By We Level Up NJ Treatment Center | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: April 26, 2023

Lunesta Side Effects Sleeping Pills Effects

While Lunesta can help with insomnia, it has mixed potential side effects. With prolonged use for more than a few months or with regular alcohol consumption or even dietary supplements, these risks increase dramatically. Side effects from Lunesta include grave contra-indications. Taking several medications simultaneously could have life-threatening repercussions for the body’s organs.

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.

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:

Lunesta Addiction Statistics

Lunesta addiction is real and dangerous. Many cases have been reported of people abusing Lunesta and experiencing dangerous 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), in 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.

It’s also worth noting that long-term use of Lunesta or other sedatives 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 misuse, it’s essential to seek help from a healthcare provider or a substance abuse treatment professional. They 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 from discussing 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 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 will have to 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 when taken 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. 

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 of 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

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

Find The Right Treatment Plan At We Level Up NJ