Nothing is more frustrating than having chronic problems with sleep. When you and your doctor have exhausted all of the logical sleep hygiene tips, and over the counter medications for insomnia are not working, there is now a new and potentially much safer option. Lunesta, known by it’s generic name as eszopiclone, is a popular new medication to help you get to sleep.
Prescription sleep medications, also called hypnotic agents, have gone through an evolution from the use of barbiturates, to long acting benzodiazepines, to shorter acting benzodiazepines. All three of these groups, while very effective, had definite potential to become habit forming and were only intended for short term use. These drugs all have not only the potential to become habit forming, but it is also common to develop an accelerated need for higher doses of the drug. The more barbiturates and benzodiazepines you use over a long period, the more you need to achieve the same effectiveness.
Unfortunately, the need to treat insomnia is not a temporary situation for many people.
Many individuals need a safe, hypnotic agent on a more long term basis. They need and want the option of a medication they can take for a long time without the risk of becoming truly dependent on the drug.
Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a novel compound approved as a sleep agent. It is effective at inducing and maintaining sleep for a full night.
It is important to note that Lunesta is approved for long term use and does not diminish effectiveness over at least a six month period. Studies were done on people with insomnia over this six month time frame and showed at it was equally effective during that time, even at the same doses.
As with any medication, there are some potential side effects of taking Lunesta. It is possible to have an allergic reaction to Lunesta. If you experience swelling of your lips, throat, face or tongue, you should stop taking Lunesta immediately and contact your doctor. Of course Lunesta will make you sleepy, so you should not take the drug if you are not prepared for a full 8 hours of sleep.
If you are going to need to drive, or do anything that requires your full attention, you should not take Lunesta. You should not suddenly stop taking Lunesta without talking to your doctor first. Stopping the medication quickly could lead to a rebound effect where you are less likely to get to sleep. Instead, the medication should be tapered off over a period of time under the care of your doctor.
Women who are pregnant or who think they could be pregnant should not take Lunesta. This medication has also been found to be able to pass in to breast milk, so it should be avoided in mothers who are nursing you don’t want a drugged up baby after all!
Even though Lunesta is more expensive than the many of the older agents which are already available in generic form, it is potentially much less habit forming, can be used longer term and allows a better quality of sleep.
The benefit of this option clearly can outweigh the increased cost for many individuals. If you have further questions about Lunesta and whether it is a good option to treat your insomnia, talk to your doctor. Good luck and sleep well.
