Eszopiclone
About Eszopiclone
Eszopiclone belongs to a group of medicines called 'sedative-hypnotics,' primarily used to treat sleep problems or insomnia. Insomnia is defined as a sleep disorder which makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Eszopiclone contains 'Eszopiclone,' which is a sedative-hypnotic drug. Eszopiclone works by increasing the chemical substance in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is an amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger that transmits the message from one nerve cell to another nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell) in the central nervous system. This chemical substance slows down the brain's activity to produce a calming effect, thus helping you sleep.
Take Eszopiclone as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will decide the dose and duration based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Common side effects of Eszopiclone include headache, dizziness, taste changes, dry mouth, chills, cough, fever, hoarseness (abnormal voice changes), lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination and drowsiness. These side effects are not familiar to everyone and vary individually. If you notice any side effects that are not manageable, please consult your doctor.
Please tell your doctor if you are allergic to Eszopiclone or its components. If you are using any prescription and non-prescription medications, let your doctor know before starting Eszopiclone. Inform your doctor beforehand if you have a history of liver or kidney diseases, heart problems, breathing problems, mood disorders, drug addiction and muscle disease (myasthenia gravis). If you are pregnant, planning to conceive or a breastfeeding mother, inform your doctor before starting Eszopiclone. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Eszopiclone as it can make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery while using Eszopiclone since it can make you sleepy.
Uses of Eszopiclone
Medicinal Benefits
Eszopiclone contains 'Eszopiclone,' a sedative-hypnotic drug. It treats sleeping problem called insomnia. Eszopiclone increases gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical substance in the brain that works as a neurotransmitter. This chemical substance slows down the brain's activity to produce a calming effect, thus helping you sleep. Eszopiclone decreases the amount of time required to fall asleep and improves sleep maintenance.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Eszopiclone
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Taste changes
- Dry mouth
- Chills
- Cough
- Fever
- Hoarseness (abnormal voice changes)
- Lower back or side pain
- Painful or difficult urination
- Drowsiness
Drug Warnings
Brief your medical history if you have any liver or kidney diseases, heart problems, lung/breathing problems (sleep apnoea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), glaucoma, drug addiction or overuse of drugs or alcohol, mood disorders (depression, suicidal thoughts), muscle diseases (myasthenia gravis), and a personal or family history of sleepwalking before starting Eszopiclone. Behaviours like sleep-walking, sleep-driving, and engaging in other activities when you are not fully awake may occur while using Eszopiclone. In such cases, discontinue using Eszopiclone immediately and seek medical emergency. Please consult your doctor know if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or a breastfeeding mother. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Eszopiclone as it might lead to increased side effects like dizziness and drowsiness. Avoid driving or operating machinery as Eszopiclone may decrease your mental alertness, making you feel dizzy or drowsy. Eszopiclone is not recommended for people below 18 years of age as safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Eszopiclone may interact with drugs that treat daytime drowsiness (sodium oxybate), opioid pain relievers (codeine, hydrocodone), anti-anxiety drugs (alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), anti-allergic drugs (cetirizine), common cold medicines (diphenhydramine), mood disorders drugs (aripiprazole, duloxetine, quetiapine, bupropion, sertraline) and fits medicine (pregabalin).
Drug-Food Interaction: Do not consume alcohol while taking Eszopiclone as it could lead to increased dizziness and drowsiness.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Before using Eszopiclone, let your doctor know if you have any liver or kidney diseases, heart problems, lung/breathing problems (sleep apnoea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), drug addiction or overuse of drugs or alcohol, mood disorders (depression, suicidal thoughts), glaucoma, muscle diseases (myasthenia gravis), and a personal or family history of sleepwalking.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is advised to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Eszopiclone. Alcohol intake, along with Eszopiclone, may cause increased dizziness and drowsiness. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Pregnancy
cautionIt is not known if Eszopiclone affects pregnancy. Eszopiclone should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit outweighs the risk. Please consult your doctor before taking Eszopiclone if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is not known if Eszopiclone is excreted into the breast milk. Please consult your doctor before taking Eszopiclone if you are a breastfeeding mother.
Driving
unsafeEszopiclone may make you feel dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive if you are not mentally alert or experience any symptoms that affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Please wait for at least eight hours after taking this drug before driving.
Liver
cautionPlease consult your doctor before using Eszopiclone to suffer from any severe liver impairment/liver disease.
Kidney
cautionPlease consult your doctor before using Eszopiclone to suffer from any severe kidney impairment/kidney disease.
Children
unsafeEszopiclone is not recommended in people below 18 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain proper weight by following a healthy diet.
