Have you ever tried any of the 'new' sleeping aids they offer by prescription?  

Lunesta does have an aftertaste, but I've found that as soon as I eat something it goes away. The taste really isn't all that bad to me though, and well worth the good night's sleep I get with it. Have you tried eating to get rid of the taste? Also I've found that the longer I take the Lunesta, the less I notice the aftertaste also.

I took it for the first time last night and while I do feel the slight cotton mouth you get from it, I don't have a severe aftertaste. I will say one thing, this from a light sleeper, it knocks me out and cold! I heard nothing and didn't freaking move all night. About 10-11 hours. So I am going down to the slightly lesser amount, 2mg. It could be it did it for so long because I have been so sleep deprivated but it could also be just a little too much for me also. Not sure.

My issue is that I don't like not being in control of my household. When I couldn't sleep I was up while my teens were up, not that they're deviants that do things, etc. They're very trustworthy. But the idea that I'm not able to be woken up easily kinda bothers me. I think I bring my own sleep deprivation on by feeling the need to hear everything.

Thanks for answering! It means a lot to me to know how others have handled it.

You were probably out cold, like you said, and for so long, because of the fact that you have been sleep deprived. I would suggest using the 2mg. to start with however.

I know my dog easily awakens me during the night if she needs to be let out. I get up and let her out and then back in and I fall right back to sleep. I have no problem hearing the alarm and getting up in the morning either as long as it's been at least 7 hours since I took it(I can do it with 6 but making myself get up is harder).

I think for each person its different, so you have to do what works best for you. I didnt like ambien cr because it caused bad double vision. It didnt make me sleepy so I had to sit with my eyes closed because the double vision made me sick to my stomach. I am trying lunestra next. My dr did warn about the bad taste in your mouth. I have MS (multiple sclerosis) so I take a lot of meds, so that doesnt bother me. I have tried trazadone aslo, didnt really care for it, but its pretty safe, even children can take that one. My main problem is falling asleep. Once I am alseep I can usually stay that way, but I just cant fall asleep. Good luck finding stuff that works for you, just be careful not to drink alcohol with it ect. Lunestra isnt covered by most insurances, but your dr can usually give you a coupon for $25 off (to new people). I wish I didnt need to take them also, but having MS you get tremors really bad at night and unless you take a sleep aide its almost impossible to get to sleep.

I tried the Lunesta first, I'm glad now! Seems that Ambien isn't as strong.

I've tried everything, believe me.

I have MS too. The lunesta seemed to do it. You might want to try that. The MS is definitely part of the reason I can't sleep a lot also. Then other times I would sleep for literally over 24 hours!

I've tried the hot showers too. They seem to do the opposite for me, wake me up more.