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Ambien Vs. Lunesta Sleep Pills Comparison
-- Based on Data From Over 650 Users
SleepLikeTheDead.com gathered Ambien
reviews and Lunesta
reviews from hundreds of users of the drugs.
The sources of this data include dozens of online message
boards in which Ambian and Lunesta users share with others
their experiences regarding their use of the medications.
Our research has found that both user experiences with Ambien
and Ambien CR are virtually the same. As a result, user data
for both drugs is grouped together in the findings below.
All collected data was spontaneously volunteered by users and
was not the result of any organized, scientific data gathering
effort.
Numbers below indicate percentage of users indicating "yes."
| |
|
|
| Effective |
65% |
49% |
| Works
OK |
25% |
28% |
| Ineffective |
10% |
23% |
| e |
| Developed
dependence |
39% |
5% |
| e |
| Developed
tolerance |
19% |
8% |
| e |
| Side
effects |
51% |
47% |
| Sleepwalking |
23% |
0% |
| Anxiety
/ panic attacks |
6% |
15% |
| Bad
taste in mouth |
0% |
46% |
| Can't
be woken |
2% |
0% |
| Drugged
feeling |
6% |
2% |
| Drowsy
next day |
9% |
11% |
| DUI
with no memory |
2% |
0% |
| Ear
ringing |
0% |
4% |
| Hallucinations |
10% |
1% |
| Headache |
2% |
8% |
| Indigestion |
0% |
2% |
| Memory
loss / amnesia |
18% |
2% |
| MS-like
symptoms |
0% |
4% |
| Nausea |
1% |
4% |
| Nightmares |
3% |
6% |
| Personality
change |
2% |
0% |
| Sleep
driving |
4% |
0% |
| Sleep
eating |
12% |
0% |
| Sleep
injury |
3% |
0% |
| Sleep
sex |
3% |
0% |
| Sleep
talking |
12% |
0% |
| Sleepwalking |
0% |
1% |
| Strange,
vivid dreams |
3% |
8% |
| Thirsty |
0% |
3% |
| Violent |
1% |
0% |
Effectiveness
As a group, users report that Ambien has significantly higher
effectiveness than Lunesta. However, as you will see below,
the increased effectiveness of Ambien potentially comes with
more serious side effects as well as the risk of developing
dependency.
Dependence
Addiction was reported by over one-third of Ambien users in
our research, compared to just 5% for Lunesta. Dependence was
reported largely by those who use the drugs at least fairly
regularly. However, some users report becoming dependent in
a short amount of time.
Becoming addicted means that the user develops a dependence
on the drug to sleep well or even get any sleep at all. In addition,
stopping use of the drug can result in withdrawal symptoms,
such as aches, pains, anxiety, sweats, irritability, depression,
rashes, etc. according to Ambien users.
Tolerance
About one-fifth of Ambian users report developing a tolerance
to the drug, a significantly higher number than is the case
with Lunesta. Developing tolerance means that the drug loses
at least some of its effectiveness and that increasing the dosage
is required to maintain its effectiveness. Tolerance was reported
largely by those who use the drugs at least fairly regularly,
however some users report developing tolerance in a short amount
of time.
Side effects
Ambien has a somewhat higher number of reported side effects
than Lunesta. More importantly, Ambien's side effects tend to
be potentially more serious than Lunesta's.
Lunesta's main side effect, by far, is that it can leave a metallic
or bitter taste in the mouth. Some Lunestra users have stopped
taking the drug for this reason alone. Experiencing anxiety
or panic attacks is another significantly reported side effect
of Lunesta. Ambien, however, arguably has more serious potential
effects, especially sleep walking / acting with little of no
memory of the event.
Page last
updated: July 2008 |
