Suvorexant and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• Fer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2015

For Insomnia "I've tried everything from Ambien to low doses of antidepressants to OTC medications, and none have worked as well as Belsomra. The sleepiness is overwhelming, but it feels completely natural (think of the kind of sleepiness you'd feel as a child after a long day of playing). It's not a hypnotic like Ambien, so it doesn't get you high. It just makes you really sleepy. My doctor told me to take it 15 minutes before bedtime. I thought it wasn't working at first because I was expecting a quick reaction. Turns out it takes about 1-2 hours to start feeling the effects. I now take it 1-2 hours before bedtime and sleep like a baby. I've heard you can experience sleep paralysis on this drug. I haven't experienced anything negative yet."

• Bra...
• February 14, 2020

For Insomnia "I haven't taken every type of prescription/OTC sleep med and supplements, and Belsomra is near useless. I took a 15 MG dose. It takes forever to kick in. Even chewed it, and it took two hours to go to sleep. The sleep was better quality... I didn't wake up during the night. But 15 mg left me groggy the next day, and a 10 mg dose didn't work. Trazodone, which is dirt cheap and has no side effects, is much better, especially if you chew the tablets for quicker onset (20 mins VS 90!). I only tried Belsomra because I was offered samples. I thought perhaps it would give me that nice dozy feeling that Ambien did. But Belsomra is not pleasurable, and it barely works. Trazodone works much better, and it's out of patent 50 years, so it's maybe 10 bucks a bottle."

• aiw...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 29, 2016

For Insomnia "I have taken Belsomra for approximately 1.5 years. I have previously taken: Ambien, Seroquel, Lunesta, Remeron, all for insomnia. I now take Belsomra exclusively. This has been, by far, the best. I am able to fall asleep within 5 minutes after lying down (takes about 1 hour to take effect). There has been zero tolerance as it works just as well as when I first began taking it. It seems, from the reviews and from my doctor's opinion, that this drug either works or doesn't. I would advise that if you are considering this drug to give it a chance and don't be swayed by the negative reviews as everyone is different. Also, there are some side effects for the first few days (daytime drowsiness mostly), so try to stick with it for a week."

• ins...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2024

For Insomnia "I have had insomnia since childhood. 42 yr old F, 5'4", 125 lbs. 10 mg Belsomra for 1 month so far. I discovered Ambien 20 years ago and loved it. Was the ONLY medication that would shut my brain off. I got addicted to Ambien over the last year and ended up having to go to detox and rehab for it. While in rehab, 11 straight days of no sleep, my brain being WIDE awake despite my body's physical exhaustion symptoms...and the professionals realized I had a sleep disorder. Prescribed Belsomra, and it has worked wonderfully-with 50 mg hydroxyzine, 50 mg Dramamine, and 10 mg melatonin. I liked how Ambien just put me to sleep automatically. But, Belsomra allows me to feel the sleepiness, in a unique way, within 45 mins, and I sleep for 7-8 hours. I do have to take on an empty stomach and go to bed immediately after taking the medication to feel the sleepiness effects and go to sleep. I do feel drowsy the next day, but I would rather feel that than no sleep at all."

• DJ4...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 16, 2015

For Insomnia "I've seen 11 sleep docs in 4 states for my 16-year-old sleep problems and don't have a diagnosis yet. The closest said the part of my brain that tells me when to be awake or asleep isn't working properly. He nailed it, thus my self-diagnosis of sleep-wake amalgamation. I've taken 19 meds, e.g., Ambien, Provigil, Klonopin, Rozerem, Vyvanse, Lunesta, Trazodone, Gabapentin, Mirtazapine, and OTCs like melatonin and valerian. Of all, Belsomra is the only one that doesn't leave me groggy, druggy, or sleepless, although a few were very beneficial, and I still use them with Belsomra. With Belsomra, I get more REM sleep and feel much sharper. My only disappointments are the slow sleep latency and very slow increase in deep sleep, likely due to Klonopin's GABAAR downregulation."

