Eszopiclone

Eszopiclone (Lunesta)

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Eszopiclone?

Prior to taking this medication, you should notify your healthcare provider if you have:

Sleep apnea or other types of respiratory disease, such as emphysema or COPD
Liver disease or liver failure, including cirrhosis
Depression
A history of any addiction
Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:

Are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant (see Lunesta and Pregnancy)
Are breastfeeding
Drink alcohol (see Lunesta and Alcohol).

Also, tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may also be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

(Click Precautions and Warnings With Eszopiclone for more information on this topic, including information on who should not take eszopiclone.)

How Does Eszopiclone Work?

Eszopiclone is part of a class of medications called sedative/hypnotics, which are known more commonly as sleep medicines. Like many other sleep medications, it is a controlled substance and may be abused.

Effects

Eszopiclone has been evaluated in several clinical studies for insomnia. In studies for chronic insomnia, people who took eszopiclone fell asleep faster and stayed asleep longer than people who did not take it. Similar results were seen in a study of eszopiclone in people with transient insomnia (insomnia that comes and goes).

Also, studies have shown that the medication can cause mild rebound insomnia (worsening of insomnia after stopping a medication). Rebound insomnia symptoms usually occurred for only one night after eszopiclone was stopped, after which people returned to their normal sleeping patterns.

(Eszopiclone Continued: Page 3)
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