Lunesta is the brand name of the drug Eszopiclone, and is a nonbenzodiazepine sleep inducing pharmaceutical (like Ambien and Sonata). Like most sleep medications, Lunesta sleeping pills are designed for the short term treatment of insomnia, mainly onset insomnia (trouble falling asleep). The Lunesta sleeping pill does this through the blocking of benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, the science behind this too complex to fully explain in a short article.
Lunesta sleeping pills are available in 2mg and 3mg doses, and the common instructions that come with many medications also apply to Lunesta. Lunesta should of course only be taken as directed, and only taken by the person it was prescribed to. Don't double up your medication if you miss a dose of Lunesta. It should not be taken on a full stomach as much of the drug will be absorbed into food. As stated, it is for the short term treatment of insomnia and should not be taken for more than a few weeks without consulting with your doctor. Conversely, you should also not stop taking Lunesta sleeping pills suddenly without consulting with your doctor, the reason for this I will explain shortly.
Compared to Ambien or benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax, the Lunesta sleeping pill is a slightly safer drug. This does not mean however that it is without adverse side effects. Like many sleeping remedies, it should not be taken by people with liver or kidney disease or people who have suffered damage to either of these organs because Lunesta can further damage them. Lunesta sleeping pills are not recommended for use by anyone with a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, urges or attempts. Like a lot of different pharmaceuticals, some people have allergic reactions in which they break out in hives and swell up after taking Lunesta. The most commonly reported side effects of Lunesta are day time drowsiness and trouble concentrating. A bitter taste in the mouth and dry mouth are also reported regularly. Hallucination, depression, anxiety and memory problems have also been problems with Lunesta. Some people have reported vivid nightmares while taking the drug.
Like a lot of pharmaceuticals Lunesta sleeping pills easily lends themselves to abuse and addiction. This is why it should not be given to anyone with a history of drug abuse and also should not be used by any person who does not have a prescription for Lunesta. Many people who do get prescriptions for the Lunesta sleeping pill end up addicted to the drug and use it outside of the reasons it was prescribed for. Addiction's partner is dependency. A very strong dependency can be developed for Lunesta and other sleep medications, and those who develop this have much worse insomnia and anxiety when they cease using it. There are also withdrawal symptoms associated with cessation of Lunesta sleeping pills after longer periods of use, but this also occurs to people who have only been using Lunesta for a week or two. This is why you should not suddenly stop taking it without talking to your doctor. These withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, panic attacks, seizures and tremors. For all of these reasons using Lunesta should be something to consider very carefully, and should only be used in severe cases of insomnia. You should weigh the pros and cons of Lunesta, as you should any other drug.
As I do with many of my articles and pharmaceutical overviews, I would like to end this by educating you about the alternatives to Lunesta. The first things you should try doing are making a more comfortable sleep environment. You can flip your mattress, try to adjust room temperature, adjust light levels and try to limit the amount of noise. If this is unsuccessful, examine your lifestyle; if you are using stimulants throughout the day like caffeine, nicotine or energy drinks cutting down or quitting could greatly help (just so long as withdrawal symptoms don't in fact make the insomnia worse). Also try to identify stress causing factors in your life, the majority of cases of insomnia are caused by anxiety. You may be able to deal with these or at least find a more positive way to relate to them. And barring all of that a lot of the things found in nature have soothing effects on the mind, nervous system and the rest of the body. Plants and herbs for insomnia are available and unless you have a serious anxiety disorder or a physical problem they should work for you.