Guide to Prescription Lunesta (Eszopiclone). Lunesta Side Effects. Lunesta Dosage. Generic Lunesta (Eszopiclone) Drug Facts. Lunesta Warnings, Overdose Dangers, Addiction & Withdrawal.

Guide to Lunesta (Eszopiclone)

Lunesta is a prescription medication used to treat insomnia. Lunesta for sleep drug, belongs to a class of drugs known as sedative-hypnotics, which work by slowing down activity in the brain and promoting relaxation. Lunesta can help reduce the time it takes you to fall asleep and may also help you sleep longer to feel more rested in the morning.

Doctors must be informed about any other prescription drugs being taken to ensure proper safety measures. Only users who plan to get no less than seven hours of sleep should consider using Lunesta sleeping pills. Lunesta should not be taken with alcohol or other sedating medications, as this can increase the risk of side effects.

What Is Lunesta?

Lunesta is the brand name for the drug eszopiclone. It is a sedative and part of the non-benzodiazepine drug class. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) [1], Lunesta is used to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). Lunesta is in a class of medications called hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep.

Lunesta Addiction Dangers

Because of its high potential for abuse, addiction, and dangerous interactions with other substances and medications, doctors only prescribe Lunesta as a short-term treatment method for insomnia. Lunesta comes as a tablet to take by mouth [2]. It is usually taken once a day at bedtime or after unsuccessfully falling asleep.

Lunesta Withdrawal

When this drug is abused in high doses for an extended period, the user will likely experience withdrawal symptoms if they discontinue its use, especially if they do so suddenly. In addition, individuals frequently abuse Lunesta with opioid drugs and alcohol, increasing the risk of overdose and dependence. 

Lunesta Withdrawal

Lunesta affects Gamma-Aminobutyric Acidreceptors (GABA). This medication can calm neural activity and slow the central nervous system, helping people fall asleep and stay asleep. It is also referred to as a “z-drug.” According to Women’s Health [2], Women may be more prone to abusing sleeping pills than men, as two-thirds of the emergency department visits for the non-medical use of sleeping pills were for women in 2010.

Lunesta Uses Chart

Typical uses of Lunesta (eszopiclone) include:

Condition	Usage
Insomnia	Lunesta is commonly prescribed for the short-term treatment of insomnia, helping individuals fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Sleep maintenance problems	Lunesta can be used to address difficulty in maintaining sleep throughout the night.
Difficulty falling asleep	Lunesta may be prescribed to individuals who have trouble initiating sleep.

Lunesta Side Effects Warnings

While Lunesta (eszopiclone) is generally considered safe, some rare but potentially severe side effects could occur, including:

1. Severe allergic reactions include difficulty breathing, hives, facial, lips, tongue, or throat swelling.
2. Suicidal thoughts or actions
3. Memory loss or amnesia
4. Confusion
5. Depression
6. Aggressive behavior
7. Behavioral changes

If you experience any of these dangerous side effects, it is vital to seek immediate medical attention.

Short-term Lunesta Side Effects

Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a medication employed for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Despite its effectiveness, it can also produce adverse side effects. Typical side effects of Lunesta include:

1. Dizziness
2. Drowsiness
3. Dry mouth
4. Headache
5. Unpleasant taste in the mouth
6. Reduced coordination
7. Difficulty with attention or memory

Most people who take Lunesta do not experience severe side effects. However, if you notice any persistent or severe side effects after taking this medication, you should immediately contact your doctor.

You should inform your doctor of any medications you may be taking, as they can interact with Lunesta and produce unwanted side effects.

Severe Side Effects For Lunesta & Allergic Reactions

Lunesta may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking this drug and get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction or side effects for Lunesta, such as:

• Vomiting and or Nausea.
• Hives or swelling of your face, tongue, lips, or throat.
• Difficulty breathing.

Some individuals using Lunesta have engaged in activity while not fully awake and later had no memory of it. This may include driving, walking, or making phone calls. If this happens, stop taking this medication and call your doctor immediately.

Lunesta will make you fall asleep. Never take this medicine during your regular waking hours unless you have at least 7 to 8 hours to dedicate to sleeping.

Insomnia symptoms may also return after you stop taking Lunesta and may even worsen. Tell your doctor if you still have worsened insomnia after the first few nights without Lunesta.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these Eszopiclone side effects may occur, they may need medical attention if they do occur.

Is Lunesta Addictive?

Lunesta 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.

Extended or long-term Lunesta use should only be considered when other non-medication strategies for improving sleep have been explored and proven ineffective. Lunesta for long-term use may lead to dependence, tolerance, and potential withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation.

