Posted by Cam W. on August 14, 2001, at 19:45:33
In reply to zaleplon--Cam?, posted by Hattree on August 14, 2001, at 17:24:01
Hattree - That's weird. I was taking the Starnoc™ (zaleplon - Sonata in U.S.) 5mg caps, and they were working for about a week. I am now taking the 10mg caps and they don't seem to be putting me to sleep, at all (even 2). The half-life of zaleplon is approximately an hour; good for us who just have trouble initiating sleep, but no good for those who wake up during the night.
As for causing you to have a "hangover effect" with the 10mg caps, it shouldn't be happening. I don't have a copy of the product monograph at home with me, so I can't comment on drug interactions, but I believe there were few if any.
I can't think of any hypnotics with a shorter half-life, in pill form. Halcion™ has a fairly short half-life (1.5h to 5h), but many docs won't prescribe these, as they make you "feel good", and are (or, at least were) turning into sought-after street drugs. Prostitutes were also using them to put into their Johns' drinks, and then rolling them. I have heard many weird stories about Halcion experiences. The amnesia that they produce has made many people, the next day, feel very embarrassed about what they had done while under it's influence. It is very hard to get someone to stop Imovane, though. Like most short-acting psychotropics, the withdrawl symptoms hit hard and fast.
A good hypnotic that we have in Canada zopiclone (Imovane™). Very little "hangover effect" the next morning; gets you to sleep and keeps you asleep; and has very little addictive potential.
I don't know anything about Ambien™ (zolpidem?), but I here that it seems to be safe and effective. Others on this board could help you with this one.
I know that this does not give you many answers, but perhaps asking your doc to prescribe the 5mg Sonata again, and see if it is good enough. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:75081
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010814/msgs/75089.html