• sle...
• March 4, 2016

For Insomnia "I tried this medication for insomnia. I had been taking Restoril 30 mg to help me sleep, but it had stopped working as well. My doctor gave me samples of Belsomra to try and said I needed to start at 10 mg, but it probably wouldn't work until I titrated up to 20 mg. I had the worst night I've had in a long time after taking this. I became confused and upset. I began crying, became dizzy, and felt as though I couldn't breathe. I was terrified to go to sleep. I apparently did fall asleep at some point after lying awake trying to keep from going to sleep due to fear. I had horrible dreams. Never taking this again. Worst night I can remember in a long, long time. I've felt horrible all day, groggy, and nervous."

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

For Insomnia "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."

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

For Insomnia "Worked very well. Did have next-day drowsiness, but only the first day. Am only taking 10 mg. 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."

• Vua...
• October 29, 2015

For Insomnia "I suffer from severe anxiety and depression and often find myself unable to fall asleep (note I take about 4 mg of Klonopin a day). I've never used a sleep aid before this, other than melatonin, and after almost 2 weeks of broken sleep, I could say I had a solid 8 hours and actually needed my alarm to wake me up for once, lol. The Klonopin helps, but I don't like taking it right before bed and would never give me sleep like this. Woke up a little groggy, but nothing unusual, no hallucinations or side effects. 12 mg did the trick (broke the pill 20 mg), and my gf said she's never seen my sleep like that, I was drooling, lol. Long story short, it is an effective sleep aid for me and suffered no ill effects. Felt well rested as well."

• lmp...
• January 15, 2016

For Insomnia "Worse drug ever. Terrible groggy feeling next day. I usually take Ambien 10 mg, however, since manufacturers have changed to North Star, I was seeking something else. Unfortunately, this is definitely not the answer. The next day, you will feel like you've been run over by a train-depressed and unable to accomplish anything! Terrible stuff, warning, do not resort to this garbage. It is just horrible. These are going straight in the trash. I'm going back to Ambien tonight. At least with North Star, when you finally do go to sleep, you wake up refreshed!"

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2017

For Insomnia "I will never take this medicine again. I was given some 15 mg samples to try. Was on Lunesta, but it wasn't working. Belsomra did indeed help me sleep, but the AM grogginess was terrible. I slept at least 8 hours the night before, but couldn't concentrate. I was in a fog all day. I fell asleep at the wheel twice and ran right through a red light at a busy intersection. It took all day for this medicine to wear off. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone."

• Boz...
• May 21, 2017

For Insomnia "I can see why this medication isn't for everyone. I have racing thoughts when I attempt to sleep. I take 20 mg Belsomra, make the room dark, and set myself up for sleep. My mind must calm because I wake up 5-9 hours later. This doesn't make you drowsy or euphoric. It helps me fall asleep like a normal person. Never will go back to benzos (for sleep), zopiclone, eszopiclone, etc."

• Ern...
• May 23, 2017

For Insomnia "Took a 10 mg last night and did fall fast asleep, but had the worst nightmares ever. Woke up at 3 a.m. and did go back to sleep, however, nightmares continued. I was pretty groggy this morning, but it passed. Don't know if I want to take another for fear of bad dreams!"

• Sav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2018

For Insomnia "This is the only medicine that has worked for me without bad side effects. It makes me so tired and relaxed about an hour after I take it. I do have some weird dreams, but nothing bad. I am never groggy the next day, and I always feel like I got a good night's sleep. I love it."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2015

For Insomnia "I'm ADHD, and for as long as I can remember, I have had problems with insomnia. I have taken Ambien off and on for years, as well as other OTC sleep meds and Lunesta. My psych gave me some sample packs of Belsomra to try... not sure what the heck it's made of. Took maybe 30ish minutes before I started to feel tired. Went to bed and fell asleep in about 40 minutes. What was weird is I had several periods of being 'asleep,' but my mind was completely awake, and it was really hard to move... I dunno. Other than that, I slept well, and I slept in by two hours, however, all day today I have felt drugged and sedated, foggy. I took the 20 mg, so maybe I should try a lower dose if I try it again."

• Gat...
• January 22, 2016

For Insomnia "This prescription is useless. I had worse troubles sleeping on this medication. It was a nervous sleep and woke up in the middle of the night. I also was groggy all day at work the next day! I wanted to return it after the first night, but of course the pharmacy would not return it. This drug is such a rip-off. Stick to Ambien or Lunesta!"

