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eszopiclone
Used for Insomnia
Used for Insomnia
Eszopiclone, also known by its brand name Lunesta, is a sedative-hypnotic that's used as a sleeping pill. It treats insomnia in adults. It can help you fall asleep faster and wake up fewer times during the night. The dosage is taken right before bedtime, with at least 7 to 8 hours until you need to wake up. Side effects include a bad taste in your mouth and headache. Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is a controlled substance because it has a potential risk of misuse and dependence.
What is Eszopiclone (Lunesta)?
What is Eszopiclone (Lunesta) used for?
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep (insomnia)
How Eszopiclone (Lunesta) works
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is a sedative-hypnotic. It's also sometimes called a "Z-drug."
It's not exactly clear how the medication works. But it's thought to affect a chemical in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA helps calm brain activity, which can help you sleep.
When does Eszopiclone (Lunesta) start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Lunesta |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Sedative-hypnotic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Schedule IV |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Risks and warnings for Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Abnormal sleep behaviors
- Risk factors: Taking eszopiclone (Lunesta) with alcohol or other medications that also make you sleepy
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) can sometimes cause unusual behaviors while you're not fully awake. These can include sleepwalking, driving, eating, making food, or having sex. You might not remember doing these things the next morning. These behaviors can sometimes lead to serious injuries or accidents.
The risk might be higher if you take eszopiclone (Lunesta) with other sleep medications or sedatives. It might also be higher if you drink alcohol with eszopiclone (Lunesta). But these behaviors can also happen when you take eszopiclone (Lunesta) by itself at the recommended dose.
If you or someone else notices these behaviors, stop taking eszopiclone (Lunesta) and tell your prescriber right away.
Sleepiness and reduced alertness
- Risk factors: Higher doses | Older adults \ Having less than 7 to 8 hours of sleep after taking a dose of eszopiclone (Lunesta) | Taking other medications that make you sleepy | Drinking alcohol
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) can make you feel sleepy the next morning. It can also make you less alert or unsteady. This can raise the risk of falls or injuries, especially in older adults.
The risk can be higher if you take eszopiclone (Lunesta) with other medications that make you sleepy, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and certain antidepressants. It can also be higher if you drink alcohol with eszopiclone (Lunesta).
Only take eszopiclone (Lunesta) at bedtime when you can get 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Don't drive or do anything dangerous until you know how it affects you.
Behavior changes and abnormal thinking
Rarely, people taking eszopiclone (Lunesta) can have unusual thoughts or behaviors. This can include feeling more anxious, aggressive, or outgoing than usual. Some people might act strangely or feel like they're having an out-of-body experience. Others might sometimes have trouble remembering things. Tell your care team right away if you notice any unusual changes in your mood or behavior while taking eszopiclone (Lunesta).
Severe allergic reactions
Rarely, eszopiclone (Lunesta) can cause serious allergic reactions. Signs can include swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe. It can also include nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, throat tightness, or other signs of anaphylaxis. Get medical help right away if you have these symptoms. Don't take eszopiclone (Lunesta) again if you've had an allergic reaction to it before.
Withdrawal
- Risk factors: Lowering the dose or stopping eszopiclone (Lunesta) suddenly
Withdrawal symptoms can happen if you suddenly stop eszopiclone (Lunesta) or lower your dose too quickly. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping again, anxiety, unusual dreams, nausea, or upset stomach. Don't stop or lower your dose without talking to your prescriber first. They can help you slowly lower your dose to reduce the risk of withdrawal.
Worsening depression or suicidal thoughts
If you have depression, eszopiclone (Lunesta) can sometimes make it worse. Some people taking sleep medications like eszopiclone (Lunesta) have had thoughts of suicide. Tell your prescriber if you have depression before starting treatment. Get help right away if your depression gets worse or you have thoughts of hurting yourself.
