Zaleplon and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• Ame...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2019

Zaleplon for Insomnia "I am not sure why doctors don't tell their patients, when they prescribe Sonata, that it should be taken on an empty stomach. My doctor didn't even know. If it's not working for you and you've been eating within 2 hours of taking it, try it again at least 2 hours after eating. Also, it is short-acting, so it's great for those having trouble falling asleep. Because it's short-acting, though, you can take it in the middle of the night and it works quickly, and you can wake up without feeling groggy. Ambien kept me up all night, I took Lunesta for years and it was very helpful, but now I just want to make sure I have no lingering drowsy side effects. Make sure to take it in bed, ready to sleep, otherwise you will just feel loopy and miss the sleep window."

• epu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2014

Zaleplon for Insomnia "My doctor recently informed me that I should only take Sonata when I wake up in the middle of the night. Just need to have a glass of water near my bed. I tried that last night and it did give me a few extra hours of sleep. When I was taking it before bed, I generally would get up in the middle of the night anyway and feel groggy the next day."

• duw...
• June 25, 2008

Zaleplon for Insomnia "Amazing. Helps me fall asleep. I don't have a problem staying asleep, just getting in the mode to fall asleep. This medication is amazing. I do not feel loaded at all, I don't wake up groggy, I just lay my head on the pillow, and Sonata does the rest."

• Iva...
• October 17, 2009

Zaleplon for Insomnia "Falling asleep can be a bit of a challenge when my back and legs are cramping. Feels like a broomstick is constantly pushing hard on the lower left side of my back. This pill said to take immediately before bed. It takes about 70 minutes for me to shut down after taking it. Other pills give aching shoulders and joints, this one does not, and no grogginess either. I can sleep through at least 6 hours after use, and I appreciate the development of one medicine that works for me, as I have tried many, and they do not work well or have negative side effects."

• Anonymous
• January 7, 2009

For Insomnia "This medicine has been amazing. Although it does take a bit to kick in (30 minutes or so), once I am asleep, that is it. It works so well in that if my daughter wakes up in the middle of the night, I am not too groggy to get up and function."

• Xel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 17, 2016

For Insomnia "To be honest, I don't know what I'd do if this drug didn't exist. Yeah, it's certainly got its risks, but if you've got sleep onset insomnia and the trazodone, antihistamines, and everything else you've tried has failed, don't be afraid to give Sonata a try. Even the smallest dose available helps me, which is kind of surprising, considering that doxylamine and hydroxyzine both crapped out after less than a month, trazodone barely did anything, and diphenhydramine always left me drowsy the next day and had a tendency to make me oversleep, not to mention that it takes 50 to 75 mg combined with melatonin to do anything. Sonata works wonders for me. Just don't take it every night, since it can get less effective if you do."

• doi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2019

For Insomnia "I've had Ambien - drowsy after, and sometimes ended up getting out of bed and doing weird stuff without intending to, and abbreviated memory of it. Benzos - prob had too much of this for sleep, so anxiety is more permanent now. Trazodone - worked with diminishing effect. I didn't wake up to fire alarms once. Euphoria for 1.5 weeks, which went away. It doesn't work as well now, take it very rarely. I know tons of people who are absolutely dependent on this drug. It's meh. Side effects are night sweats, increased libido, and somehow made soda taste like the best thing I've ever had (I don't drink soda much). Sonata - doc recommended I take it when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. I take 10 mg. I don't FEEL sedated, I just end up falling back asleep for about 2-4 more hours, getting the desired result. I NEVER take it to initiate sleep, but rather to go back to sleep. I take it 2-3 x monthly. No drowsiness, no hangover."

• Jon...
• February 6, 2013

For Insomnia "I would rate this a 10 if it worked all night. I take the generic Zaleplon. It will make me drowsy in about 30 minutes, and I will fall asleep; usually with the TV on a timer. I used to take Xanax and a few cocktails, but wanted something different. I wake up about 4-5 hours later and sometimes get back to sleep sporadically; sometimes not. Now, I take 2.5 mg Xanax, then 30 minutes later take the Zaleplon and shortly after another 2.5 mg Xanax (I half one 5 mg Xanax and take it separately). I still wake up earlier than I want to, but I'm not sure there's anything I can do about that until I relieve some stress."

• Anonymous
• August 4, 2008

"Overall, this drug does help me sleep. My only problem with Sonata is that I wake up feeling groggy and somewhat like I have a 'hangover.' I feel that it also lost its effectiveness the longer I have been on it. I do, however, like that it lasts for a 4-hour window of time versus the traditional 8 hours."

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2016

For Insomnia "A little groggy, but didn't sleep well."