- Exercise regularly as it helps in less cognitive decline and brain volume loss.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Try to avoid stress by practising meditation or yoga.
- Include fruits and vegetables in your diet as they contain anti-oxidants.
- Eat nutritious food as it helps in cognitive stimulation.
- Limit foods with high cholesterol and saturated fats.
- Cut down on sugar, salt and processed foods.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle as it helps in improving overall health and possibly protects the brain.
Special Advise
- Let your doctor know that you are taking Eszopiclone if you are undergoing any medical tests.
- It is advised to monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar levels regularly while using Eszopiclone.
- Inform your doctor if your sleep does not improve even after using Eszopiclone for a week.
- Liver function tests are recommended before and after the treatment with Eszopiclone since it is metabolized in the liver.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Insomnia: It is a sleep disorder which makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Insomnia can be short-term (acute), transient or can last a long time (chronic). Acute insomnia usually lasts from one night to a few weeks. Transient insomnia lasts for less than a week and is caused by stress, depression or changes in the sleeping environment. Chronic insomnia is a condition where you find trouble sleeping for at least three nights a week for three months or more. There are two types of insomnia: Primary and Secondary. Primary insomnia is a sleep problem that is not associated with other health conditions, whereas secondary insomnia is caused due to various conditions like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, heartburn, pain, and medications or substance use like alcohol.
FAQs
Eszopiclone is used to treat sleep problems or insomnia.
Eszopiclone contains 'Eszopiclone', a sedative-hypnotic drug. It produces a calming effect on the brain by increasing the activity of certain natural substances in the brain. This helps in falling asleep and thus treats insomnia, a sleeping problem.
Eszopiclone should be used with caution in the medical history of liver or kidney diseases, heart problems, lung/breathing problems (sleep apnoea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), mood disorders (depression, suicidal thoughts), glaucoma, overuse of drugs or alcohol, personal or family history of sleepwalking, and muscle diseases like myasthenia gravis. Please let your doctor know if you have any other medical problems before starting Eszopiclone.
Eszopiclone may start working shortly in one hour. Hence, it is advised to take Eszopiclone before going to bed. Also, take Eszopiclone only if you could spend the next 7-8 hours of your time to stay in bed.
Eszopiclone have abuse potential and has the possibility of being misused. Hence it is only advised to take Eszopiclone in the prescribed duration by the doctor. The risk of abuse is greater in people with a history of substance use and alcohol consumption. It is highly recommended to seek medical advice before you start Eszopiclone.
Eszopiclone is safe to take in prescribed dose for a shorter duration for less than four weeks. Your doctor will provide more information on dose and duration of Eszopiclone based on your sleep problem.
Eszopiclone is only recommended for 2-5 days in case of transient insomnia, and for short-lived sleeplessness (sleeping for lesser time than usual), Eszopiclone may be recommended for 2-3 weeks. Overdose of Eszopiclone can cause breathing difficulty, make you feel confused, dizzy and sometimes lead to deep sleep, causing coma. Hence, it is strictly recommended to take this medicine under a doctor's supervision for only the prescribed duration. You are suggested to seek doctor's advice for further information.
Behaviours like sleep-walking, sleep-driving, and engaging in other activities when you are not fully awake may occur while using Eszopiclone. In such cases, discontinue using Eszopiclone immediately and seek medical emergency.
Take Eszopiclone only as prescribed by the physician. Seek immediate medical attention if you have taken more than the prescribed dose. An overdose of Eszopiclone can be fatal, especially when taken along with other medicines that can cause drowsiness. Symptoms of overdose may include shallow/slow breathing and deep sleep from which you cannot be awakened.
You should take Eszopiclone for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. It is usually recommended for short-term use (7-10 days). It is essential to follow the prescribed dosage regimen, as long-term use may increase the risk of side effects, including dependency or tolerance. If you continue to experience sleep problems, please inform your doctor.
It is not recommended to drink alcohol while taking Eszopiclone. Alcohol may increase the risk of side effects, such as drowsiness and dizziness. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Eszopiclone may cause temporary memory problems in some people. You might experience difficulty remembering things or feel forgetful, especially if you do not get a whole night's sleep or wake up too early after taking Eszopiclone. This is more likely to occur if the medication is not taken as prescribed. If you notice any memory issues, consult your doctor.
Driving after taking Eszopiclone is not recommended, as it may cause drowsiness and dizziness. Do not drive if you are not mentally alert or experience any symptoms that affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Please wait for at least eight hours after taking this medication before driving.
Eszopiclone may cause side effects such as headache, dizziness, taste changes, dry mouth, chills, cough, fever, hoarseness (abnormal voice changes), lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, and drowsiness. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
