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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lunesta on March 26, 2005, at 17:07:49
I have talked to the manager of a drug store chain (Eckerds) and they said they have many requests and scripts for it already and that it is on backorder and is expected to be available in MOST pharmacies in the week of April 1st. He said they have many backorders - whatever that means for Lunesta. It must be pretty popular :-)
lunesta
Posted by Spriggy on March 26, 2005, at 21:07:32
In reply to LUNESTA - update of availabilty! Week of April 1st, posted by lunesta on March 26, 2005, at 17:07:49
I'm out of the loop apparently, but what exactly is Lunesta? Have you tried it?
If so, what kind of results have you seen?
Posted by RjLockhart98 on March 27, 2005, at 18:49:28
In reply to Re: LUNESTA - update of availabilty! Week of April 1st, posted by Spriggy on March 26, 2005, at 21:07:32
I hear it is a new non-opiod sleep aid. Very popular, but i dont know about doc's opinion's.
Posted by Bill LL on March 28, 2005, at 10:16:35
In reply to Re: LUNESTA - update of availabilty! Week of April 1st, posted by Spriggy on March 26, 2005, at 21:07:32
I have a prescription for it that I can use when it comes out. It's the first sleeping pill that is FDA approved for long term use.
> I'm out of the loop apparently, but what exactly is Lunesta? Have you tried it?
>
> If so, what kind of results have you seen?
Posted by fachad on March 28, 2005, at 21:00:25
In reply to LUNESTA - update of availabilty! Week of April 1st, posted by lunesta on March 26, 2005, at 17:07:49
Can you have samples of a CIV med?
I'd really like to try it before I plunk down $50, my copay for brand only meds.
If there are samples, I could call my pdoc a week or two ahead of my next appt and test drive it before the appt.
Posted by Bill LL on March 29, 2005, at 10:19:12
In reply to Will pdocs have samples of LUNESTA? (C IV), posted by fachad on March 28, 2005, at 21:00:25
You could ask your doctor for 2 prescriptions. One for just 2 or 3 pills, and another for a lot of pills. Don't submit the first prescription to your insurance. That way, you won't have to pay the $50 and you can test drive it.
> Can you have samples of a CIV med?
>
> I'd really like to try it before I plunk down $50, my copay for brand only meds.
>
> If there are samples, I could call my pdoc a week or two ahead of my next appt and test drive it before the appt.
Posted by Iansf on March 29, 2005, at 18:35:26
In reply to Re: Will pdocs have samples of LUNESTA? (C IV), posted by Bill LL on March 29, 2005, at 10:19:12
> You could ask your doctor for 2 prescriptions. One for just 2 or 3 pills, and another for a lot of pills. Don't submit the first prescription to your insurance. That way, you won't have to pay the $50 and you can test drive it.
>
>
What a great idea. I wish I had thought of that a long time ago. It would have saved me a fair amount of money over the years.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 19:09:39
In reply to Will pdocs have samples of LUNESTA? (C IV), posted by fachad on March 28, 2005, at 21:00:25
Hi Fachad.
I'm sorry I don't know the answer to this question, but I wanted to ask you something else. How are you doing other than sleep problems? I remember from the past that you had a long, successful run on Dexedrine. If I remember correctly, you took ritalin first and then switched to dexedrine, or perhaps it was the other way around. I was impressed at the staying power of the stimulants and your body chemistry. Do you still get benefit from stimulants? May I ask what you're taking now? I'm not asking to be nosy. I'm asking because I'm going through a difficult time now. Absolutely nothing seems to help me anymore. I had benefited from Dexedrine in the past, but I developed a tolerance to it. When I tried raising the dose, I became unbearably fatigued. I hope it will work for me again some day, but for now I'm looking for alternatives.
Posted by fachad on March 29, 2005, at 23:24:15
In reply to Re: Will pdocs have samples of LUNESTA? (C IV) » fachad, posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 19:09:39
Yes, I started Ritalin in about 1993 or 1994 as an augmenter. It worked better than any of the dozen or so ADs I'd tried up to that point.
In 2002 I tried Dexedrine and it worked much better. I went up to 40mg/day within a month, and I've been at that dose ever since.
I had been taking 10mg/day of Prozac for years as well. Last fall I stared slipping back into depression. I increased the Prozac to 20 mg/day for a while, but my insomnia became intolerable.
I don't know if the month at 20mg/day did it, or if I had a spontaneous remission, but I'm doing better now.
