Ramelteon

Ramelteon is a prescription medicine that is licensed to treat insomnia specifically in people who have difficulty falling asleep. People taking the sleep medication have been shown to fall asleep faster than those not taking the drug. Ramelteon, which comes in tablet form and should be taken 30 minutes before bedtime, is not a controlled substance and is not habit-forming. Fatigue, dizziness, and drowsiness are some of the more common side effects of this drug.

 

What Is Ramelteon?

Ramelteon (Rozerem®) is a prescription sleep medication that has been licensed as an insomnia treatment for people with difficulty falling asleep.
 
(Click What Is Ramelteon Used For? for more information on ramelteon uses, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Ramelteon?

Ramelteon is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
 

How Does Ramelteon Work?

Ramelteon works by stimulating melatonin receptors in the body. This helps people to fall asleep. Unlike many other insomnia medications, ramelteon is not habit-forming and is not a controlled substance.
 

Ramelteon Effects

Ramelteon has been evaluated in several clinical studies for insomnia. In studies of ramelteon for chronic insomnia, people fell asleep faster than people who did not take ramelteon. Similar results were seen in a study of ramelteon in people with transient insomnia (insomnia that comes and goes).
 
Studies have shown that ramelteon does not cause a "hangover" effect in the morning and does not cause rebound insomnia (worsening of insomnia after stopping a medication).
 
(Ramelteon Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;