What is the most important information I should know about eszopiclone? |
| • | Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Eszopiclone will cause drowsiness and may cause dizziness. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities. Eszopiclone should be taken just before bedtime. You may experience some carryover effects the next day. |
| • | Do not drink alcohol while taking eszopiclone. Alcohol will increase drowsiness and may increase dizziness while you are taking eszopiclone, which could be dangerous. |
| • | Do not stop taking eszopiclone suddenly if you have been taking it for more than 1 or 2 weeks. This may cause withdrawal symptoms and make you uncomfortable. Talk to your doctor if you need to stop treatment with eszopiclone. |
| • | Eszopiclone is in a class of drugs called sedative/ hypnotics or sleep medications. Eszopiclone affects chemicals in your brain that may affect sleep. |
| • | Eszopiclone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. |
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking eszopiclone? |
| • | Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you |
| • | You may not be able to take eszopiclone, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. |
| • | Eszopiclone may cause memory loss or "amnesia" where a person may not remember what has happened for several hours after taking the medication. Since eszopiclone is typically taken just prior to falling asleep for the night, this is generally not a problem. However, this could be a problem if eszopiclone is taken while traveling, such as during an airplane flight, and the person wakes up before the effects of the medication are gone. Eszopiclone should only be taken if you are able to get a full night's sleep (8 or more hours) before you must be active again. |
| • | Be aware that you may have more sleeping problems the first night or two after you stop taking eszopiclone. |
| • | Eszopiclone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is unknown whether eszopiclone will harm an unborn baby. Do not take eszopiclone without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. |
| • | Eszopiclone passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
| • | If you are over 65 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from eszopiclone. You may require a lower dose of this medication. |
How should I take eszopiclone? |
| • | Take eszopiclone exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. |
| • | Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
| • | Take eszopiclone just before you go to bed. It will make you drowsy, and you could fall and hurt yourself if you take your dose before you are ready for sleep. |
| • | You can take eszopiclone with or without food but for eszopiclone to work best, do not take it with or immediately after a high-fat, heavy meal. |
| • | Do not crush or chew the tablets. Take each tablet whole. |
| • | Take eszopiclone only if you are able to get a full night's sleep (8 or more hours) before you must be active again. |
| • | Do not take more of this medication than is prescribed for you. |
| • | Do not stop taking eszopiclone suddenly if you have been taking it for more than 1 or 2 weeks. This may cause withdrawal symptoms and make you uncomfortable. Talk to your doctor if you need to stop treatment with eszopiclone. |
| • | Store eszopiclone at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
What happens if I miss a dose? |
| • | Since eszopiclone is usually taken only if you need it to help you sleep, missing a dose will not cause any problems. Take the missed dose only if you can be sure that you will get 8 full hours of sleep after the dose. If you do not sleep 8 full hours, you may experience carryover effects from eszopiclone after you wake up. |
What happens if I overdose? |
| • | Seek emergency medical attention. |
| • | Symptoms of a eszopiclone overdose may include sleepiness, confusion, dizziness, difficult or slow breathing, and unconsciousness. |
What should I avoid while taking eszopiclone? |
| • | Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Eszopiclone will cause drowsiness and may cause dizziness. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities. Eszopiclone should be taken just before bedtime. You may experience some carryover effects the next day. |
| • | Do not drink alcohol while taking eszopiclone. Alcohol will increase drowsiness and may increase dizziness while you are taking eszopiclone, which could be dangerous. |
| • | Avoid other sedatives, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers, including over-the-counter preparations. They should not be used while you are taking eszopiclone unless your doctor directs otherwise. |
What are the possible side effects of eszopiclone? |
| • | If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking eszopiclone and seek emergency medical attention: |
| | · | an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; hives). |
| • | Contact your doctor if you experience |
| | · | daytime drowsiness, dizziness, or clumsiness; |
| | · | more outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal; |
| | · | worsening of depression; |
| | · | new feelings of depression. |
| • | Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as headache and unpleasant taste. If these become bothersome, contact your doctor. |
| • | A problem that may occur when sleep medicines are stopped is known as "rebound insomnia." This means that a person may have more trouble sleeping the first few nights after the medicine is stopped than before starting the medicine. If you should experience rebound insomnia, do not get discouraged. This problem usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights. |
| • | Eszopiclone may be habit forming. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause withdrawal effects if you have taken it continuously for several weeks. Talk to your doctor about the safe use of this medication. |
| • | Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. |
What other drugs will affect eszopiclone? |
| • | Many drugs may affect the way that eszopiclone is metabolized ("broken down") in the body, leading to higher or lower than expected levels of the medication in the blood. Talk to your doctor before taking any other medicines during treatment with eszopiclone. |
| • | Eszopiclone may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, other sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine unless your doctor approves. |
| • | Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with eszopiclone. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. |
Where can I get more information? |
| • | Your pharmacist has additional information about eszopiclone written for health professionals that you may read. |
| • | Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. |
| • | Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2005 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.01. Revision date: 1/ 14/ 05. |
