lunesta vs. ambien

caspersmom · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 10

What is the difference between these sleep meds. My DOctor feels I can safely switch from 5mg to 7!/2 mg of ambien a night to lunesta 3mg and that it might help me stay asleep.
Any expiernce with this?

sleepylady · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Memphis

Most people feel Ambien and Lunesta work VERY differently on them. I'm one of those people.
Ambien pretty much always did the trick for me while Lunesta only sort-of worked a couple of nights. They are very, very different acting drugs.

Odd Bird · Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 25

I feel like an expert on these 2 meds. I was on them for years until April. They do work differently. I was on 10 mg ambien for about 3 years. I became dependent on it and it did quit being as effective. Then I started adding 10 mg sonata- a short term sleep aid- when I woke at 2-4 am. Then lunesta came out. I started with 2mg but then went to 3 when I became tolerant to it. Then I would trick my body by going off lunesta and back on ambien for a while. One difference I can say is that if I had a couple glasses of wine- which did interfere with my getting sleep- and then took ambien at bedtime(10:30) I could get a good nights sleep. (Yes I know you're not supposed to) However, if I drank 2-3 glasses of wine and then took lunesta, I didnt get a good nights sleep. Both meds helped me sleep until I grew tolerant- usually 1-2 months. I could not get to sleep with out the meds.
Then I went off to rehab for my cross addiction to alchohol , sleeping pills, pot, and pain killers(which I failed to mention earlier). The psychiatrist introduced me to seraquel which is not narcotic or addictive and I sleep well every night on 25 mg. No more ambien or lunesta, or wine, or any other funny stuff. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it! Laughing

NeedMyZ's · Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 110

I'm interested in responses on this, too! I had my Lunesta Rx filled, but haven't needed to take them yet. . . . I was sick last week, so I slept ALOT on my own, but, I'm feeling better and my sleep wasn't as good last night. I'm not sure if I'm headed for another rough patch. I really don't want to take one and it not work!

NeedMyZ's · Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 110

I took a Lunesta last night since I just seemed wired. I broke one of my rules and took it pretty late. I didn't fall asleep right away. After a couple of hours of sleep, my son had woke up and came into our room. I ended up laying down with him for a little while, but not going back to sleep. Went to the couch and dozed off and on until time to get up. I took 2mg. Not sure if that was enough since my sleep was on and off. I feel a little groggy right now, but probably not much different than if I hadn't slept.