Side effects of Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Bad taste in mouth (up to 34%)
- Headache (up to 21%)
- Sleepiness (up to 10%)
- Dizziness (up to 7%)
- Dry mouth (up to 7%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Rash
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there)
- Infection
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: swelling of face, tongue, or throat; nausea; vomiting; trouble breathing
- Unusual sleep behaviors: sleepwalking; driving, cooking, or talking to someone while not fully awake
- Unusual thoughts or behaviors: anxiety, aggressiveness, distress, confusion, hallucinations
- Worsening depression or suicidal thoughts and behaviors
When do Eszopiclone (Lunesta) possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Dizziness
Unpleasant taste
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
More on Eszopiclone (Lunesta) side effects
The following Eszopiclone (Lunesta) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Chills
hoarseness
lower back or side pain
painful or difficult urination
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
Less common
Bladder pain
bloody or cloudy urine
confusion
discouragement
fear or nervousness
feeling sad or empty
frequent urge to urinate
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
irritability
joint pain
lack of appetite
loss of interest or pleasure
muscle aches and pains
nerve pain
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
shivering
sweating
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Change or loss of consciousness
difficult or troubled breathing
irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
belching
change in taste
dizziness
indigestion
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
Less common
Abnormal dreams
accidental injury
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
inability to have or keep an erection
pain, cramps, or heavy bleeding (females)
rash
swelling of the breasts or breast soreness (in both males and females)
Incidence not known
Change in sense of smell
loss of memory
problems with memory
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
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Pros and cons of Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
Pros
- Can help you fall asleep faster
- Can help you stay asleep longer if you wake up too early
Cons
- Can cause next-day sleepiness, dizziness, or poor coordination
- Risk of abnormal sleep behaviors, such as sleepwalking or sleep driving
Pharmacist tips for Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
- Take eszopiclone (Lunesta) right before you go to bed. Only take it when you can get a full 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Getting less sleep than this can make you more sleepy or less alert the next day.
- You can take eszopiclone (Lunesta) with or without food. But avoid taking it with high-fat, heavy meals. This might make the medication take a little longer to help you fall asleep.
- It's common to have a bad taste in the mouth from eszopiclone (Lunesta). Drinking water after you wake up and brushing or scraping your tongue might help. Tell your care team if it bothers you.
- Eszopiclone (Lunesta) can make you sleepy or less alert the next day. Don't drive or use heavy machinery until you're fully awake and you know how the medication affects you.
- Some people can have unusual behaviors while they're not fully awake after taking eszopiclone (Lunesta). This can include sleepwalking, driving, or making or eating food. You might not remember this the next day. Tell someone you live with about this risk. Stop taking eszopiclone (Lunesta) and tell your prescriber if this happens.
- Avoid alcohol while taking eszopiclone (Lunesta). This medication can make you sleepy, and alcohol can make this side effect worse.
- Check with your prescriber or pharmacist before taking other medications with eszopiclone (Lunesta). Opioids and other medications that make you sleepy can make sleepiness worse. This can be dangerous. Some antibiotics and antifungals can also interact with eszopiclone (Lunesta) and change how it works. Your care team can make sure your medications are safe to take together.
- Tell your prescriber if your sleep doesn't improve after 7 to 10 days of taking eszopiclone (Lunesta). This could mean that another health problem is affecting your sleep.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 3mg of Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is $12.67 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 94.71% off the average retail price of $239.36. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1mg | 30 tablets | $13.12 | $0.44 |
| 2mg | 30 tablets | $12.58 | $0.42 |
| 3mg | 30 tablets | $12.67 | $0.42 |
Typical dosage for Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
The typical starting dose is 1 mg by mouth once right before bedtime, with at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep remaining.
Your prescriber might adjust your dose based on how well the medication works and if you have side effects.
More on Eszopiclone (Lunesta) dosage
Interactions between Eszopiclone (Lunesta) and other drugs
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Eszopiclone (Lunesta). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
More on Eszopiclone (Lunesta) interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Calcium Oxybate
- Magnesium Oxybate
- Potassium Oxybate
- Sodium Oxybate
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Alfentanil
- Alprazolam
- Benzhydrocodone
- Boceprevir
- Bromazepam
- Bromopride
- Buprenorphine
- Butorphanol
- Cannabidiol
- Carbinoxamine
- Cetirizine
- Clarithromycin
- Clobazam
- Cobicistat
- Codeine
- Conivaptan
- Dihydrocodeine
- Doxylamine
- Esketamine
- Fentanyl
- Flibanserin
- Flumazenil
- Fosnetupitant
- Fospropofol
- Gabapentin
- Gabapentin Enacarbil
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Idelalisib
- Indinavir
- Itraconazole
- Ketamine
- Ketoconazole
- Lemborexant
- Levocetirizine
- Levorphanol
- Lofexidine
- Lopinavir
- Loxapine
- Meclizine
- Meperidine
- Methadone
- Metoclopramide
- Midazolam
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Nalbuphine
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Netupitant
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Pentazocine
- Periciazine
- Posaconazole
- Pregabalin
- Propofol
- Remifentanil
- Remimazolam
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Scopolamine
- Sufentanil
- Tapentadol
- Telaprevir
- Telithromycin
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Voriconazole
- Zolpidem
How much does Eszopiclone (Lunesta) cost?
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Eszopiclone (Lunesta) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Eszopiclone (Lunesta) will not be safe for you to take.
- Have had abnormal sleep behaviors (e.g., sleepwalking, sleep driving) after taking eszopiclone (Lunesta)
What are alternatives to Eszopiclone (Lunesta)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Eszopiclone (Lunesta). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Eszopiclone (Lunesta) images
