Lunesta (Generic)

Lunesta (Generic) (eszopiclone) is in a class of drugs called sedative/hypnotics or sleep medications. Lunesta affects chemicals in your brain that may affect sleep.

How To Use LUNESTA Oral

Take this medication by mouth usually once nightly, immediately before going to bed, or as directed by your doctor. Do not take it with or immediately after a high-fat or heavy meal. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush or break the tablet unless instructed by your doctor.

Lunesta Side Effects

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Lunesta?® (eszopiclone). However, not everyone who takes the medicine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Lunesta well. When Lunesta side effects do occur, they are generally minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.

The Lunesta side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with this drug. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of possible side effects with you.

Recommended Treatment

General symptomatic and supportive measures should be used along with immediate gastric lavage where appropriate. Intravenous fluids should be administered as needed. Flumazenil may be useful. As in all cases of drug overdose, respiration, pulse, blood pressure, and other appropriate signs should be monitored and general supportive measures employed. Hypotension and CNS depression should be monitored and treated by appropriate medical intervention. The value of dialysis in the treatment of overdosage has not been determined.

Drug Interactions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you: have liver disease; has asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or another respiratory disease; or are depressed or have suicidal thoughts. You may not be able to take Lunesta, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Lunesta may cause memory loss or "amnesia" where a person may not remember what has happened for several hours after taking the medication.

Since Lunesta is typically taken just prior to falling asleep for the night, this is generally not a problem. However, this could be a problem if Lunesta is taken while traveling, such as during an airplane flight, and the person wakes up before the effects of the medication are gone. Lunesta should only be taken if you are able to get a full night's sleep (8 or more hours) before you must be active again. Be aware that you may have more sleeping problems the first night or two after you stop taking Lunesta.

Lunesta is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is unknown whether Lunesta will harm an unborn baby. Do not take Lunesta without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Lunesta passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. If you are over 65 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from Lunesta. You may require a lower dose of this medication.

Adults 18 years and older

The usual starting dose is 2 milligrams taken immediately before bedtime. If you have trouble staying asleep, the doctor may increase your dosage. If you have severe liver disease, the usual starting dose is 1 milligrams, not to exceed 2 milligrams in one night.
If you are 65 years or older and have trouble falling asleep, the usual starting dose is 1 mg taken immediately before bedtime. Your doctor may increase the dose to 2 mg if you cannot stay asleep.