Uses

Rozerem is in a class of drugs called sleep medications. Rozerem affects chemicals in your brain that may affect sleep. Rozerem induces sleep and causes relaxation. It is used to treat insomnia

How to Use

Take Rozerem exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Take Rozerem within 30 minutes prior to going to bed and limit your activities to those necessary to prepare for bed. You can take Rozerem with or without food but for Rozerem to work best, do not take it with or immediately after a high-fat, heavy meal. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Take each tablet whole. Take Rozerem only if you are able to get a full night's sleep (8 or more hours) before you must be active again. Do not take more of this medication than is prescribed for you. Store Rozerem at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Side Effects

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Rozerem and seek emergency medical attention: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; hives). Talk to your health care provider if you experience a worsening of insomnia or any new mental or physical problems that concern you. Contact your health care provider if you experience any of the following: decreased sex drive; excessive flow of milk from the breasts during nursing or milk flow from the breasts that is not associated with childbirth or the nursing of an infant in women; a loss of menses (period) in women; or fertility problems. Contact your doctor if you experience daytime drowsiness, dizziness, or clumsiness; more outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal; confusion; strange behavior; memory loss problems; agitation; hallucinations; or new feelings of depression. Side effects other than these may occur. If these become bothersome, contact your doctor.

Precautions

Worsening of insomnia, mental, or behavior changes. These may happen if your insomnia is caused by a mental or medical problem. Your health care professional should check you carefully for other health problems before prescribing Rozerem. Tell your health care professional if you develop:worse insomnia, mental problems including thoughts of harming yourself, behavior changes. Drowsiness: Rozerem may affect your ability to drive or do other dangerous activities. Do not do these activities after taking Rozerem. After taking Rozerem, do only activities needed to get ready for bed.

Drug Interactions

Avoid alcohol while taking butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine. Alcohol will greatly increase the drowsiness and dizziness caused by this medication and could be dangerous. Also, alcohol increases the risk of stomach bleeding when you are taking a medication that contains aspirin. Also avoid sleeping pills, tranquilizers, sedatives, and antihistamines except under the supervision of your doctor. These medicines also may cause dangerous sedation. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Codeine and butalbital may cause drowsiness. If you experience drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a Rozerem overdose are unknown but may include extreme sleepiness, confusion, dizziness, difficult or slow breathing, and unconsciousness.

Missed dose

Since Rozerem is usually taken only if you need it to help you sleep, missing a dose will not cause any problems.

Storage

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.