Eszopiclone Side Effects

Serious side effects:

Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things)
aggression, agitation, changes in behavior
thoughts of hurting yourself

Less serious side effects:

dry mouth and mild skin rash
problems with memory or concentration
headache, with unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth
nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, constipation
anxiety, depression, nervous feeling
day-time drowsiness, dizziness, "hangover" feeling

Warnings & Recalls for Eszopiclone

Do not use this drug if you are allergic to any ingredients in eszopiclone. Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs or have:

a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts
sleep apnea (breathing stops when you are sleeping)
liver disease
lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, amphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmona disease (COPD); or
a history of drug or alcohol addiciton

Drugs that may interact with Eszopiclone

Be sure to tell your doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs you use especially the following:

rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane)
ketoconazole (Nizoral)
antidepressants, muscle relaxers, narcotic pain medications, anti-anxiety medications or seizure medications.

Family planning

The FDA categorized eszopiclone as a category C pregnancy because this medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor immediatly if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

The drug can pass into breast-milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use eszopiclone if you are breastfeeding without first telling your doctor.

Eszopiclone Treatment and Use

What is Eszopiclone?

Eszopiclone is a setative that is used to treat insomnia. It is a nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotic that relaxes and helps you stay asleep.

How does Eszopiclone work?

Eszopiclone rapidly slows activity in the brain, allowing you to sleep.

Dosage information

An adult may take 2 mg orally immediatly before going to bed. The dose may increase to 3 mg if the doctor sees fit to do so. For more elderly patients the initial dose is 1 mg orally before going to bed and can increase to 2 mg with doctor’s orders.

Other Names for Eszopiclone

Brand name-

Lunesta