Lunesta and Alcohol Dangers

Avoid consuming alcohol while taking Lunesta (eszopiclone) or other sedative-hypnotic medication. Alcohol can increase the sedative effects of Lunesta, leading to excessive drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, and other central nervous system depressant effects.

Combining Lunesta with alcohol can cause:

• Severe drowsiness, dizziness, and even loss of consciousness.
• Impaired judgment and motor skills.
• Increasing risk of accidents or falls.

Additionally, both Lunesta and alcohol can negatively affect the quality of your sleep. Alcohol disrupts the normal sleep cycle, leading to fragmented and poor-quality sleep. Combining alcohol with Lunesta can further disrupt your sleep pattern and may not be effective in treating insomnia.

Follow your doctor’s instructions and avoid alcohol while taking Lunesta or any other medication. If you have concerns or questions about combining Lunesta with alcohol or other substances, confer with your healthcare provider.

Common Side Effects for Lunesta

The most common side effects for Lunesta (eszopiclone) include:

1. Dry mouth
2. Drowsiness or dizziness
3. Unpleasant taste in the mouth
4. Headache
5. Nausea
6. Heartburn
7. Stomach discomfort
8. Changes in appetite.

If you experience any persistent or severe side effects from Lunesta, notify your healthcare provider.

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Severe Side Effects from Lunesta

Some rare but potentially severe side effects of Lunesta include:

• Hallucinations,
• Suicidal thoughts, and
• Allergic reactions.

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

It’s also worth noting that Lunesta may interact with other medications or substances, such as alcohol or opioids. You must inform your doctor of any other drugs or substances you may consume to avoid negative interactions.

Taking Lunesta as your healthcare provider prescribes is crucial. Avoid taking higher doses or using it more frequently than directed. Doing so can increase the risk of severe side effects and potential addiction or dependence on the medication.

In summary, while Lunesta can be an effective short-term treatment for insomnia, it’s essential to be aware of potential side effects and to take the medication as directed by your healthcare provider. If you experience any concerning symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

Most Common Side Effects of Lunesta

Consult with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects from Lunesta occur:

Less common side effects Eszopiclone include:

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Top 3 Tips How to Make Lunesta Work Better?

Tips To make Lunesta (eszopiclone) work more effectively include:

1. Follow the prescribed dosage: Take Lunesta precisely as your healthcare professional prescribes. Do not exceed the recommended dose or change the dosage without consulting your doctor.
2. Take it at the right time: Take Lunesta just before you go to bed. It is designed to help you fall asleep quickly, so taking it too early may reduce its effectiveness.
3. Create a sleep-inducing environment: Establish a relaxing bedtime routine and a sleep-friendly environment in your bedroom. Ensure your sleeping area is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. Remove any distractions that might interfere with your sleep, such as electronic devices, noise, or excessive light.

Strategies to help improve the effectiveness of Lunesta (eszopiclone)

Additional strategies to help improve the effectiveness of Lunesta (eszopiclone), a medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of insomnia, try the following suggestions:

1. Establish a bedtime routine: Develop a consistent routine before bed to signal your body that it’s time to sleep. This could include relaxing activities like reading a book, taking a warm bath, or practicing deep breathing exercises.
2. Limit caffeine and alcohol intake: Avoid consuming caffeine (coffee, tea, cola) and alcohol in the evening, as they can interfere with sleep.
3. Avoid stimulating activities before bed: Engaging in stimulating activities like intense exercise, working on the computer, or watching intense television shows close to bedtime can make it difficult to fall asleep.
4. Use relaxation techniques: Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, or guided imagery to help calm your mind and prepare your body for sleep.
5. Limit daytime napping: If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, try to avoid daytime napping. If necessary, limit napping to shorter durations and earlier in the day.
6. Consult with your doctor: If you feel Lunesta is not working effectively or experiencing side effects, you must speak with your healthcare provider. They may be able to adjust the dose or prescribe alternative treatments.

Remember, Lunesta is a prescription medication, so it’s essential to confer with your doctor before making any changes to your treatment plan.

Lunesta vs Ambien

How Is Lunesta dsifferent fom Ambien? Both Lunesta and Ambien are sedative-hypnotic medications used to treat insomnia. However, they have some differences. For example, Lunesta is longer-acting than Ambien. Lunesta may remain in your system for several hours after taking it, while the effects of Ambien usually wear off within one or two hours. Lunesta may be more effective at helping people stay asleep through the night than Ambien.

