Eszopiclone

Eszopiclone (brand name Lunesta ) is a sedative, also called a hypnotic. It affects chemicals in your brain that may be unbalanced in people with sleep problems (insomnia). Eszopiclone is used to treat insomnia . Symptoms include trouble falling asleep or waking up often during the night. Eszopiclone's effects typically begin within 30 minutes and it helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increases the total time spent sleeping. Eszopiclone's mechanism of action is thought to involve enhancing the effects of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. This slows down brain activity and promotes sleep. Eszopiclone is not a benzodiazepine but it has benzodiazepine-like effects; notably a more selective binding profile that targets specific GABA receptors involved in sleep. Eszopiclone belongs to the drug class called non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics. Eszopiclone gained FDA approval on December 15, 2004, under the brand name Lunesta. Eszopiclone is a Schedule IV controlled substance which means there are limits on how much can be dispensed because of its potential for abuse and dependence. Keep eszopiclone in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away eszopiclone may harm others and is against the law. Eszopiclone is available as a generic and as the brand name Lunesta.

Eszopiclone (brand name Lunesta ) is a sedative, also called a hypnotic. It affects chemicals in your brain that may be unbalanced in people with sleep problems (insomnia). Eszopiclone is used to treat insomnia . Symptoms include trouble falling asleep or waking up often during the night. Eszopiclone's effects typically begin within 30 minutes and it helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increases the total time spent sleeping. Eszopiclone's mechanism of action is thought to involve enhancing the effects of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. This slows down brain activity and promotes sleep. Eszopiclone is not a benzodiazepine but it has benzodiazepine-like effects; notably a more selective binding profile that targets specific GABA receptors involved in sleep. Eszopiclone belongs to the drug class called non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics. Eszopiclone gained FDA approval on December 15, 2004, under the brand name Lunesta. Eszopiclone is a Schedule IV controlled substance which means there are limits on how much can be dispensed because of its potential for abuse and dependence. Keep eszopiclone in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away eszopiclone may harm others and is against the law. Eszopiclone is available as a generic and as the brand name Lunesta.

Do not take eszopiclone if you: are allergic to eszopiclone, Lunesta, or any of the inactive ingredients in the tablets have ever experienced a complex sleep behavior (such as driving a car, making and eating food, talking on the phone, or having sex while not fully awake) after taking eszopiclone or any other sleep medicine drank alcohol that evening or before bed take other medicines that can make you sleepy. Talk to your doctor about all of your medicines. Your doctor will tell you if you can take eszopiclone with your other medicines. cannot get a full night's sleep are younger than 18 years old. Eszopiclone is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old. Before starting eszopiclone , tell your doctor about all of your health conditions, including if you: have a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts have a history of drug, substance, or alcohol abuse or addiction have ever abused or been dependent on prescription medicines have liver disease have a breathing disorder have depression, a mental illness, or suicidal thoughts are pregnant or planning to become pregnant are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. The sedative effects of eszopiclone may be stronger in older adults and accidental falls and injuries are more common in elderly patients who take sedatives.

The most common side effects of eszopiclone are: an unpleasant taste in the mouth or a dry mouth day-time drowsiness or a "hangover" feeling. You may still feel drowsy the next day after taking eszopiclone. Do not drive or do other dangerous activities after taking eszopiclone until you feel fully awake dizziness headache symptoms of the common cold.

