Sonata

Sonata is a prescription medication used to treat insomnia. 

Sonata belongs to a group of drugs called sedatives or hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep.

This medication comes in capsule form. It is taken immediately before bedtime with a full glass of water.

Common side effects of Sonata are drowsiness, lightheadedness, and dizziness.

Sonata is a prescription medication used in adults for the short-term treatment of the symptom of trouble falling asleep from insomnia.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc.

Serious side effects of Sonata include:

• getting out of bed while not being fully awake and doing an activity that you do not know you are doing. (See "Drug Precautions".)
• abnormal thoughts and behavior. Symptoms include more outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, worsening of depression, and suicidal thoughts or actions.
• memory loss
• anxiety
• severe allergic reactions. Symptoms include swelling of the tongue or throat, trouble breathing, and nausea and vomiting. Get emergency medical help if you get these symptoms after taking Sonata.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the above side effects or any other side effects that worry you while using Sonata.

Common side effects of Sonata include:

• drowsiness
• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• “pins and needles” feeling on your skin
• difficulty with coordination
• You may still feel drowsy the next day after taking Sonata. Do not drive or do other dangerous activities after taking Sonata until you feel fully awake.
• You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Sonata. Withdrawal symptoms include unpleasant feelings, stomach and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and rarely seizures. You may also have more trouble sleeping the first few nights after Sonata is stopped. The problem usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights.

These are not all the side effects of Sonata. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Medicines can interact, sometimes causing side effects. Do not take Sonata with other medicines that can make you sleepy.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

After taking Sonata, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night.You have a higher chance for doing these activities if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy with Sonata. Reported activities include:

• driving a car (“sleep-driving”)
• making and eating food
• talking on the phone
• having sex
• sleep-walking

Important:

1. Take Sonata exactly as prescribed
   • Do not take more Sonata than prescribed.
   • Take Sonata right before you get in bed, not sooner.
2. Do not take Sonata if you:
   • drink alcohol
   • take other medicines that can make you sleepy. Talk to your doctor about all of your medicines. Your doctor will tell you if you can take Sonata with your other medicines.
   • cannot get a full night's sleep
3. Call your doctor right away if you find out that you have done any of the above activities after taking Sonata.

Do not take Sonata if you are allergic to Sonata or to any of its ingredients.

Before starting Sonata, tell your doctor about all of your health conditions, including if you:

• have a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts
• have a history of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction
• have kidney or liver disease
• have a lung disease or breathing problems
• are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Sonata will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Sonata is excreted in human breast milk. It is recommended that nursing mothers not take Sonata.

• Take Sonata exactly as prescribed. Do not take moreSonata than prescribed for you.
• Take Sonata right before you get into bed. Or you can take Sonata after you have been in bed and have trouble falling asleep.
• Do not take Sonata with or right after a meal.
• Do not take Sonata unless you are able to get a full night's sleep before you must be active again.
• Call your healthcare provider if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem.

The dose of Sonata should be individualized. The recommended dose of Sonata for most nonelderly adults is 10 mg. For certain low weight individuals, 5 mg may be a sufficient dose. Doses above 20 mg have not been adequately evaluated and are not recommended.

If you take too much Sonata, call your doctor or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.

Sonata is a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep Sonata in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Sonata may harm others, and is against the law. Tell your doctor if you have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.

• Store Sonata at room temperature between 68° and 77°F (20° to 25°C).
• Protect from light.
• Keep Sonata and all medicines out of the reach of children.