Good one, HFWR. But you forgot this:
Most common side effects: All medicines have side effects. Most common side effects of sleep medicines include: • drowsiness • dizziness • lightheadedness • difficulty with coordination You may find that these medicines make you sleepy during the day. How drowsy you feel depends upon how your body reacts to the medicine, which sleep medicine you are taking, and how large a dose your doctor has prescribed. Daytime drowsiness is best avoided by taking the lowest dose possible that will still help you sleep at night. Your doctor will work with you to find the dose of Clerestory that is best for you. To manage these side effects while you are taking this medicine: • When you first start taking Clerestory or any other sleep medicine until you know whether the medicine will still have some carryover effect in you the next day, use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness, such as driving a car, operating machinery, or piloting an aircraft. • NEVER drink alcohol while you are being treated with Clerestory or any sleep medicine. Alcohol can increase the side effects of Clerestory or any other sleep medicine. • Do not take any other medicines without asking your doctor first. This includes medicines you can buy without a prescription. Some medicines can cause drowsiness and are best avoided while taking Clerestory. • Always take the exact dose of Clerestory prescribed by your doctor. Never change your dose without talking to your doctor first. SPECIAL CONCERNS There are some special problems that may occur while taking sleep medicines. Memory problems: Sleep medicines may cause a special type of memory loss or “amnesia.” When this occurs, a person may not remember what has happened for several hours after taking the medicine. This is usually not a problem since most people fall asleep after taking the medicine. Memory loss can be a problem, however, when sleep medicines are taken while traveling, such as during an airplane flight and the person wakes up before the effect of the medicine is gone. This has been called “traveler’s amnesia.” Memory problems are not common while taking Clerestory. In most instances memory problems can be avoided if you take Clerestory only when you are able to get a full night’s sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be active again. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you think you are having memory problems. Tolerance: When sleep medicines are used every night for more than a few weeks, they may lose their effectiveness to help you sleep. This is known as “tolerance.’’ Sleep medicines should, in most cases, be used only for short periods of time, such as 1 or 2 days and generally no longer than 1 or 2 weeks. If your sleep problems continue, consult your doctor, who will determine whether other measures are needed to overcome your sleep problems. Dependence: Sleep medicines can cause dependence, especially when these medicines are used regularly for longer than a few weeks or at high doses. Some people develop a need to continue taking their medicines. This is known as dependence or “addiction.” When people develop dependence, they may have difficulty stopping the sleep medicine. If the medicine is suddenly stopped, the body is not able to function normally and unpleasant symptoms (see Withdrawal) may occur. They may find they have to keep taking the medicine either at the prescribed dose or at increasing doses just to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Pregnancy: Sleep medicines may cause sedation of the unborn baby when used during the last weeks of pregnancy. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you are planning to become pregnant, or if you become pregnant while taking Clerestory. SAFE USE OF SLEEPING MEDICINES To ensure the safe and effective use of Clerestory or any other sleep medicine, you should observe the following cautions: 1. Clerestory is a prescription medicine and should be used ONLY as directed by your doctor. Follow your doctor’s instructions about how to take, when to take, and how long to take Clerestory. 2. Never use Clerestory or any other sleep medicine for longer than directed by your doctor. 3. If you notice any unusual and/or disturbing thoughts or behavior during treatment with Clerestory or any other sleep medicine, contact your doctor. 4. Tell your doctor about any medicines you may be taking, including medicines you may buy without a prescription. You should also tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. DO NOT use alcohol while taking Clerestory or any other sleep medicine. 5. Do not take Clerestory unless you are able to get a full night’s sleep before you must be active again. For example, Clerestory should not be taken on an overnight airplane flight of less than 7 to 8 hours since “traveler’s amnesia” may occur. 6. Do not increase the prescribed dose of Clerestory or any other sleep medicine unless instructed by your doctor. 7. When you first start taking Clerestory or any other sleep medicine until you know whether the medicine will still have some carryover effect in you the next day, use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness, such as driving a car, operating machinery, or piloting an aircraft. 8. Be aware that you may have more sleeping problems the first night or two after stopping Clerestory or any other sleep medicine. 9. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you are planning to become pregnant
