I did not build a tolerance, but decided to stop using it because it left a bad taste in my mouth. As soon as the bitter taste kicked in, I could easily fall asleep. I could get a full 8 hours of good sleep on it, too bad the taste lasted until noon the next day, and nothing could get the taste away."

• cra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 8, 2014

For Insomnia "I use this medication during manic periods (I have bipolar 2) when I sleep very little. It allows me to sleep for 6-8 hours, which can be really helpful and help my symptoms. Like others, I have an unpleasant taste in the mouth next morning, but this is worth it for a good sleep."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2017

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "Bad taste in my mouth and noticed it immediately-like I'm sucking on quarters. My smoking does not help this taste, lol. Um, first day, took it because I haven't slept since Seroquel, which is the only thing that has worked for me. And because they don't have it on formulary in some parts of the states, which sucks for me-and took it three hours ago and look at me blogging about it."

• Res...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2020

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "After taking Ambien 10 mg for a few months, I liked the way it helped me fall asleep, but not stay asleep. Dr. switched me to Lunesta 2 mg. Didn't fall asleep right away. Had the worst taste going down and also when I awakened 3 hrs later. I had the weirdest dreams (off/on sleep) and my mind was racing 90 mph. I prefer the 4 good hours of sleep with Ambien than interrupted sleep and restless 'zoning out' throughout the night."

• ins...
• September 1, 2009

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "I have not had a good night's sleep for over a year. Woken up several times a night. I have been miserable due to lack of sleep. It is really starting to show on my face - deep dark under-eye circles. Yesterday, my doctor prescribed Lunesta. I slept so well last night. Only woke up twice, but went right back to sleep. I do not feel any grogginess. There is a 'yucky' taste side effect. But, I will take yucky taste any day for a good night's sleep. I am really excited to get a good night's sleep again tonight. Hope it works the same again."

• Err...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2018

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "For reference, my type of insomnia is sleep maintenance - I can fall asleep, but I can't stay asleep. I was prescribed Lunesta after 1 year with Trazodone. I was on 100 mg of Trazodone, but it was starting to become less effective, so I decided to try something else and maybe give myself a break. My doctor said that Lunesta is supposed to be better for sleep maintenance insomnia than Ambien. I had been off Trazodone for 5 nights before I took Lunesta. I was prescribed 3 mg of Lunesta; for the first night, it worked okay. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th night, I had a hard time falling asleep, and then I woke up at about 4-4:30 AM and couldn't go back to sleep. The 5th night, I woke up at 2:30 AM and couldn't fall back asleep. The 6th night I woke up at 2 AM and couldn't fall back asleep. The 7th night, I was awake almost the whole night. Additional note: I do notice the weird taste in my mouth the next day while on this medication. The taste is amplified by drinking water."

• Sie...
• February 3, 2021

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "Transitioned from being on Ambien 10 mg for roughly two years to Lunesta 3 mg. I get a nasty taste in my mouth once taken, and it doesn’t get me to sleep quickly at all; however, I do stay asleep for a while once I do finally fall asleep."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2022

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "I was recently given a script for this sleeping medicine. I take it and don’t fall asleep for two hours. It leaves a terrible taste in my mouth. It also won’t allow me to go back to sleep if I wake up five hours later. Not pleased with this one bit."

• Rai...
• October 16, 2017

Eszopiclone 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."

• FLP...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 3, 2024

For Insomnia "I've been living with bad discs in my spine for 18+ years and have had several surgeries to correct what can be corrected. The surgeries have had some success, but overall I'm still in quite a bit of pain most of the day, every day. The pain, combined with a brain that won't stop thinking about things, prompted me to ask my doctor for a sleep aid as my insomnia was starting to affect my daytime alertness (driving and the ability to work). I had taken Ambien before, and it worked decently, not great, but I was able to get 4-5 hours of sleep with it. He then asked if I wanted to try Lunesta, which I did, and he prescribed me 3mg to be taken every night on an empty stomach (fats interfere with the absorption of Lunesta). Since that time, 14 years ago, I've used Lunesta every night, and I get 7-9 hours of peaceful sleep. Without Lunesta, I would most likely be unable to sleep, which would mean I could no longer work. Swallow it quickly because it does taste horrible if it dissolves."

• Cra...
• March 22, 2018

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "This is the second time I tried Lunesta. Once years ago. I couldn't remember if it helped or not, I did remember the bad taste. This time I was very hesitant to try it again. Wish I would have listened to my instincts!!! Within 10 minutes of taking it, I could taste the bitter metal grossness, even when I would breathe! I wanted to vomit. I'll go back to Ambien."

