Weaning myself off of Lunesta...

June 6, 2010

After reading the recent posts about Ambien, I thought I might discuss how I got

off Lunesta after 3 1/2 years of nightly use.

After switching to a new regimen that included Fuzeon in 2005 I started having

trouble sleeping. My doctor recommended either Ambien or Lunesta. Like most

people, I found one works better than the other for me.

For me that was Lunesta for others it is Ambien, but in actuality they are very

similar medications.

I continued taking Lunesta nightly and during the last year was taking the

highest dose of 3 mg. I usually could only sleep about four hours per night and

then would wake up - wide awake - and stare at the ceiling until I got out of

bed. In addition to this I could NEVER take a nap during the day even when I

was completely exhausted and hung over from the Lunesta. I was miserable.

When I swapped out the Fuzeon with Isentress in early 2008, I was determined to

get off the Lunesta. I had read this:

I don't know whether ANY of it is true, but I felt this stuff was not good for

me. My expereince trying to get off Lunesta cold turkey was similar to the

horror stories I read about others trying to get off their sleep medications

without much success.

First, I made sure I was doing everything right before bedtime. My partner and I

never watch TV in our bedroom now. We stop watching TV in the den and turn off

the computer at least an hour before retiring to the bedroom and read. We do not

stay up late and do not drink alcohol which throws off our sleep cycle. At

first I took a short warm shower, now I just wash my face.

To deal with the Lunesta I decided to use a razor blade and start cutting the

tiniest amount off of it before I took it. After about 8 weeks, I was hardly

taking any of it and stopped.

My sleep cycle is now restored. Generally I do not have problems getting to

sleep unless I am under a lot of stress and occasionally 1-2 nights after taking

a testosterone shot. I have reduced my dosage on that to about .5 cc every two

weeks and now maintain an acceptable level.

I rarely have a bad night since I started and usually those are associated with

some type of pain in my body. Even on those occasional nights I have difficulty

getting to sleep it usually only takes about an hour.

The remarkable thing is I am dreaming again. I hardly every remembered dreaming

while on the Lunesta. Now I have vivid dreams that I can't wait to get back to

if I get up to pee at night. I hope that I never have to go back on sleep

medication.

--JJ

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