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Lunesta Side Effects Addiction Statistics

Lunesta addiction side effects are real and dangerous. Many cases have been reported of people abusing sleep aid medication and experiencing dangerous Lunesta side effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States estimate that 10 million Americans use prescription sleep medications like Lunesta.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2018, approximately 1.9 million people aged 12 or older reported misusing sedatives, including Lunesta, in the past year. Misusing sedatives can lead to addiction, dependence, and other health problems.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that in 2017, there were over 4,400 admissions to substance abuse treatment programs for primary abuse of non-benzodiazepine sedatives, which includes Lunesta.

Long-term Lunesta use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms when the medication is discontinued. This is why it’s important not to exceed the recommended dosage or frequency of use and to seek medical guidance before quitting the medication.

If you or someone you know is struggling with Lunesta addiction or severe Lunesta side effects, it’s essential to seek help from a healthcare provider or a substance abuse treatment professional. The We Level Up treatment center network can provide guidance and support in safely discontinuing the medication and developing a recovery plan.

What Is Lunesta Used For?

Lunesta is slightly effective in treating insomnia, where difficulty falling asleep is the primary complaint. Lunesta belongs to the class of medications called sedative-hypnotics. It is used for the short-term and symptomatic relief of sleep disturbances. It can help individuals with difficulty falling asleep, frequent wake-ups during the night, or early morning awakenings. 

This medication should not be taken more than seven to ten days in a row. It should be used only by people for whom disturbed sleep results in problems functioning during the day. Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms. It can harm people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

Lunesta Side Effects & Warnings

There are several potential side effects of Eszpiclone, especially if someone takes these prescription drugs for more than a few months. While physicians monitor their patients for symptoms and Lunesta side effects, including addictive behaviors, it is crucial for individuals who receive a Lunesta prescription to discuss any concerns they have about Lunesta side effects, both short-term and long-term, with their medical professionals.

Individuals who do not plan to get more than seven hours of sleep should not take this medication, and those who regularly drink alcohol or take certain dietary supplements should not consume this drug. It is essential to inform doctors about any other prescription medications you are taking because combining this prescription with other drugs can be dangerous to organ systems like the kidneys, liver, or brain [3].

Short-term Lunesta Side Effects

Somnambulism is one of the more severe side effects. People who take this drug may get out of bed and hold a conversation, eat a large amount of food, leave the house, or even engage in sexual activity while still asleep. This side effect can worsen when Lunesta is mixed with alcohol and recreational or illegal drugs.

Another side effect of this prescription drug, which can be worsened when combined with alcohol or drugs, is the possibility of not being fully awake or alert the next day. Suppose someone takes Lunesta as a prescription [4]. In that case, it is crucial to follow all the prescribing doctor’s advice, such as getting at least seven hours of sleep and taking only the smallest required dose, to reduce this possibility.

However, if Lunesta is taken recreationally or in combination with recreational drugs or alcohol, it is possible that the individual will not wake up completely from sleep the next day. This puts the person in physical danger, mainly if operating heavy machinery or driving. Usually, the individual suffering this Lunesta side effects will feel awake and alert for the most part but could still suffer sleep-related hallucinations or other effects of this hypnotic medication.

Occasionally, an individual may feel hungover after taking Lunesta. This feeling can heighten if Lunesta is taken in too large a quantity, with alcohol, or combined with other recreational drugs. Headaches become worse or more common and feeling fatigued, dehydrated, and depressed.

The potential for Lunesta side effects increases when an individual takes this medication for longer than necessary, without doctor supervision, in too high a dose, or in combination with recreational drugs or alcohol [5].

Long-Term Side Effects Of Lunesta

A long-term Lunesta side effect of taking this medication is tolerance to the drug. This means the individual must consume higher doses to feel the same impact. When Lunesta is finished as a prescription and monitored by a medical professional, when tolerance develops, the prescribing physician can either switch the person to another medication or help the person stop taking Lunesta and try other insomnia treatments.

However, if a person misuses or abuses the insomnia medication for recreational purposes or struggles with an addiction to Lunesta, other long-term Lunesta side effects could become severe. Memory loss can happen in some situations, even when the person follows the prescribing doctor’s instructions.  However, amnesia can become a frequent problem in too large quantities.

Individuals who struggle with Lunesta-related amnesia forget events while on the drug, either due to sleepwalking and related activities or because the Lunesta directly affects the brain and prevents the person from adequately forming memories. Amnesia could be a side effect of too large a dose, so individuals should consult their doctors about lowering the dosage. It could be a side effect of addiction or combining this drug with alcohol or other drugs. Also, Lunesta can cause problems with cognitive function over time. 

