Sleeping pill addiction

Of course, after posting I decided to look this up:

http://www.drugs.com/lunesta.html

This is an addictive drug.

I may well try to just quit taking them once my prescription is out (that makes sense, doesn't it? ) and get my Doctor to re-write me a prescription for the diazepam. With that, I didn't take it every night.

When I first got my BiPAP it was tough to sleep so I started taking that Lunesta. Before the BiPAP I didn't have problems getting to sleep. The head gear and the noise really affected my sleep so I took the Lunesta every night for a couple of weeks and now I find it hard to sleep without Lunesta unless I'm really tired.

The website in OldSeaRock's post says this about Lunesta:

"Lunesta may be habit forming. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause withdrawal effects if you have taken it continuously for several weeks. Talk to your doctor about the safe use of this medication."

Here is my question: how does the drug company get away with the commercials saying over and over again that the stuff is not addictive?

Again, I am a sleep medicine user , so I really don't care with respect to myself. But the thought of the drug companies being permitted to mislead people is just disgusting. Maybe I am just being nieve.

macoil2 wrote:Try Ambien.I have been on 5 MG nightly for the past three months It has been a life saver for me and no ill effects.

Have you tried to NOT take Ambien for a couple of night now, after being on it for 3 months?

Try not taking it for two or three days and see if you CAN really stop without ill effects. then you will know for certain if your can continue taking it and not be addicted.

Just trying to help.

Andy

I take a medicine called Seroquel. I've been taking it for years. I helps me fall asleep and stay asleep....that's the good news. The bad news is when I take it, I have to go to bed....if I try and fight it, I get very nauseous. Normally that wouldn't be a problem but one night I took it and ten minutes later my hubby told me he was having a heart attack. He went to the hospital in an ambulance and I followed in my car. I could hardly keep my eyes open...it was awful. I ended up getting very ill in the ER which the nurses did not appreciate. So now I take the Seroquel only when I know I can go to bed.
There are medicines, other than sleeping pills, that can help you sleep at night. There are plenty of anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, anti-seizure etc. meds that can help you sleep. Talk to your doctor about your options.

Amy

Jere, you are right!

Drug companies + campaign contributions = big business

It's like the oil companies gouging us for gasoline, claiming whatever they claim yet making record profits from us.

At any rate, I didn't take my lunesta last night and I rolled and tumbled without sleep. So tonight, I take my little blue/grey pill and get some sleep.

Sorry to sound a bit cynical but that's the nature of money and power when you don't have much of either... ...