This article describes possible side effects of eszopiclone oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about eszopiclone, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Eszopiclone oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Lunesta.
Boxed warning: Risk of unusual sleep behaviors
Eszopiclone has a boxed warning for the risk of unusual sleep behaviors. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details, see the “Side effects of eszopiclone in detail” section below.
More common side effects of eszopiclone
Eszopiclone oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of eszopiclone oral tablet include:
Mild side effects of eszopiclone
Eszopiclone may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of eszopiclone oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects of eszopiclone in detail” section below.
Eszopiclone oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of eszopiclone
Eszopiclone may cause certain serious side effects, although they’re rare. If you have any serious side effects from eszopiclone oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with eszopiclone.
Serious side effects of eszopiclone oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- new or worsening depression, which can cause symptoms of suicidal tendencies
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t actually there)
- next-day impairment (experiencing symptoms such as coordination problems and drowsiness the day after using eszopiclone)
- unusual behaviors or thinking*
- risk of unusual sleep behaviors*
- severe allergic reaction*
* To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects of eszopiclone in detail” section below.
† Eszopiclone oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of eszopiclone in detail” section below.
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Common questions about side effects of eszopiclone
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of eszopiclone oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does eszopiclone cause long-term side effects?
No, long-term side effects are not expected with eszopiclone oral tablet. In studies, no specific side effects were seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended were also not reported.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about possible long-term side effects with eszopiclone.
Will eszopiclone 2 mg cause fewer side effects than eszopiclone 3 mg?
It’s possible. Certain side effects reported in studies of eszopiclone appear to be more likely with higher doses compared with lower doses of eszopiclone.
These side effects include:
This list doesn’t include all side effects of eszopiclone that are more likely to occur with higher doses. To view the full list, check out eszopiclone’s prescribing information. Or, ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Is withdrawal a possible side effect of eszopiclone?
Yes, withdrawal is a possible side effect of eszopiclone. Withdrawal caused by eszopiclone isn’t expected to be serious but can still cause unpleasant symptoms.
Withdrawal describes symptoms that can occur when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on. Don’t quit taking esczoplicone without talking with your doctor first. Your doctor might suggest gradually lowering the amount of medication you take each night so that you don’t experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. To learn more about withdrawal and eszopiclone, see the “side effects in detail” section below.
Side effects of eszopiclone in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of eszopiclone oral tablet.
Risk of unusual sleep behaviors
Eszopiclone oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
In studies, unusual sleep behaviors were rare in people taking eszopiclone oral tablet. These behaviors may be mild or serious. In extreme cases, injuries from these behaviors can be life threatening or even fatal.
Unusual sleep behaviors reported in people using eszopiclone include:
Certain factors can increase the risk of unusual sleep behaviors with eszopiclone oral tablet. These include:
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of unusual sleep behaviors, immediately stop taking eszopiclone and tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with eszopiclone. They can discuss other possible treatments for insomnia with you instead.
Unusual thinking or behavior
In studies, unusual thinking or behavior was rare in people taking eszopiclone oral tablet. Unusual thinking or behavior may be mild or serious.
Specific symptoms of unusual behaviors or thinking reported in people taking eszopiclone include:
- acting aggressive or agitated
- acting more outgoing and extroverted than usual
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t actually there)
- depersonalization (seeing yourself from outside your body, or feeling like things around you are not real)
- memory loss
- suicidal thoughts or actions
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of unusual thinking or behavior, immediately tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend making an appointment for a full evaluation of your symptoms. This allows your doctor to investigate all possible causes of your symptoms. They’ll likely have you stop taking eszopiclone until your doctor determines the most likely cause for your symptoms.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Withdrawal symptoms
In studies, withdrawal symptoms were rare in people taking eszopiclone oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild.
With withdrawal, you experience symptoms when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on. With dependence, your body needs the drug in order to function like usual.
Withdrawal symptoms reported after stopping treatment with eszopiclone include:
Certain factors can increase the risk of withdrawal symptoms with eszopiclone oral tablet. These include having a substance use disorder, such as opioid or alcohol use disorder. Suddenly stopping treatment with eszopiclone also increases this risk.
Ways to manage
If you’d like to stop treatment with eszopiclone and have concerns about withdrawal symptoms, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend a plan to decrease your dose over time until it’s safe for you to stop taking eszopiclone.
For some people, eszopiclone oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to eszopiclone oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for eszopiclone
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking eszopiclone oral tablet.
Boxed warning: Risk of unusual sleep behaviors
Eszopiclone has a boxed warning for the risk of unusual sleep behaviors. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details, see the “Side effects of eszopiclone in detail” section above.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take eszopiclone oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether eszopiclone oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking eszopiclone oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Eszopiclone and pregnancy
It’s not known whether eszopiclone oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
Eszopiclone and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether eszopiclone oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
Eszopiclone oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol. You should not take a dose of eszopiclone if you’ve consumed alcohol the same evening. Alcohol increases the risk for certain side effects of eszopiclone, including some serious ones. These side effects include unusual thoughts or behaviors*, unusual sleep behaviors*, and next-day impairment, among others.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how to safely to consume it during your treatment with eszopiclone oral tablet.
* To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects of eszopiclone in detail” section above.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of eszopiclone oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How do side effects of eszopiclone compare with benzodiazepines such as temazepam?
- If I have side effects from eszopiclone but its working for my insomnia, can you prescribe a lower dosage for me?
- Do any medications I take increase my risk for side effects caused by eszopiclone?
- Are older adults at higher risk for side effects from taking eszopiclone?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