Posted by ZenTen on March 30, 2005, at 7:14:30
In reply to Will pdocs have samples of LUNESTA? (C IV), posted by fachad on March 28, 2005, at 21:00:25
> Can you have samples of a CIV med?
>
> I'd really like to try it before I plunk down $50, my copay for brand only meds.
>
> If there are samples, I could call my pdoc a week or two ahead of my next appt and test drive it before the appt.************
Yes, it seems you can have smaples of schedule 4 Meds... as I know they have samples (or did) of Ambien, which is in the same schedule. I think however, that they have to be put in a ''locked'' drawer or something, that only the doctors or nurses can access and they have to be accounted for. Thus, many psychiatrist, don't want the trouble of that. As we often see, they have huge drawers of meds right out in the open in many cases.I cant find the release date for Lunesta. It seems to be under some sorta of confusion. It was finally approved Dec. 2004 (same time as Cymbalta). And was supposed to be released then; then again in Jan. And now the end of March. I dont know what is up. I actually emailed the FDA complaining--for whatever good that will do!
I am sure once it is out at pharmacies, they will have on thier website free sample coupons, like Ambien did for a while. Where you can get 3 or 4 free, with an Rx. I am going to my doctor today to ask about it. She said she give me it when it comes out. She tends to be very up to date and is a known psychopharmacolgist (uh oh) here in CT.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 30, 2005, at 22:17:40
In reply to Dexadrine still working; some relapse of depressio » Sarah T., posted by fachad on March 29, 2005, at 23:24:15
Hi Fachad,
I'm glad to hear that you've had such a significant improvement. I assume you went back to 10 mg of Prozac after that month? Back in '93 and '94, when you took Ritalin as an augmentor, was Prozac the medication being augmented?
That's terrific -- and unusual -- that you haven't experienced any tolerance to Dexedrine. May I ask how you take the Dexedrine? Do you take the immediate release tablets or the sustained release capsules? Do you take the entire dose all at once or do you space the doses throughout the day?
Posted by Sarah T. on March 30, 2005, at 22:20:32
In reply to Will pdocs have samples of LUNESTA? (C IV), posted by fachad on March 28, 2005, at 21:00:25
Hi again. It looks as if others have answered your question. As I was reading the last post, it occurred to me that whether or not you can get those samples might depend on the state. I think laws regarding restricted medicines vary by state.
Posted by CareBear04 on March 31, 2005, at 13:00:24
In reply to Re: Will pdocs have samples of LUNESTA? (C IV), posted by ZenTen on March 30, 2005, at 7:14:30
my pdoc wrote me a prescription for lunesta since it's supposed to be out by the end of this week. since so many people are waiting for it, we heard it was being backordered in many pharmacies. i took my prescription to two different pharmacies, and neither of them had even heard of lunesta, and they sure wouldn't hold my prescription or even let me know when it gets in stock. at the second pharmacy, they told me that it may be awhile before the drug is distributed, depending on the efficiency of the drug company. i would guess that the drug company is pretty damn eager to get lunesta on the shelves, and i don't understand why no pharmacist i've talked to is even familiar with the name! i've been through even sleep med out there, and i was counting on lunesta becoming available this week!
Posted by paulbwell on March 31, 2005, at 19:50:58
In reply to Re: Will pdocs have samples of LUNESTA? (C IV) » fachad, posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 19:09:39
> Hi Fachad.
> I'm sorry I don't know the answer to this question, but I wanted to ask you something else. How are you doing other than sleep problems? I remember from the past that you had a long, successful run on Dexedrine. If I remember correctly, you took ritalin first and then switched to dexedrine, or perhaps it was the other way around. I was impressed at the staying power of the stimulants and your body chemistry. Do you still get benefit from stimulants? May I ask what you're taking now? I'm not asking to be nosy. I'm asking because I'm going through a difficult time now. Absolutely nothing seems to help me anymore. I had benefited from Dexedrine in the past, but I developed a tolerance to it. When I tried raising the dose, I became unbearably fatigued. I hope it will work for me again some day, but for now I'm looking for alternatives.Hi there,
You became very fatigued? on dex?
If you don't mind, for guidence, what dose helped? and which made you fatigued?
I have taken Ritalin and have heard Dex is cleaner?
have you tried both? differences? Doses?
