Ramelteon 8 mg Prescription for Insomnia

Ramelteon is prescribed to help patients who have sleep-onset insomnia (difficulty falling asleep) fall asleep more quickly. Ramelteon is in a class of medications called melatonin receptor agonists. It works similarly to melatonin, a natural substance in the brain that is needed for sleep.

Ramelteon comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day, no earlier than 30 minutes before bedtime. Do not take ramelteon with or shortly after a meal. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ramelteon exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew or crush them.

After you take ramelteon, you should complete any necessary bedtime preparations and go to bed. Do not plan any other activities for this time. Do not take ramelteon if you will be unable to remain asleep for seven to eight hours after taking the medication.

The sleep-inducing effects of ramelteon take effect in approximately 30 minutes.¹

Ramelteon is prescribed in dosages of 8 mg. Recommended frequency is once a day before bedtime.²

Ramelteon is not available over the counter.³ It requires a prescription and can be purchased online at RedBox Rx.

Ramelteon is as low as $2 per tablet with RedBox Rx, no insurance required

Common side effects of ramelteon include drowsiness and dizziness.

Ramelteon should only be taken at bedtime. If you miss a dose, do not take ramelteon if you are not ready or able to go to sleep and stay asleep for at least seven to eight hours.

Before taking ramelteon:

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ramelteon, any other medications or any of the ingredients in ramelteon tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.

• Tell your doctor if you are taking fluvoxamine (Luvox). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take ramelteon while you are taking this medication.

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: certain antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); cimetidine (Tagamet); clarithromycin (Prevpac); fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Proquin XR), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), others; HIV protease inhibitors, including indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (VIRACEPT) or ritonavir (KALETRA®); medications for anxiety, pain or seizures; nefazodone; rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); sedatives; other sleeping pills; ticlopidine (Ticlid); or tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with ramelteon, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.

• Tell your doctor if you have ever thought about killing yourself or planned or tried to do so, and if you have or have ever had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, damage to the lungs that makes breathing difficult) or other lung disease, sleep apnea (condition in which you briefly stop breathing many times during the night) or other breathing problems, depression, mental illness or liver disease.

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking ramelteon, call your doctor.

• Ramelteon may make you drowsy during the daytime. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

• Do not drink alcohol during your treatment with ramelteon. Alcohol can make the side effects of ramelteon worse.

• Some people who took ramelteon got out of bed and drove their cars, prepared and ate food, had sex, made phone calls or were involved in other activities while partially asleep. After they woke up, these people were usually unable to remember what they had done. Call your doctor right away if you find out that you have been driving or doing anything else unusual while you were asleep.

• Your mental health may change in unexpected ways while you are taking this medication. It is hard to tell if these changes are caused by ramelteon or if they are caused by physical or mental illnesses that you already have or suddenly develop. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: agitation, anxiety, frenzied or abnormally excited mood, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), nightmares, memory problems, new or worsening depression, thinking about or trying to kill yourself, and any other changes in your usual thoughts, mood or behavior. Be sure that your family knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
  

It may be best to avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking ramelteon. Discuss with your medical provider.

If you stop taking ramelteon, you may have trouble falling asleep again. This is called rebound insomnia and will usually go away after one or two days.⁴

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community.

In case of ramelteon overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222 or dial 911.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist or medical provider any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all the prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

The brand name for ramelteon is Rozerem®.

1. Health.com

2. National Library of Medicine

3. Mayo Clinic

4. Cleveland Clinic

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