• Anonymous
• January 1, 2011

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "I tried a free sample of Lunesta for my insomnia for a few days. I felt a lingering bad taste in my mouth. I quit taking it. It was worse than Ambien CR's side effects, which made me anxious and irritable the next morning. I tried Silenor, and I am still taking it. Its side effect is very mild. I just drink Coke to concentrate on my work the next day."

• Sir...
• May 9, 2019

For Insomnia "I've been diagnosed with severe chronic insomnia and anxiety for the last 8 years, and while it takes a lot to make me sleep in terms of drugs (usually more than the average Joe), this drug did the job for me for a year and a half. For me, the positives were: - Fell asleep fast if taken an hour before bed - Woke up refreshed, no hangover feeling - Helped me stay asleep all through the night. The negatives were: - Bad aftertaste, numbness of the tongue, bad breath, metallic taste that lasted 24/7, coated tongue, pain on both sides of the tongue, gums, and teeth became very sensitive. - Must be taken on an empty stomach, otherwise, it won't work, so forget about snacking at night. - Addictive, and when I got off it, I got a severe panic attack. - Some memory loss, nothing severe. - Body gets used to it, so after a while, you need a higher dose. - Slower liver. It's a great drug to treat short-term sleeping problems, but if you suffer like I do from severe insomnia, it might not be the best of choices."

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2021

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "Was prescribed for insomnia. Followed the directions, was on a 6-hour empty stomach, took one 3 mg before bed. I did not fall asleep at all or even get tired. All I got was a horrible bitter taste in my mouth."

• adh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 2, 2023

For Insomnia "I have severe insomnia, and I've tried many medications, and I figured this would just be another one to not work, or make me wake up severely groggy. I couldn't function... but I am so glad I gave it a chance. I finally can fall asleep and stay that way, and I'm not crazy groggy like I used to be with Seroquel (which caused me to wreck my car the next morning). The only complaint I have, like many, is the bad taste in my mouth, but I'm kind of used to it from taking ADHD meds, and I will take that small side effect for some good rest!!"

• Kpo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 19, 2018

For Insomnia "I was prescribed Lunesta after very bad reactions to Ambien. While taking Ambien, I was told I did the strangest things, but I remembered nothing at all about them. (I was told it is called “the sleeping sex” pill.) I am happy with Lunesta. I do not walk in my sleep, etc. anymore, have morning-after effects, or a bad taste like others do. Perhaps it reacts positively with other meds I take at night, but for me, it works well (unless I am overstressed or my back hurts more than usual). And that is good enough for me!"

• Anonymous
• June 1, 2011

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "While effective, the aftertaste it leaves is almost intolerable. It tastes like sewage. Compared to some other less expensive, more pleasant tasting and effective alternatives, there are better choices for me, Halcion in particular."

• lot...
• June 11, 2021

Eszopiclone for Insomnia "I decided to give Lunesta a try after Ambien stopped working. The first night, I took the whole 3 mg pill. BLECH!!! I woke up many times throughout the night with a HORRIBLE bitter, metallic taste and dry mouth. I learned that the bitter taste is not the taste of the pill itself but related to the levels of Lunesta in your blood serum. That is to say, it is not bitterness from the pill touching your mouth, it is being excreted into your saliva during the metabolization process. The next night, I split the pill and took half. Still had some bitterness in my mouth, but NOTHING like it was the first night. I also drank it with a glass of orange juice, as it was suggested elsewhere. Sleepwise, Lunesta does some weird things: crazy dreams and seemingly fractured sleep. I also wake up very groggy."

• Tat...
• October 4, 2019

For Insomnia "I've taken Ambien for a while now, and it seems to have lost its effectiveness on me, so I asked to switch to Lunesta. This is my 2nd night taking it. I DO NOT FEEL DROWSY, trying to sleep, really trying. I feel the opposite of drowsy, and the horrible, bitter taste it leaves in my mouth... unbearable."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2017

For Insomnia "I started this medication last night. Not effective. I fell asleep for a half hour, then wide awake. Nasty taste in my mouth. Feel like crap all day and depression. I'll try it one more night, if it does not work tonight, I'm definitely going to stop taking it and try something else. I have severe insomnia. I was on Ambien for 2 years, built up a tolerance, so I'm trying others."

• Eev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2017

For Insomnia "I've had lifelong insomnia. My dad will tell you stories about all the nights he sat up rocking me because I didn't sleep. I've tried every over-the-counter remedy from melatonin to valerian root to sleepy time tea to Benadryl to Calms Forte... nothing works for longer than 3 days at most, and it still takes hours to fall asleep. I've tried prescription sleep aids, and Lunesta has been by far the most useless of them all. It doesn't make me even a little bit sleepy. It does, however, leave the most foul taste in my mouth. It tastes like I've been sucking on an old penny and chewing the white part of a grapefruit peel. And it doesn't go away with brushing or mouthwash, it's just in your saliva forever."