Eszopiclone

DEA Class;  Rx

Common Brand Names; Lunesta

Documented hypersensitivity

Patients who have experienced complex sleep behaviors after receiving therapy

Take immediately before going to bed – taking earlier may cause memory loss, hallucinations, dizziness, lightheadedness

Can impair daytime function in some patients at the higher doses (2 mg or 3 mg), even when used as prescribed; monitor for next day next-day psychomotor impairment

Take only when able to have a full night of sleep (7-8 hr); coadministration with other sedative-hypnotics at bedtime or taking eszopiclone the middle of the night is not recommended because of risk for next-day psychomotor impairment

May cause CNS depression and impair physical and mental abilities

May worsen clinical depression

Use minimum dose that will effectively treat patient; write prescription for smallest quantity consistent with good patient care

May cause abnormal thinking & bizarre behavior

May impair ability to drive or operate heavy machinery

Caution in history of drug or substance abuse, respiratory diseases, hepatic impairment

Amnesia may occur

Failure of sleep disturbance to resolve after 7-10 days may indicate psychiatric and/or medical illness

Abrupt discontinuation or rapid dose decreases may lead to withdrawal symptoms

Therapy can cause drowsiness and a decreased level of consciousness; patients, particularly the elderly, are at higher risk of falls

Available pharmacovigilance data with use in pregnant women are insufficient to identify drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes

There are no data on prescence in either human or animal milk, effects on breastfed infant, or on milk production