LUNESTA

	LUNESTA Description / Definitions Abuse Addiction / Dependence Side Effects Withdrawal Symptoms Treatment

DESCRIPTION / DEFINITIONS: Lunesta® (eszopiclone) is an Anxiolytic, Sedative & Hypnotic drug prescribed for the treatment of insomnia. According to its label, “The clinical trials performed in support of efficacy were up to 6 months in duration. The final formal assessments of sleep latency and maintenance were performed at 4 weeks in the 6-week study, at the end of both 2-week studies and at the end of the 6-month study.”

ABUSE: Lunesta can have withdrawal symptoms. Lunesta is a Schedule IV Controlled Subtance.

ADDICTION / DEPENDENCE: Half Life and Metabolism.

SIDE EFFECTS: Anxiety, headache, viral infection, dry mouth (see list below).

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: Neurosis, insomnia, anxiety (see list below).

TREATMENT: Medical detoxification.

DESCRIPTION / DEFINITIONS

Lunesta® (eszopiclone) is an Anxiolytic, Sedative & Hypnotic drug prescribed for the treatment of insomnia. According to its label, “Because sleep disturbances may be the presenting manifestation of a physical and/or psychiatric disorder, symptomatic treatment of insomnia should be initiated only after a careful evaluation of the patient. The failure of insomnia to remit after 7 to 10 days of treatment may indicate the presence of a primary psychiatric and/or medical illness that should be evaluated.”

The label also states, “The precise mechanism of action of eszopiclone as a hypnotic is unknown, but its effect is believed to result from its interaction with GABA-receptor complexes at binding domains located close to or allosterically coupled to benzodiazepine receptors.”

ABUSE

Lunesta can have withdrawal symptoms. Lunesta is a Schedule IV Controlled Subtance.

ADDCTION / DEPENDENCE

HALF LIFE AND METABOLISM

The biological half life of a substance is the time it takes for a drug to lose half of its pharmacologic activity. This is significant because it affects how soon withdrawal symptoms may appear.

The half life of Lunesta is approximately 6 hours.

Lunesta is mainly metabolized through the P450 pathway in the liver and the enzymes primarily handling the metabolism is CYP3A4 and CYP2E1 but it is not clear how much of the metabolism is done by other enzymes.

The CYP enzymes are the major enzymes involved in drug metabolism, and since many drugs may increase or decrease the activity of various CYP isozymes, this is a major source of adverse drug interactions, since changes in CYP enzyme activity may affect the metabolism and clearance of various drugs. For example, if one drug inhibits the CYP-mediated metabolism of another drug, the second drug may accumulate within the body to toxic levels, possibly causing an overdose.

SIDE EFFECTS

The following information is taken from the Lunesta label:

abnormal dreams abnormal gait accidental injury acne agitation allergic reaction alopecia amenorrhea anemia anorexia anxiety apathy arthritis arthrosis asthma ataxia breast engorgement breast enlargement breast neoplasm breast pain bronchitis bursitis cellulitis chest pain cholelithiasis colitis confusion conjunctivitis contact dermatitis cystitis dehydration depression diarrhea dizziness dizziness dry eyes dry mouth dry skin dypspesia dysmenorrheal dysphagia dyspnea dysuria ear pain eczema emotional lability epistaxis erythema multiforme euphoria face edema female lactation fever

furunculosis gastritis gout gynecomastia halitosis hallucinations headache heat stroke hematuria hepatitis hepatomegaly hernia herpes zoster hiccup hirsutism hostility hyperacusis hypercholesteremia hyperesthesia hyperlipemia hypertension hypertonia hypesthesia hypokalemia hypokinesia incoordination increased appetite infection insomnia iritis joint disorder (mainly swelling, stiffness, and pain) kidney calculus kidney pain laryngitis leg cramps libido decreased liver damage lymphadenopathy maculopapular rash malaise mastitis melena memory impairment menorrhagia metrorrhagia migraine mouth ulceration myasthenia mydriasis myopathy nausea

neck rigidity nervousness neuralgia neuritis neuropathy neurosis nystagmus oliguria otitis externa otitis media pain paresthesia peripheral edema photophobia photosensitivity pruritus ptosis pyelonephritis rash rectal hemorrhage reflexes decreased skin discoloration somnolence stomach ulcer stomatitis stupor sweating thinking abnormal (mainly difficulty concentrating) thirst thrombophlebitis. tinnitus tongue edema tremor twitching ulcerative stomatitis unpleasant taste urethritis urinary frequency urinary incontinence urinary tract infection urticaria uterine hemorrhage vaginal hemorrhage vaginitis vertigo vesiculobullous rash vestibular disorder viral infection vomiting weight gain weight loss

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

Lunesta can be a very difficult drug to stop taking.

anxiety abnormal dreams

hyperesthesia insomnia

neurosis

TREATMENT

Withdrawal from Lunesta should only be done under the care of a health practitioner. The safest way is to withdraw at an inpatient medical detox facility. At a inpatient medical detox facility with a protocol that includes hydration, vitamins and supplements, most patients can safely stop taking Lunesta in about seven days. Patients can withdraw from Lunesta on an outpatient basis but it will normally take at least four weeks.