Sonata and Impotence

Side effects can occur with the use of Sonata, and impotence is a rare side effect that has been reported by less than 1 percent of patients. However, since this side effect is so rare, it is difficult to determine whether it is actually caused by Sonata itself or other factors. If you are taking Sonata and impotence develops, your healthcare provider may prescribe an erectile dysfunction medication, adjust your Sonata dosage, or recommend another sleep medicine.

 

Sonata and Impotence: An Overview

Sonata® (zaleplon) is a prescription sleep medication used for insomnia treatment. As with all medicines, Sonata has possible side effects. Some of these side effects can affect a person's sexual well-being. In the case of Sonata, impotence has been reported in clinical studies.
 
Impotence is usually defined as a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. Ultimately, impotence is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction (ED for short).
 

How Common Is Impotence With Sonata?

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies where thousands of people are given a particular medicine and compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
 
In clinical studies, less than 1 percent of people taking Sonata developed impotence.
 

Sonata and Impotence: Suggestions

It is impossible for your healthcare provider to know beforehand whether you will develop any sexual side effects while taking Sonata. Also, if a person does develop sexual side effects, such as impotence, it is difficult to know whether these problems are caused by another condition or Sonata itself.
 
However, if you develop any sexual side effects while taking Sonata, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider. There is treatment that he or she may be able to recommend, depending on your particular problem (such as an erectile dysfunction medication). Depending on how severe your sexual side effects are, he or she may also recommend that you adjust your Sonata dosage or try another insomnia medication.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;