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2016

For Insomnia "I've been on Belsomra for 8 days, and I am really starting to like it. I have had anxiety and sleep issues for the last six months and finally reached out to my GP to ask for help. She prescribed trazodone at first, which just made my mouth really dry. Then I tried Sonata, which knocked me out good, but I would wake up two hours later and be wide awake for the rest of the night. Then I tried Belsomra 15 mg. The first night, I thought it worked okay, I didn't notice anything significantly better than no meds, but the second night I slept great and had an incredibly vivid dream. Every night since, I've slept well and had REALLY clear dreams. I'm actually going to try dropping down to 10 mg because they're a little too vivid, and I've been a little groggy."

• Wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2016

For Insomnia "I can fall asleep very easily, but my problem is staying asleep. Not only did this product keep me awake all night, but I woke up with a severe headache, stomach cramps, dizziness, and grogginess the entire next day. I felt like I was hungover. Never again. I'm sticking to ZzzQuil."

• Amb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2019

For Insomnia "Seemed to be a miracle at first. Now it is a curse. It leaves me drugged and drowsy throughout the day, and I find myself almost in tears, just desperate to get home and lie down for a nap-not that it would make any difference. I never, ever sleep anymore on this drug. I want to so badly, but it just makes me want to sleep, then makes it impossible for me to ever do so! How could this stuff have such a bizarre turnaround? The first few nights were wonderful; now I'm struggling just to get two hours of sleep on this horrible pill. It makes my mind race at night, and even taking anti-anxiety medication doesn't help."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2015

For Insomnia "So horrible. Took 10 mg at 10. Still awake at 11:30. Took 10 mg more and finally fell asleep at 12:30. Woke up at 3, super tired but unable to go to sleep. Side effects are a major headache on the left side of the head and super groggy because you're tired but can't sleep."

• Wal...
• June 11, 2018

For Insomnia "The best nights of sleep I have had in all the years after losing my son. Was on Ambien for 8 years and would get about 4 hours a night. Doctor changed to Belsomra at 10 mg, and I have slept for seven hours a night. It has been a miracle, and I have no side effects or grogginess in the morning. The only thing is it is expensive, but I am trying, along with my doctor, to get a lower price from the manufacturer. I guess it affects everyone differently after reading reviews, but it has been a lifesaver for me. I am also not tired during the day and not addictive like Ambien."

• Sno...
• November 13, 2016

For Insomnia "I took one 20 mg pill. It works, I slept better than I had in years, sleep quality better than anything I had ever taken before. The problem was the next day. I was so sedated that I literally couldn't think or remember words. I felt nauseous all day, and that night I almost fainted after eating dinner. I didn't take the pill the next night and couldn't sleep at all. I had to take a double dose of benzos, melatonin, and an Aleve because I was so achy. The next evening, I went out with friends and had a few drinks. I was acting aggressively, obnoxiously, and completely out of character. I hope they come up with a better version of this drug. I'm sad I can't take it due to side effects."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2022

For Insomnia "I know this drug doesn't work for everyone, but for me it has been a lifesaver. I've had chronic insomnia since I was a teenager and have tried a host of different drugs. Belsomra lets me fall asleep 'normally' without the high feeling and almost switches off my repetitive thoughts to allow me to get some sleep. I feel a bit groggy in the morning, but otherwise no side effects. A note though that only the 20mg seems to work a treat, the other doses are too low."

• Mpb...
• January 4, 2019

For Insomnia "I am taking Trintellix for anxiety (works great for me). I've always had insomnia in some form. I was taking trazodone to help sleep. It was generally effective, but I didn't like the side effect of being drowsy in the morning. My doctor suggested this medication. I'm on my second night on this. I'm wide awake (3:00 AM). I'm not anxious, and my mind is not racing. I went from getting regular, reasonable nights of sleep (with some side effects) to this, including pains throughout my body. Absolutely not an improvement. I cannot imagine this being helpful to anyone. I wonder if my doctor is getting a kickback or something."

• Anonymous
• October 26, 2017

For Insomnia "I had a terrible experience with this drug. First of all, it still took me a long time to fall asleep. When I did, I couldn't wake myself up when I had to. I also had hallucinations of flying creatures around the room, even with the lights on, that were very frightening. The next day, I felt like I had a terrible hangover and had a headache that lasted all day. I was drowsy all day and just had to drag myself around, even into the next day. I really think the FDA needs to review this drug! Overall, it was a very disturbing and unpleasant experience!"