Roflumilast and Insomnia: What Users Say

• jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2013

Roflumilast for COPD, Maintenance "My wife has been taking this medicine for 2 weeks for C.O.P.D. maintenance. It worked great for the C.O.P.D.; she used to cough constantly and had a hard time breathing, even while on prednisone. However, within 2 hours of taking the Daliresp, she stopped coughing and began breathing well. However, she developed diarrhea, then after coming off the prednisone, got severe back pain and was not able to sleep. It seems to help the C.O.P.D. very well, but the side effects may not be worth the breathing relief."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2013

Roflumilast for COPD "I have been using Daliresp for 1 week now. It appears to have improved my breathing, but I have several of the side effects. Now I'm having problems with diarrhea, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. I've got a call into my doctor now to see if the side effects will go away. If they don't, I'll have to go back to Advair."

• Mom...
• August 21, 2016

Roflumilast for COPD, Maintenance "Started taking Daliresp 3 months ago. Noticed improvement in breathing in 1st week. Then started having nausea and loss of appetite. I also started having other reactions, insomnia, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, bad thoughts about death. Over the last 2 months, it's gotten worse. I didn't know it could be the Daliresp. This morning I woke up at 1 am, couldn't go back to sleep because of thoughts of dying. It's 2 pm, I'm still awake (I can't sleep during the day). Got so bad I went to the ER today. The doctor told me to stop the Daliresp. OK! I never had mental health issues before. I don't have any clue how long it will take to recover from the mental health issues I'm having."

• pau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2023

For COPD "I started taking roflumilast in August of 2022 after experiencing several severe bouts of exacerbations and bronchitis, one of which required hospitalization. I also use Flovent and albuterol inhalers occasionally, as well as Anoro on a daily basis. I have been using roflumilast for almost a year. I am in my early seventies, retired from being a steelworker, and am a smoker. Pros: roflumilast has practically eliminated my constant bronchitis and reduced the frequency of catching colds and the flu. I have been able to return to nearly normal activities. Cons: I experienced loose bowel movements for the first month, but they eventually subsided. I also lost around twenty pounds. Roflumilast affects my muscle aches, pains, and strength. I sometimes experience occasional severe muscle spasms and cramping. Additionally, I have occasional sleep problems and insomnia, as well as a loss of appetite. There is also some mild depression, which may be related to both age and the medication. These side effects come and go, with good and bad days that can sometimes last for a week. Roflumilast is expensive without insurance. Despite these side effects, the benefits of roflumilast outweigh them. However, there are days when I feel like discontinuing its use. I hope this information helps you make a decision."

• pau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2023

For COPD "I started taking roflumilast in August of 2022 after experiencing several severe bouts of exacerbations and bronchitis, one of which required hospitalization. I also use Flovent and albuterol inhalers occasionally, as well as Anoro on a daily basis. I have been using roflumilast for almost a year. I am in my early seventies, retired from being a steelworker, and am a smoker. Pros: roflumilast has practically eliminated my constant bronchitis and reduced the frequency of catching colds and the flu. I have been able to return to nearly normal activities. Cons: I experienced loose bowel movements for the first month, but they eventually subsided. I also lost around twenty pounds. Roflumilast affects my muscle aches, pains, and strength. I sometimes experience occasional severe muscle spasms and cramping. Additionally, I have occasional sleep problems and insomnia, as well as a loss of appetite. There is also some mild depression, which may be related to both age and the medication. These side effects come and go, with good and bad days that can sometimes last for a week. Roflumilast is expensive without insurance. Despite these side effects, the benefits of roflumilast outweigh them. However, there are days when I feel like discontinuing its use. I hope this information helps you make a decision."

• swe...
• October 25, 2016

Roflumilast for COPD, Maintenance "I just started taking Daliresp again 10-23-16. The only problem that I have is I can't sleep. I can't go to sleep or stay asleep. And when I do go to sleep, it's only for a few hours. Then I am awake again. I take it before and stop taking it because I could sleep. I really don't know at this time if it works or not. Haven't been on it long enough to know. That's one of the side effects. So what can you do to stay asleep?"

• dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2014

For COPD "Daliresp has been a game changer for me. My COPD symptoms have been substantially reduced as I became quite winded after a short walk of 100-125 feet. Now, after about four months on this medicine, my shortness of breath has been reduced and is sometimes non-existent. During the four months, I had to deal with severe bouts of insomnia. This was solved by taking 1/2 pill per day. I notice no difference in symptoms between one or 1/2 pill."

• Kry...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2020

Roflumilast for COPD, Maintenance "Use Daliresp and have no difference in breathing. I do have side effects of insomnia, severe stomach pain, and having bowel movements every time I go to the bathroom, whether that's what I went in there for or not. Been on it a couple of weeks and took my last dose this morning. It's bad."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2023

For COPD "The first couple of weeks, I had no problem, but it’s made my chronic insomnia worse to wear. I’m typing this at 1:06 AM, and I can’t sleep before that. I was sleeping 3 to 4 hours before taking this medication. I was sleeping through the night, so it’s affecting me, so my doctor’s taking me off of it, 'cause I cannot sleep, but it does work on the lungs."

• Aud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2024

For COPD, Maintenance "I've been on this med for six weeks, 250 mg for 30 days, increased to 500 mg. I've had no positive effect on my breathing. In fact, it seems worse. Trouble sleeping only the first couple of days. Nausea when taken in the AM so switched to PM. I also use Breztri inhaler and take Montelukast. Nothing has gotten me off oxygen 24/7 since being hospitalized with pneumonia in January (5 months ago). I'm wondering if this is as good as it gets."

• awh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2012

Roflumilast for COPD, Maintenance "Had to stop taking due to severe insomnia. Stopped taking and still did not sleep for four days. Worked great on my breathing problems."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2013

Roflumilast for COPD, Maintenance "Did improve wheezing symptoms when taken in conjunction with Advair Diskus, however, caused sleep problems as well as digestive disturbances (12-16 bowel motions/day)."

• Lik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 6, 2018

Roflumilast for COPD, Maintenance "I love it. I haven't had to go to the hospital now for 2 years. I do have trouble sleeping, but take an OTC sleep aid, it helps."