Eszopiclone carries a Boxed Warning for Complex Sleep Behaviors. Complex Sleep Behaviors have caused serious injury and death. After taking eszopiclone, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing (complex sleep behaviors). The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night. These activities may occur with eszopiclone whether or not you drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy. Reported activities and behaviors include doing activities when you are asleep like: making and eating food talking on the phone having sex driving a car ("sleep-driving") sleep-walking. Stop taking eszopiclone and call your healthcare provider right away if you find out that you have done any of the above activities after taking eszopiclone. See Is Ambien-Tweeting or Sleep-Tweeting a thing? for more information about complex sleep behaviors with nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics. The morning after you take eszopiclone your ability to drive safely and think clearly may be decreased. You also may experience sleepiness during the day. Until you know how this medication will affect you during waking hours, be careful if you drive, operate machinery, pilot an airplane, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Worsening depression , including suicidal thoughts and actions, has been reported in patients with pre-existing depression in association with the use of sedatives such as eszopiclone. Tell your healthcare provider if your mood worsens or you have thoughts of harming yourself. Eszopiclone will make you fall asleep. Never take this medication during your normal waking hours , unless you have at least 8 hours to dedicate to sleeping. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking eszopiclone. It can increase some of the side effects, including drowsiness. Eszopiclone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Eszopiclone should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking eszopiclone after taking it over several days in a row. Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to taper off the dosage (use less and less) before you stop the medication completely. Eszopiclone may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking eszopiclone and get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to eszopiclone such as hives ; nausea , vomiting ; difficulty breathing; or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: anxiety , depression, aggression, agitation ; memory problems, unusual thoughts or behavior; thoughts of hurting yourself; or confusion, hallucinations (hearing or seeing things). This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Eszopiclone carries a Boxed Warning for Complex Sleep Behaviors. Complex Sleep Behaviors have caused serious injury and death. After taking eszopiclone, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing (complex sleep behaviors). The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night. These activities may occur with eszopiclone whether or not you drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy. Reported activities and behaviors include doing activities when you are asleep like: making and eating food talking on the phone having sex driving a car ("sleep-driving") sleep-walking. Stop taking eszopiclone and call your healthcare provider right away if you find out that you have done any of the above activities after taking eszopiclone. See Is Ambien-Tweeting or Sleep-Tweeting a thing? for more information about complex sleep behaviors with nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics. The morning after you take eszopiclone your ability to drive safely and think clearly may be decreased. You also may experience sleepiness during the day. Until you know how this medication will affect you during waking hours, be careful if you drive, operate machinery, pilot an airplane, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Worsening depression , including suicidal thoughts and actions, has been reported in patients with pre-existing depression in association with the use of sedatives such as eszopiclone. Tell your healthcare provider if your mood worsens or you have thoughts of harming yourself. Eszopiclone will make you fall asleep. Never take this medication during your normal waking hours , unless you have at least 8 hours to dedicate to sleeping. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking eszopiclone. It can increase some of the side effects, including drowsiness. Eszopiclone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Eszopiclone should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking eszopiclone after taking it over several days in a row. Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to taper off the dosage (use less and less) before you stop the medication completely. Eszopiclone may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking eszopiclone and get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to eszopiclone such as hives ; nausea , vomiting ; difficulty breathing; or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: anxiety , depression, aggression, agitation ; memory problems, unusual thoughts or behavior; thoughts of hurting yourself; or confusion, hallucinations (hearing or seeing things). This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Scraped Dose — Take eszopiclone exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take more eszopiclone than is prescribed for you. Take eszopiclone right before you get into bed. Do not take eszopiclone with or right after a meal. Do not take eszopiclone unless you are able to get a full night's sleep, and there are at least 7 to 8 hours before you must be active again. Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problems. Eszopiclone may be habit-forming. Misuse can cause addiction, overdose, or death. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law. Do not stop using eszopiclone suddenly after taking it over several days in a row, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine. Insomnia symptoms may also return after you stop taking eszopiclone and may be even worse than before. Tell your doctor if your insomnia worsens after stopping eszopiclone.

No child dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

No neonatal dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Medicines can interact with each other, sometimes causing serious side effects. Do not take eszopiclone with other medicines that can make you sleepy. Using eszopiclone with other drugs that make you drowsy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, an antihistamine, another sleep medicine, a muscle relaxant, or a medicine for anxiety or seizures . Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine. This is not a complete list of interactions. See the eszopiclone Prescribing Information for a complete list.

No storage information is recorded for this medicine yet.