Directions
Take
Sonata by mouth, immediately before bedtime or after
you have gone to bed and have difficulty sleeping,
as directed by your doctor. Do not take Sonata with,
or immediately after, a high-fat or heavy meal. Sonata
helps you fall asleep. To minimize side effects while
you are awake (e.g., dizziness or memory trouble),
take Sonata when you are in bed and are able to get
at least four hours of sleep before you need to be
active again. Do not use Sonata for longer than ten
days without your doctor's approval. If your sleep
problems continue, consult with your doctor. Use Sonata
exactly as prescribed. Do not increase your dose,
take Sonata more frequently or use Sonata for a longer
period of time than prescribed because this drug can
be habit-forming. Also, if used for a longer period
of time, do not stop using Sonata without your doctor's
approval.
Side Effects
Headache,
drowsiness, nausea or stomach upset may occur. If
any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your
doctor promptly. Tell your doctor immediately if you
have any of these serious side effects: dizziness,
weakness, loss of coordination, muscle joint pain.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these
unlikely but serious side effects: mental/mood changes,
persistent trouble sleeping, memory problems, loss
of appetite, tingling of the hands or feet, rash,
itching, tremors, eye/ear problems. Tell your doctor
immediately if you have any of these very unlikely
but serious side effects: fast/slow/irregular pulse,
chest pain, trouble breathing, blood in the stool,
unusual thirst, change in amount of urine. If you
notice other effects not listed above, contact your
doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions
Tell your doctor your medical history,
including: allergies, liver disease, lung/breathing
problems, mental/mood problems (e.g., depression),
alcohol use or drug dependence. Avoid alcohol, as
it may aggravate certain side effects of Sonata (e.g.,
dizziness, drowsiness). Use caution when performing
tasks requiring alertness (e.g., driving). You may
have trouble sleeping the first few nights after you
stop using Sonata. This problem usually goes away
after one or two nights. If sleep problems persist,
consult with your doctor. Use with caution in the
elderly, as they may be more sensitive to the effects
of Sonata. Sonata should be used only when clearly
needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits
with your doctor. Sonata passes into breast milk.
Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding
while using Sonata is not recommended. Consult your
doctor before breast-feeding.
Drug Interactions
Tell your doctor of all prescription
and nonprescription medication you may use, especially
of: rifamycin antibiotics (e.g., rifampin, rifabutin),
antidepressants (e.g., imipramine, amitriptyline),
ulcer medication (e.g., cimetidine). Also report any
drugs causing drowsiness such as: other medicines
for sleep, sedatives, tranquilizers, anti-anxiety
drugs, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric
medications (e.g., thioridazine), anti-seizure medications
(e.g., phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine), muscle
relaxants, antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g.,
diphenhydramine). Check all medicine labels carefully,
especially cough-and-cold preparations, since many
contain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine). Consult
your pharmacist regarding safe use of these products.
Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or
pharmacist approval.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact your
local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
Symptoms of overdose may include drowsiness; confusion;
sluggishness; loss of coordination; slow, shallow
breathing; and loss of consciousness
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