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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2005, at 17:21:45
Since I still had the two coupons for free lunesta I took the April script that I hadn't filled to my Rx today. They said it was a controlled substance and six months was as long as it was good for. Any way if lunesta is not addictive how come it's a controlled substance. I'm confused. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by jamestheyonger on December 7, 2005, at 17:24:02
In reply to Lunesta is A Controlled Substance I'm confused, posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2005, at 17:21:45
The monograph says it can cause dependance.
Posted by blueberry on December 7, 2005, at 19:37:16
In reply to Lunesta is A Controlled Substance I'm confused, posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2005, at 17:21:45
Couldn't you just call your doctor on the phone and have them call in a prescription? Mine did. I mean, lunesta is expensive, but even if you just filled a partial prescription for a few nights you might get some sleep.
Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2005, at 19:43:47
In reply to Re: Lunesta is A Controlled Substance I'm confused, posted by blueberry on December 7, 2005, at 19:37:16
I did sleep last night. But now I feel sick. I only wanted to try the lunesta before my first pdoc appointment on the 22. right now my stomach is feeling like I need to burp. And headache. Did all the stress of the last few days cause this or is there a virus going around. Sorry Blueberry for getting off topic I started but now something is wrong and I tend to panic. Again you have been very helpful. Thanks, it me . Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Jakeman on December 7, 2005, at 20:54:05
In reply to Lunesta is A Controlled Substance I'm confused, posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2005, at 17:21:45
> Since I still had the two coupons for free lunesta I took the April script that I hadn't filled to my Rx today. They said it was a controlled substance and six months was as long as it was good for. Any way if lunesta is not addictive how come it's a controlled substance. I'm confused. Fondly, Phillipa
Hi Phillipa,
I don't understand all the regs, but I think all sleep meds are listed as controlled substances (ambien, sonata, lunesta, restoril). From what I know lunesta is the first one approved by the FDA for long term use. I've been using it for 4 or 5 months and I feel like it lost some effectiveness over time. But it didn't poop out near as quickly as ambien. Sonata didn't help me at all. Some people swear by it, some don't. It's worth a try if it jives with your body.
warm regards ~Jake
Posted by med_empowered on December 7, 2005, at 23:36:55
In reply to Re: Lunesta is A Controlled Substance I'm confused » Phillipa, posted by Jakeman on December 7, 2005, at 20:54:05
I think since the 60s, when a lot of "safe" sleeping pills proved problematic (examples: Placidyl, Doriden, Noludar, and of course...QUAALUDES), the FDA has been a little more careful in scheduling psychiatric drugs. With the newer sleep aids, I think their reputation and their "new-ness" kind of tends to override their scheduling status in actual prescribing. Ex: most docs won't hesitate to hand out some Ambien or Lunesta, but they will think twice (or three, four times) before writing for a benzo..and when they do, its increasingly for Klonopin or Ativan, rather than Xanax or Valium. Yet...all these drugs are in schedule IV, which means they're officially about equal in terms of dependence-producing potential (and since schedule IV status means minimal dependence risk, it shouldn't be *that* big a deal). But...some of these same docs will write for adderall, dexedrine, ritalin, etc. without hesitation; addictive potential aside, I think maybe ADHD is seen as a less "crazy" condition than anxiety, so maybe they anticipate fewer problems (or consider ADHD patients more "normal" ?_
Posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2005, at 23:43:33
In reply to Re: Lunesta is A Controlled Substance I'm confused, posted by med_empowered on December 7, 2005, at 23:36:55
Okay med if they will not hesitate to prescribe lunesta or ambien why are they controlled? I know benzos are. But the adds clealy state nonaddictive so how can they be controlled. If they are really nonaddictive it should be like synthroid ie. What a minute from what is said on this board SSRI's are very addictive in some and they are not controlled. I smell a fish do you? PS Write me again. Your friend Jan/Phillipa
Posted by jamestheyonger on December 8, 2005, at 10:39:17
In reply to Re: Lunesta is A Controlled Substance I'm confused, posted by med_empowered on December 7, 2005, at 23:36:55
http://www.lunesta.com/PostedApprovedLabelingText.pdf
This is the monograph for Lunesta, it clearly says it can cause dependance. I remember the ad mentioning dependence. Dependance and addiction are not the same thing.
This is the end of the thread.
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