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Sonata and Amnesia
Memory loss (amnesia) occurs in up to 4 percent of patients taking Sonata. If you are taking Sonata and amnesia develops, it is usually only for a couple of hours. This is generally not a problem, as most people are asleep after taking the medication.
Sonata® (zaleplon) is known to cause several side effects, with amnesia being one of them. In previous clinical studies with Sonata, amnesia (memory loss) occurred in up to 4 percent of people. In these clinical studies, amnesia was more common with the higher doses of Sonata.
When people taking Sonata experience amnesia, it is usually for a couple of hours after taking the drug. This is usually not a problem because most people are asleep after they take the sleep medicine. It can, however, be a problem for people who use Sonata when traveling, as they are more likely to wake up and disrupt their sleep.
In order to decrease the chances of developing amnesia with Sonata, you should make sure that you can get a full night's rest. If you will not be getting seven to eight hours of sleep, you should not take Sonata. Also, be sure to talk with your doctor if you think you are having memory problems.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD