Lunesta

Generic name: Eszopiclone

What is Lunesta?

Lunesta is a sleep medication known as a hypnotic. It is used to help if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

What is the most important information I should know about Lunesta?

If you do not experience an improvement after 7-10 days, contact your doctor to rule out other causes for your sleeping problems.

Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any changes in your behavior or mood, including aggression, agitation, hallucinations, depression, or suicidal thinking.

Lunesta works quickly, and can affect your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery, including the day after you take Lunesta. Do not engage in any activities that require mental alertness right after you take Lunesta or the next day until you know how Lunesta will affect you.

Rarely, Lunesta can cause short-term memory loss, which may be avoided if you are able to devote an entire night to sleep after taking Lunesta.

If you take Lunesta for more than several weeks, you may experience a dependence on Lunesta in order to fall asleep, or a decrease in Lunesta's ability to help you fall asleep.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Lunesta, even after taking it for 1 week, but it is more likely to occur with long-term Lunesta therapy.

What should I tell my doctor before I take the first dose of Lunesta?

Tell your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking before beginning treatment with Lunesta. Also, talk to your doctor about your complete medical history, especially if you are over 65 years old, you are depressed or have a history of depression, or you have liver impairment or any disease that makes it difficult to breathe.

What is the usual dosage?

The information below is based on the dosage guidelines your doctor uses. Depending on your condition and medical history, your doctor may prescribe a different regimen. Do not change the dosage or stop taking your medication without your doctor's approval.

Adults: The usual starting dose of Lunesta is 2 milligrams (mg) taken once daily. Your doctor may increase your individual dose to 3 mg daily depending on how Lunesta affects you.

If you are over 65, you have liver impairment, or you are taking certain medications that interact with Lunesta, the usual starting dose is 1 mg daily, and may be increased by your doctor to 2 mg daily.

How should I take Lunesta?

Lunesta should be taken immediately before going to bed. Do not take Lunesta with or right after a meal, and do not take Lunesta unless you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours) before returning to your normal activities.

What should I avoid while taking Lunesta?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Lunesta. Also avoid operating an automobile or heavy machinery until you know how Lunesta will affect you.

What are possible food and drug interactions associated with Lunesta?

If Lunesta is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Lunesta with the following: alcohol, clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, olanzapine, other sleep-inducing drugs, ritonavir, rifampicin, and troleandomycin.

What are the possible side effects of Lunesta?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking this drug.

Side effects may include: lightheadedness, dizziness, headache, unpleasant taste, drowsiness, difficulty with coordination

Can I receive Lunesta if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

Sleep medicines may cause sedation or other potential effects in the unborn baby when used during the last weeks of pregnancy. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you are planning to become pregnant, or if you become pregnant while taking Lunesta. A very small amount of Lunesta may be present in breast milk after use of the medication. The effects of very small amounts of Lunesta on an infant are not known. Therefore, as with all other prescription sleep medicines, it is recommended that you not take Lunesta if you are breastfeeding a baby.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Lunesta?

If you forget to take a dose of Lunesta, do not double your next dose when you do remember. Take Lunesta as soon as you remember before you go to bed, as long as you can devote a full night to sleep.

How should I store Lunesta?

Store at room temperature.