Eszopiclone may result in dangerous or perhaps fatal sleep patterns. Eszopiclone users have been known to get out of bed, drive their automobiles, cook and consume meals, engage in sex, make phone calls, sleep walk, or engage in other activities while not fully awake. These people couldn’t recall what they had done when they awoke. If you’ve ever experienced an atypical sleep pattern while taking eszopiclone, let your doctor know. Make sure your family or caregiver is aware of how dangerous these symptoms are and to call your doctor right away if they appear. If you discover that you were driving or engaging in any other strange behavior while you were asleep, stop taking eszopiclone and contact your doctor right once.

Eszopiclone is a medication used to treat insomnia (the inability to fall or remain asleep). Eszopiclone belongs to the group of drugs known as hypnotics. It functions by reducing brain activity to promote sleep.

Eszopiclone is available as a tablet to be swallowed. It is often used once daily, either before bed or after attempting unsuccessfully to fall asleep. Avoid using eszopiclone right before or right after a filling, high-fat meal. If you take ezopiclone with high-fat foods, it could not work as well. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Eszopiclone must be taken as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

After taking eszopiclone, you’ll probably feel quite drowsy right away and continue to feel sleepy for a while. Only when you are about to go to bed or have already gone to bed and are having trouble falling asleep should you take eszopiclone. Eszopiclone should only be taken if you can stay in bed for at least seven to eight hours after taking it. You may develop dizziness, lightheadedness, hallucinations (seeing objects or hearing voices that are not there), problems with coordination and memory if you don’t go to bed straight away after taking eszopiclone or if you get up too soon after taking eszopiclone.

Throughout your treatment, your doctor may adjust your eszopiclone dosage. If you are having trouble sleeping, your doctor may raise your dosage or lower it if you are feeling too sleepy during the day.

Within 7 to 10 days after beginning to use eszopiclone, you ought to be sleeping soundly. If your sleep issues do not improve during this period, if they worsen at any point while you are receiving therapy, or if you notice any changes in your thinking or behavior, call your doctor.

Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking eszopiclone. Your dose will likely be gradually reduced by your doctor. Eszopiclone withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, strange nightmares, stomach and muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and in rare cases, seizures.

You might experience more trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep after stopping eszopiclone than you did while taking it. These sleep issues are common and typically improve on their own after one or two nights without medication.

You will get the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) from your doctor or pharmacist when you start taking eszopiclone and each time you refill your prescription. If you have any questions, carefully read the material and contact your doctor or pharmacist. The Medication Guide is also available on the manufacturer’s website or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm).

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking eszopiclone,

• If you have an allergy to eszopiclone, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in eszopiclone tablets, inform your doctor and pharmacist right away. For a list of the ingredients, consult the Medication Guide or speak with your pharmacist.
• Inform your physician and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are currently taking or intend to use. Be sure to mention any of the following: antidepressants; specific antifungals like itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); antihistamines; clarithromycin (Biaxin); specific HIV protease inhibitors like nelfinavir (Viracept) and ritonavir (Norvir); medications for anxiety, mental illness, or seizures; nefazodone; olanza The dosage of your drugs may need to be adjusted, and your health may need to be closely watched for any negative effects.
• Inform your doctor if you regularly consume excessive amounts of alcohol, have ever used street drugs, or have ever taken prescription medications in excess. Tell your doctor if you have ever contemplated suicide or attempted it, as well as if you suffer from depression, a mental condition, lung disease, breathing difficulties, or liver disease.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking eszopiclone.
• If you are 65 years of age or older, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using eszopiclone with your doctor. Eszopiclone is typically not recommended for usage by older adults since it is less reliable and less efficient than alternative drugs that can be used to treat the same disease.
• You should let your doctor or dentist know if you are taking eszopiclone if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You should be aware that using eszopiclone during the day may cause you to feel sleepy, reduce your mental awareness, and raise your risk of falling. Make additional effort to avoid falling, particularly if you get out of bed in the middle of the night. Before you know how this prescription affects you, do not operate machinery or drive a car.
• When taking eszopiclone, avoid drinking alcohol. Eszopiclone adverse effects can be exacerbated by alcohol.
• You should be aware that while taking this medicine, your mental health may change in unanticipated ways. Eszopiclone, physical or mental problems you already have or develop as a result of treatment, or both may contribute to these changes. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor right away: hostility, strange or unusually outgoing behavior, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), feeling as though you are outside of your body, memory issues, new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, confusion, and any other deviations from your regular thoughts or behavior. Make sure your family is aware of any potentially serious symptoms so they can contact the doctor on your behalf if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

If you plan to consume grapefruit juice while taking this medicine, consult your doctor.

Eszopiclone ought to only be taken before bed. You may take eszopiclone if you didn’t take it before night and are having trouble falling asleep, provided you can stay in bed for at least 7 to 8 hours afterward.

Eszopiclone could have unwanted effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Headache
• Pain
• Fatigue during the day
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Inability to coordinate
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Unfavorable flavor
• Mouth ache
• Strange dreams
• Less sexual arousal
• Grueling menstrual cycles
• Male breast enlargement

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms or those detailed in the IMPORTANT WARNINGS or SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sections:

• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs as well as the eyes, face, lips, tongue, and throat
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Sensation of the throat closing
• Hoarseness

Eszopiclone could have other negative effects. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you have a serious side event.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it at room temperature and out of the bathroom and other places with excessive heat and moisture.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning.http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilizing a medicine take-back program is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programs in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back program, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Drowsiness
• Coma (a temporary loss of consciousness)

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

No one else should take your medication. Eszopiclone is an illegal drug. Only a limited amount of refills are permitted for prescriptions; if you have any doubts, speak with your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.