Description
How is this medication to be taken?
Zaleplon is available as a capsule to be swallowed. At bedtime or after attempting unsuccessfully to fall asleep, it is often taken as needed. Avoid taking zaleplon right before or right after a filling, high-fat meal. If you take zaleplon along with high-fat foods, it might not work as well. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Take zaleplon as prescribed by your doctor.
After taking zaleplon, you’ll probably feel quite drowsy right away and continue to feel sleepy for a while. After taking zaleplon, schedule a sleep period of seven to eight hours. If you won’t be able to go asleep straight away and sleep for seven to eight hours after taking zaleplon, avoid taking it. After taking zaleplon, you can have lightheadedness, dizziness, memory loss, issues with coordination, or hallucinations if you proceed to move around (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist). After taking zaleplon, you can have memory issues if you get up too quickly.
Within 7 to 10 days of using zaleplon, you ought to be getting good night’s sleep. If your sleep issues do not improve during this period, if they worsen at any point while you are receiving therapy, or if you notice any changes in your thinking or behaviour, call your doctor.
An addiction to zaleplon is possible. Never exceed the dosage, frequency, or duration of treatment recommended by your doctor.
Without first consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking zaleplon. Zaleplon withdrawal symptoms can include uncomfortable emotions, stomach and muscle cramping, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and in rare cases, seizures. Your dose will likely be gradually reduced by your doctor.
On the first few nights after stopping zaleplon, you might have more trouble getting asleep or staying asleep than you had when you initially started taking the drug. This is typical, and after one or two nights, it normally gets better on its own.
