Lunesta is a trade name for the dug eszopiclone. It is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic medication. It is also classified as a cyclopyrrolone. It is used for the treatment of insomnia. It is a sedative hypnotic and has gained favor because it can be used for short term relief of insomnia as well as long term treatments. It can be used in young adults to the elderly without incident. Lunesta has quickly become one of the most popular sedative hypnotics prescribed since it was introduced to the market. In fact, in 2005 43 million prescriptions were written for Lunesta, which translates into $2.7 billion for the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture it.
Dosages will vary from patient to patient. Most doctors start with a dosage of 2mg to 3mg for adult patients. For older patients a 2mg dosage is usually sufficient, Young adults can generally see relief from insomnia with the 1mg dose. As is the case with all medications, Lunesta may cause side effects at every dose. While the side effects are rare, they are usually not bothersome enough to discontinue the use of the medication. Some of the side effects reported include headaches, metallic taste in the mouth, cold symptoms, pain, dry mouth, chest pain, dizziness, upset stomach, changes in libido, painful menstruation, heartburn, itching, and swelling of the hands, feet, ankles and lower legs.
Lunesta is a medication that can cause dependence in patients. Because of this, patients cannot decide to suddenly stop taking the medication. Instead, the patient must work with their doctor to slowly reduce their dosage so they do not suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, dizziness, stomach and muscle cramping, vomiting, nausea, seizures, and long term insomnia. These symptoms can last as long as two weeks to several months depending on the patient.
Lunesta has the potential to be abused because it can produce the same feelings as benzodiazepines when taken at high doses. Overdose is also possible with death being a possible side effect. In fact during the 2005 to 2006 year Texas reported that there were 525 reported overdoses in that state alone. Most of the overdoses were a result of suicide attempts.