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Eszopiclone
INFORMATION ABOUT ESZOPICLONE
Eszopiclone Uses
Eszopiclone is used in the treatment of insomnia.
How Eszopiclone works
Eszopiclone belongs to a group of medicines called sedative-hypnotics. It works by slowing activity of the nerve cells in the brain and helps fall asleep.
Common side effects of Eszopiclone
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common
Headache, Taste change, Hallucination, Nausea, Xerostomia, Dyspepsia
CONTENT DETAILS
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Written By
Dr. Swati Mishra
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Rajeev Sharma
MBA, MBBS
Last updated
04 Dec 2024 | 05:44 AM (UTC)
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Medicine brands for Eszopiclone
Expert advice for Eszopiclone
- Your doctor has prescribed Eszopiclone to help you fall asleep faster and sleep for longer.
- It is best taken without food as a high-fat meal can reduce its absorption and effect.
- Take it 30 to 45 minutes before bedtime and only when you have time to sleep for at least 7 hours.
- It makes you feel dizzy next morning. Don't drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
- It does not affect total sleep time. However, it reduces sleep onset time and frequent awakening at night.
- Never share your medication with any other person who also has a sleep problem.
- Inform your doctor if your sleep doesn’t improve after 7 to 10 days of treatment.
- Stop taking medication and inform your doctor If you experience sleep driving or memory loss.
- Inform your doctor if you notice behavioral changes, new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts.
- Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Inform your doctor if you have a history of depression, drug/alcohol abuse, and liver disease.
- Do not stop taking medication suddenly as it may lead to anxiety, mood changes, and restlessness.
- Your doctor has prescribed Eszopiclone to help you fall asleep faster and sleep for longer.
- It is best taken without food as a high-fat meal can reduce its absorption and effect.
- Take it 30 to 45 minutes before bedtime and only when you have time to sleep for at least 7 hours.
- It makes you feel dizzy next morning. Don't drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
- It does not affect total sleep time. However, it reduces sleep onset time and frequent awakening at night.
- Never share your medication with any other person who also has a sleep problem.
- Inform your doctor if your sleep doesn’t improve after 7 to 10 days of treatment.
- Stop taking medication and inform your doctor If you experience sleep driving or memory loss.
- Inform your doctor if you are on depression medication while starting treatment with Eszopiclone.
- Do not stop taking medication suddenly as it may lead to anxiety, mood changes, and restlessness.
Frequently asked questions for Eszopiclone
Eszopiclone starts working shortly after you take it. The maximum levels of Eszopiclone are reached within an hour of taking it. Taking Eszopiclone may make you feel sleepy and sleepiness may persist for some time. This is the reason that you should prefer taking Eszopiclone immediately before you go to bed, or after you have gone to bed but could not fall asleep. Moreover, take Eszopiclone only if you know that you will be able to stay in bed for at least 7 to 8 hours after taking the medication.
Yes, Eszopiclone does have abuse potential. The risk of abuse increases with the dose and duration of treatment and concomitant use of other psychoactive drugs. The risk is also greater for patients who have a history of alcohol or drug abuse or history of psychiatric disorders.
An overdose of medicine can make you feel confused, drowsy, dizzy, and lightheaded. It may also lead to difficulty in breathing, floppy muscles (hypotonia), and loss of balance which may make you fall over. You may sleep deeply and possibly fall into a coma. The underlying reason of these symptoms could be low blood pressure due to overdose of Eszopiclone.
Treatment should be as short as possible and should not exceed four weeks which includes the period of slowly decreasing the dose. For transient sleeplessness, the recommended duration is 2-5 days and for short lived sleeplessness duration should be 2-3 weeks.
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Eszopiclone. Alcohol can increase the effects of Eszopiclone and make you sleep very deeply so that you do not breathe properly or have difficulty waking.
Yes, Eszopiclone is safe to take if taken at the prescribed dose and for a short duration (less than 4 weeks). If the dose and duration is increased then risk of abuse and dependence on the medicine is more likely to occur.
Memory impairment is rare, but may occur, especially when sleep is interrupted or there is a delay in going to bed after taking the tablet. Therefore to reduce such possibility of memory impairment, patients should ensure that they are taking the tablet when they are able to have a full night's sleep (uninterrupted sleep of about 7 to 8 hours).
Eszopiclone can cause slowing of your normal brain function (central nervous system depression) which may adversely affect the ability to drive or to use machines. It can be very unsafe if a patient drives within 12 hours of taking Eszopiclone.