Funny things Stims:)
Thanks
Posted by paulbwell on March 31, 2005, at 20:00:57
In reply to frustrated!, posted by CareBear04 on March 31, 2005, at 13:00:24
> my pdoc wrote me a prescription for lunesta since it's supposed to be out by the end of this week. since so many people are waiting for it, we heard it was being backordered in many pharmacies. i took my prescription to two different pharmacies, and neither of them had even heard of lunesta, and they sure wouldn't hold my prescription or even let me know when it gets in stock. at the second pharmacy, they told me that it may be awhile before the drug is distributed, depending on the efficiency of the drug company. i would guess that the drug company is pretty damn eager to get lunesta on the shelves, and i don't understand why no pharmacist i've talked to is even familiar with the name! i've been through even sleep med out there, and i was counting on lunesta becoming available this week!
I wouldn't be to keen on being one of the first test subjects for the new pill if I was you. I would let others go first, and wait n see.
There have been to many botch-ups on latest release, hot shot pills, so take care, Carebear
Posted by CareBear04 on March 31, 2005, at 20:40:31
In reply to Re: frustrated!, posted by paulbwell on March 31, 2005, at 20:00:57
good point, paul! i was first in line for others like lexapro, abilify, and xanax xr, and i don't have anything good to say about any of them. i guess i've bought into the lunesta hype. lexapro was the first psych drug i ever tried, and i heard and read so much about how great and new it is that it made me even more depressed when the trial failed miserably. i should have learned by now that newer doesn't always mean better.
i was reading through old journals today, and i see that when restoril worked, it really worked. ambien has been good to me for two years, but it's not working well anymore. maybe i'll try going back to restoril.
thanks again for the advice.
Posted by paulbwell on March 31, 2005, at 21:03:36
In reply to Re: frustrated! » paulbwell, posted by CareBear04 on March 31, 2005, at 20:40:31
> good point, paul! i was first in line for others like lexapro, abilify, and xanax xr, and i don't have anything good to say about any of them. i guess i've bought into the lunesta hype. lexapro was the first psych drug i ever tried, and i heard and read so much about how great and new it is that it made me even more depressed when the trial failed miserably. i should have learned by now that newer doesn't always mean better.
> i was reading through old journals today, and i see that when restoril worked, it really worked. ambien has been good to me for two years, but it's not working well anymore. maybe i'll try going back to restoril.
> thanks again for the advice.Thanks
latest doesn't mean better--you got it gal!!!
Often older is better, don't be fooled by dope-pushing pharm giants -They dont give a sh*t about people only money!!, and dont buy into their nazi-like propaganda-its al about MONEY- not health, caring about people or public welfare, only and always 1 thing unfortunatly
MONEY
I took Celexa when it came out, and i became a depressed vegetable--I will never again believe a dope company or a Doc i don't trust.
I take 1 54yo med-Ritalin
1 take 1 42yo med-Valiumand they work better than the 6 so-called 'anti depressants' or other rubbish in shiny pretty boxes, I have stupidly put in my mouth.
Lunestras makers dnt care about you or anyone else! they care about as many people as possible taking as many of their pills as possible.
MONEY
MONEY
MONEY sorry, way it is
aaaaaaa rant over now,Cheers Care
Posted by justyourlaugh on March 31, 2005, at 22:58:51
In reply to Dexadrine still working; some relapse of depressio » Sarah T., posted by fachad on March 29, 2005, at 23:24:15
great to c u
Posted by jrbecker on April 1, 2005, at 9:52:08
In reply to Dexadrine still working; some relapse of depressio » Sarah T., posted by fachad on March 29, 2005, at 23:24:15
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050401/nyf040.html?.v=3
Press Release Source: Sepracor Inc.
Sepracor Announces Launch Timing for LUNESTA(TM) Brand Eszopiclone for Treatment of Insomnia
Friday April 1, 7:00 am ET
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sepracor Inc. (Nasdaq: SEPR - News) today announced that the final rule that will designate eszopiclone as a Schedule IV controlled substance will be published in the April 4, 2005 edition of the Federal Register with an immediate effective date. Upon publication of the final rule, Sepracor will commence full-scale commercial launch of LUNESTA(TM) brand eszopiclone. Sepracor expects LUNESTA to be widely available by prescription in pharmacies within days of publication of the rule. At this time, more than 40,000 retail pharmacies have placed orders with wholesalers in anticipation of LUNESTA's launch.
