Ten percent of adults have a serious problem with insomnia. Even more suffer from sleepless nights, night wakings, and trouble drifting off to sleep.
Those who experience this turn to Sonata to regulate their sleeping patterns and get a good night’s rest.
Read on to learn more about Sonata and its effects on the body.
What Is Sonata?
Also known as Zaleplon, the drug Sonata gets used by those who suffer from insomnia.
Sonata is a sedative classified as a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic. This “z-drug” sleep aid often gets prescribed as a short-term solution to help people fall asleep easier. Sonata should not be taken longer than two weeks without a doctor’s approval.
How Is It Taken?
Sonata comes in a time-released pill form and is taken orally. The suggested dose of Sonata for most patients is between 5 to 10 mg.
The drug is fast-acting, so it’s best to take right before going to bed. It only takes about 30 minutes to kick in.
Sonata should only be taken when you can sleep for at least four hours uninterrupted afterward. It’s not recommended for naps or taking on a flight that lasts less than four hours. This can cause extreme drowsiness and other side effects.
It’s recommended to not eat a large or high-fat meal before taking this medication. Doing so can interfere with the drug’s effectiveness. It makes it less likely to treat insomnia symptoms.
Who Takes It?
Sonata is taken by adults of all ages who have a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes issues with falling asleep. This drug isn’t recommended for children.
Sonata has a shorter half-life than many other sleeping aids, of only about an hour. So it is used by people who have trouble falling asleep, rather than staying asleep. This is how it differs from drugs like Lunesta and Ambien.
Sonata doesn’t have to be taken every single night. Some patients will try to fall asleep on their own first and then turn to Sonata if they’re unable to do so within the hour.
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GET HELP NOWA Brief History of Sonata
Sonata is one of the newer sleep aids on the market. The Food and Drug Administration approved Sonata for use in 1999. It’s manufactured by King Pharmaceuticals.
Consequences of Sonata Abuse
Sonata is a sedative that works to promote healthier sleeping patterns. It does this by slowing down the mind and increasing relaxation in the body. This drug also depresses the nervous system.
Taking higher dosages than recommended can result in a Sonata drug high. This can bring about a feeling of euphoria and relaxation. Users may appear intoxicated with impaired judgment and mental confusion.
Elderly patients are often recommended to take a lower dose of Sonata. This is due to a lower tolerance for the drug’s sedative effects. Elderly patients taking Sonata have a 70 percent increased risk of falling and fractures.
Effects on the Mind and Body
When taking the Sonata sleep drug, users can experience impaired thinking and behavioral changes. Some may act out during their sleep, with no memories of doing so. This includes walking, eating, driving, talking, and even sexual activity.
Due to the sedative effects, Sonata should never get taken during daylight hours. It should only get used right before bedtime. Operating a vehicle while under the influence of Sonata is dangerous and can lead to death.
When starting the medication some users experience mild anxiety. This often occurs right when they are trying to fall asleep. This side effect should subside within a few days.
People often feel groggy or confused the following morning after taking Sonata. This also gets described as a hangover feeling. Some patients also experience bouts of amnesia while under the influence of Sonata.
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GET HELP NOWShort-Term Health Effects
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Loss of coordination or balance
- Vision problems
- Memory loss
- Nausea
- Decreased appetite
- Difficulty concentrating
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Eye pain
- Skin rash or mild itching
- Numbness or tingling sensation in extremities
- Joint, muscle, or back pain
- Mild anxiety or depression
- Nervousness
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Headaches or migraines
These common side effects are less likely to occur when the drug is taken properly and within the correct dosage. Users should also wake from their beds slowly to avoid dizziness. Rare side effects of Sonata include nosebleeds, fever, and double vision.
More serious and much less common side effects include extreme confusion or irritability, as well as hallucinations and possible suicidal thoughts. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience any of these effects.
If Sonata does not help insomnia within seven days, alternative treatments should be discussed. This could be a sign of something more serious, like a psychological problem.
Long-Term Health Effects
- Severe fatigue
- Amnesia
- Depersonalization
- Extreme confusion
- Reduced cognitive functions
- Mental impairment
- Frail muscle tone
- Possible development of cancer
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dependence
- Addiction
- Withdrawal symptoms
Taking Sonata for a longer period can result in a tolerance increase. Doctor’s will sometimes prescribe a larger dosage when this happens. Yet, this will also increase the risk of dependence and addiction in the patient.
Those with a history of mental illness, sleep apnea, or alcohol addiction should not take Sonata. As well as those with lung, liver, or kidney diseases.
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GET HELP NOWUsing Sonata With Other Drugs
Those taking Sonata shouldn’t drink alcohol or consume marijuana products. Doing so can enhance the drug’s sedative side effects, making the patient even more drowsy and uncoordinated.
Which Drugs Are Commonly Used With Sonata?
Those who abuse Sonata often mix it with other drugs to enhance the euphoric effects. Certain antidepressants, antibiotics, muscle relaxers, and narcotic pain relievers may interact with Sonata. Those taking mediation for anti-anxiety or seizures should likely not take Sonata.
You should never take other types of sleeping pills while using the drug Sonata. This can enhance sedation and cause slowed breathing. Some cold medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements can also interact with Sonata.
Sonata can also cause interactions with the following drugs:
- Rifampin
- Cimetidine
- Cyclosporine
- Promethazine
- Thioridazine
Some of these medications can even cause respiratory distress when taken with Sonata, which can be life-threatening, especially if the user is showing signs of painkiller addiction. Always talk to your doctor about which medications you are taking before starting Sonata.
Pregnant women or nursing mothers shouldn’t take this medication. It could cause problems with an underdeveloped fetus. Sonata can also pass through into a mother’s breast milk.
In a few cases, Sonata may cause a serious allergic reaction. Signs of a reaction include breathing problems, swelling, hives, and vomiting.
Treating Sonata Addiction
If you or a loved one suffers from Sonata withdrawal or addiction, you don’t have to battle it alone.
At Addiction Treatment Services, we ensure a smooth process to get the treatment you need. This means working with your insurance company so you don’t have to stress over paying out of pocket expenses.
Visit our insurance information page to learn more. Let us help you get started on the road to recovery.
