Sonata

Sonata is a prescription medication used to treat insomnia. 

Sonata belongs to a group of drugs called sedatives or hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep.

This medication comes in capsule form. It is taken immediately before bedtime with a full glass of water.

Common side effects of Sonata are drowsiness, lightheadedness, and dizziness.

Sonata is a prescription medication used in adults for the short-term treatment of the symptom of trouble falling asleep from insomnia.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

The dose of Sonata should be individualized. The recommended dose of Sonata for most nonelderly adults is 10 mg. For certain low weight individuals, 5 mg may be a sufficient dose. Doses above 20 mg have not been adequately evaluated and are not recommended.

Elderly patients and debilitated patients appear to be more sensitive to the effects of hypnotics, and respond to 5 mg of Sonata. The recommended dose for these patients is therefore 5 mg. Doses over 10 mg are not recommended.

Patients with mild to moderate hepatic (liver) impairment should be treated with Sonata 5 mg because clearance is reduced in this population. Sonata is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

An starting dose of 5 mg should be given to patients taking cimetidine because Sonata clearance is reduced in this population.

After taking Sonata, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night.You have a higher chance for doing these activities if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy with Sonata. Reported activities include:

• driving a car (“sleep-driving”)
• making and eating food
• talking on the phone
• having sex
• sleep-walking

Important:

1. Take Sonata exactly as prescribed
   • Do not take more Sonata than prescribed.
   • Take Sonata right before you get in bed, not sooner.
2. Do not take Sonata if you:
   • drink alcohol
   • take other medicines that can make you sleepy. Talk to your doctor about all of your medicines. Your doctor will tell you if you can take Sonata with your other medicines.
   • cannot get a full night's sleep
3. Call your doctor right away if you find out that you have done any of the above activities after taking Sonata.

Do not take Sonata if you are allergic to Sonata or to any of its ingredients.

Serious side effects of Sonata include:

• getting out of bed while not being fully awake and doing an activity that you do not know you are doing. (See "Drug Precautions".)
• abnormal thoughts and behavior. Symptoms include more outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, worsening of depression, and suicidal thoughts or actions.
• memory loss
• anxiety
• severe allergic reactions. Symptoms include swelling of the tongue or throat, trouble breathing, and nausea and vomiting. Get emergency medical help if you get these symptoms after taking Sonata.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the above side effects or any other side effects that worry you while using Sonata.

Common side effects of Sonata include:

• drowsiness
• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• “pins and needles” feeling on your skin
• difficulty with coordination
• You may still feel drowsy the next day after taking Sonata. Do not drive or do other dangerous activities after taking Sonata until you feel fully awake.
• You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Sonata. Withdrawal symptoms include unpleasant feelings, stomach and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and rarely seizures. You may also have more trouble sleeping the first few nights after Sonata is stopped. The problem usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights.

These are not all the side effects of Sonata. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Medicines can interact, sometimes causing side effects. Do not take Sonata with other medicines that can make you sleepy.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Sonata will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Sonata is excreted in human breast milk. It is recommended that nursing mothers not take Sonata.

This medication begins to work quickly. Take zaleplon right before you get in bed, not sooner.

Do not take zaleplon unless you are able to get a full night's sleep before you must be active again.

Zaleplon may not work well if it is taken with high fat foods.

Call your doctor if your sleep problems do not improve within 7 to 10 days.