"We are very excited about the commercial launch of LUNESTA. Sepracor's sales force, which includes approximately 1,250 sales professionals, will promote LUNESTA to primary care doctors, psychiatrists and sleep specialists in the U.S.," said W. James O'Shea, President and Chief Operating Officer at Sepracor. "LUNESTA is the first and only sleep medication approved for long- term use, and we believe that, with its extensive clinical program that includes long-term studies, LUNESTA will provide physicians with a unique treatment option for their insomnia patients."The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the New Drug Application (NDA) for LUNESTA on December 15, 2004. Data from a landmark, long-term (six-month), double-blind, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study in 788 patients were reviewed by the FDA as part of the NDA submission for eszopiclone and served as a basis for the FDA's decision to approve LUNESTA for long-term use. Sepracor's six-month study was the first of its kind for a prescription non-benzodiazepine for the treatment of insomnia.
"We are extremely pleased to be able to provide a new prescription sleep aid for the millions of people who have trouble sleeping, particularly those who have difficulty sleeping through the night and those who suffer chronically," said Mark H.N. Corrigan, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Sepracor. "LUNESTA is the first non-narcotic non- benzodiazepine with a specific indication in its product label for improving sleep maintenance, and, in clinical studies, treatment with LUNESTA resulted in no measurable next-day residual effects in most patients. With LUNESTA's ability to maintain its efficacy even with long-term, continuous treatment and its lack of significant rebound upon discontinuation of therapy, we believe that LUNESTA provides physicians with an important new treatment option for their patients."
Insomnia can include difficulty falling asleep as well as difficulty maintaining sleep through the night. The recommended dosing to improve sleep onset and/or maintenance is 2 mg or 3 mg for adult patients (ages 18 to 64) and 2 mg for older adult patients (ages 65 and older). The 1 mg dose is for sleep onset in older adult patients whose primary complaint is difficulty falling asleep.
An estimated 100 million adult Americans suffer from either chronic or occasional insomnia.(1) Symptoms of insomnia include difficulty falling asleep, awakening frequently during the night, waking up too early, an inability to fall back to sleep, or awakening feeling unrefreshed. Insomnia can be a serious condition. If left untreated, it may become progressively worse and in turn potentially affect a person's emotional, mental and physical health.
The U.S. market for prescription sleep products was approximately $2.1 billion in 2004, excluding products not indicated for the treatment of insomnia that are nonetheless used in its treatment. This represents nearly a 19 percent increase over the previous year, according to IMS Health information.
Important Safety Information
LUNESTA should only be taken immediately before bedtime. Be sure you have at least eight hours to devote to sleep before becoming active. You should not engage in any activity after taking LUNESTA that requires complete alertness, such as driving a car or operating machinery. You should use extreme care when engaging in these activities the morning after taking LUNESTA. Do not use alcohol while taking any sleep medicine. All sleep medicines carry some risk of dependency. Do not use sleep medicines for extended periods without first talking to your doctor. Side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, drowsiness and dizziness.
Please visit http://www.sepracor.com or http://www.lunesta.com to access the FDA-approved labeling text for LUNESTA.
About Sepracor
Sepracor Inc. is a research-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to treating and preventing human disease through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products that are directed toward serving unmet medical needs. Sepracor's drug development program has yielded an extensive portfolio of pharmaceutical compound candidates with a focus on respiratory and central nervous system disorders. The company's commercialization efforts are carried out by its U.S.-based, 1,250-person, primary care and specialty-oriented sales force. Sepracor's corporate headquarters are located in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements with respect to timing of publication and effectiveness of the rule and of the commercial launch of LUNESTA brand eszopiclone, and the safety, efficacy and potential benefits of LUNESTA. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: unexpected delays in publication or effectiveness of the rule and/or commercial introduction of LUNESTA; Sepracor's ability to fund, and the results of, further clinical trials; the timing and success of submission, acceptance, and approval of additional regulatory filings; the scope of Sepracor's patents and the patents of others; the commercial success of LUNESTA; the ability of the company to attract and retain qualified personnel; and certain other factors that are detailed in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, the statements in this press release represent Sepracor's expectations and beliefs as of the date of this press release. Sepracor anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause these expectations and beliefs to change. However, while Sepracor may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Sepracor's expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
LUNESTA is a trademark of Sepracor Inc.1) Extrapolated to current population from 2000 census based on
Ancoli-Israel et al. SLEEP. 1999;22 (suppl 2):S347-S353.For a copy of this release or any recent release, visit http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/780960.html or http://www.sepracor.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Sepracor Inc.
Posted by CareBear04 on April 1, 2005, at 14:09:46
In reply to Sepracor Announces Launch Timing for LUNESTA(TM), posted by jrbecker on April 1, 2005, at 9:52:08
thanks for the info. it's very good to know, finally, what the deal is concerning release.
This is the end of the thread.
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