Rozerem and Sleep - Frequently Asked Questions

Putting it in simple terms, insomnia means "trouble sleeping." It is a real medical condition in which you have 1 or more of these symptoms: trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, waking up earlier than you want to, or having sleep that is not refreshing.

Disruptions of your sleep-wake cycle may lead to insomnia. And our lives are full of these potential disruptions, including stress, illness, and even travel.

You may have insomnia if you have 1 or more of these symptoms: trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and/or having poor quality of sleep for at least a month. You can have these symptoms for a night or two, which is called transient insomnia, or off and on for several months or longer, termed chronic insomnia.

Sometimes insomnia goes away when what's causing it goes away. But it can also turn into a long-term problem if you don't seek treatment. Insomnia can affect your concentration, memory and mood. Rozerem has not been shown to impact the consequences of insomnia.

Great question! Your healthcare provider probably prescribed Rozerem for you because you suffer from insomnia characterized by difficulty falling asleep. Your healthcare provider may have diagnosed you with this sleep disorder. Rozerem is indicated for the treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulty falling asleep. It may help you to fall asleep faster. Here are a few other common reasons your HCP might have prescribed Rozerem:

Non–habit-forming. If you have concerns with becoming dependent on sleep medication, Rozerem might be right for you, as other prescription insomnia drugs carry the risk of abuse and dependence
It is not likely to affect middle-of-the-night balance.*** Some older adults may have concerns with sleep medications for these reasons. This may be one reason your healthcare provider has prescribed Rozerem
Rozerem is the only prescription sleep medication that can help you sleep by working with your normal sleep-wake cycle, which is regulated by the body's internal clock
Won't leave you feeling groggy or "hungover" the next day**
Safe to use with some other commonly prescribed drugs. Before taking Rozerem, you should tell your doctor about all of the medications you're currently taking and ask which medications may be safe to take with Rozerem (see the Rozerem Medication Guide and Important Safety Information for some possible drug interactions). This is important if you have other conditions that are being treated. Rozerem should not be used in patients using fluvoxamine and should be used with caution in patients taking other CYP1A2-inhibiting drugs
Has not been shown in clinical studies to worsen breathing for people with mild-to-severe COPD.**** If you have this condition and fear that your breathing may become depressed as a result of using a sleep aid, your healthcare provider may have selected Rozerem

It is recommended that you take 1 pill 30 minutes before you go to bed. Because Rozerem acts quickly, you should confine your activities to those necessary to prepare for bed, and you should avoid any hazardous activities that require concentration, such as driving or operating heavy machinery, until you know how you will react to Rozerem.

You can take Rozerem with food, but don't take it with or immediately after a high-fat meal because that can affect absorption of the medication. And you should avoid taking Rozerem with alcohol.

You can take Rozerem whenever you have difficulty falling asleep. Take Rozerem 30 minutes before going to bed on those nights you have difficulty falling asleep.

The most common side effects to Rozerem are somnolence, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and exacerbated insomnia.

Rozerem is not likely to make you feel sedated after you take it. Instead, Rozerem helps you to sleep by working with your normal sleep-wake cycle. So you may feel like you are gently drifting off to sleep.

Rozerem has been shown in clinical studies to reduce the time it took to get to sleep. Patients are instructed to take Rozerem a half-hour before bed and then to only do activities related to getting ready for bed.

Studies have shown no scientific evidence that Rozerem will lead to abuse or dependence. So you can take it as long as you need to and stop when you don't.

As with other prescription sleep products, until you know how you will react to Rozerem, you should avoid engaging in hazardous activities that require concentration (such as driving or operating heavy machinery). However, with Rozerem, the majority of patients wake up ready to take on the day. It's been shown to help people fall asleep fast and wake up without feeling groggy or "hungover."**

Rozerem has not been shown to affect middle-of-the-night balance.*** And this may be because of the way Rozerem is thought to work.

Sleep Support Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Sleep and Insomnia

Taking Rozerem

What to Expect with Rozerem