Psychological problems may develop with long-term consumption of Lunesta as well. Pre-existing depression can get worse, suicidal thoughts may develop, and neurosis and anxiety may be present. With very long-term abuse, the drug can cause paranoia and hallucinations. 

Long-term use or abuse of this drug can also lead to a loss of coordination and fine motor control. Uncontrollable eye movements, called nystagmus, can start, and muscles may shake, twitch, and weaken. In addition, the person may experience inflammation of the whites of the eyes (conjunctivitis), sensitivity to light, and dry eyes. The individual may also develop tinnitus or ear ringing that worsens.

An individual can experience increasingly poor reflexes and other musculoskeletal problems, such as inflamed joints, which become painful or stiff. Other parts of the body may also suffer from inflammation, especially the lungs in people who suffer from allergies or asthma. Inflammation in the lungs can reduce breathing capacity and make these conditions worse.

Since medications are filtered through the kidneys and liver when they are digested, Lunesta’s long-term side effects abuse or addiction to this medication can lead to kidney and liver damage. The likelihood of this increases if the individual already suffers from kidney or liver disease.

Are the Side Effects of Lunesta Reversible?

While short-term side effects of Lunesta may be reversible, it is not clear to what extent Lunesta side effects long-term can be reversed. If an individual suffers episodes of amnesia due to Lunesta misuse or abuse, then the person will not be able to regain those memories. However, mood swings and cognitive issues can clear up after withdrawing from Lunesta. More severe side effects like kidney, liver, and lung damage may or may not clear up, depending on how long the person suffered from addiction to Lunesta.

High Doses Trigger Lunesta Side Effects

The central nervous system (CNS) regulates the body’s autonomous processes, such as digestion and breathing. Since Lunesta functions by depressing the central nervous system and slowing down activity in the brain, taking too much of this medication can lower those autonomous functions to alarmingly low levels – or stop them completely.

Lunesta overdose symptoms can vary from relatively mild to life-threatening. Mild Lunesta overdose symptoms from consuming just a little too much can include extreme grogginess and more severe versions of typical Lunesta side effects such as forgetfulness, poor coordination, and problems concentrating.

Higher doses of this drug can also trigger the more potentially dangerous and dramatic Lunesta side effects. Individuals taking high doses of Lunesta are more likely to experience risky “sleep activity” when users drive, walk, eat, have sex, and do many other things while under the influence of the medication.

Lunesta Interactions

Drug interactions could alter how your medications function or raise the possibility of serious negative side effects. All possible drug interactions are not covered in this document. Keep a list of everything you use, including herbal products, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications, and give it to your doctor and pharmacist. Without your doctor’s approval, never start, stop, or change the dosage of any medications.

Sodium oxybate is a substance that could interact with this medication.

Inform your physician or pharmacist if you are taking any additional medications that make you drowsy, such as alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), sedatives (such as lorazepam, zolpidem, or alprazolam), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine).

All your medications, including allergy and cold/cough remedies, should have their labels read carefully because they may contain drowsiness-inducing ingredients. Inquire with your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.

Lunesta and zopiclone are very similar. While taking Lunesta, avoid taking medications that contain zopiclone.

Lunesta Overdose

However, users can become unresponsive and unconscious in large doses or quantities. Breathing can even stop, depriving the brain of the necessary oxygen. Too much of the drug can also lower the heart rate, drop blood pressure, and cause blood to fail to circulate properly. Lunesta can cause coma, brain damage, or death when consumed in high doses or combined with other medications.

Most individuals who overdose on this drug recover from the experience, but getting help is crucial. That help depends on whether the person has used Lunesta alone or with other drugs or substances. Lunesta overdose alone can be treated with an antagonist called Flumazenil combined with general supportive care to improve respiration and heart rate.

Causes of Lunesta Overdose

The long-term Lunesta use can lead to addiction. An overdose of Lunesta might be an isolated accident or a symptom of a more significant issue, especially if other substances are involved too. Lunesta isn’t a narcotic, but because it can be highly addictive, stopping it abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms similar to typically addictive drugs like heroin and alcohol.

Lunesta overdose can also mean depression or an equivalent mood disorder that’s connected with thoughts of suicide – and those kinds of thoughts can be triggered by Lunesta itself, too. It’s crucial to find and address the underlying issues leading to the overdose and treat the immediate symptoms.

Top Lunesta Side Effects FAQs

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