Benzodiazepine:
An addictive sedative used in older sleep aids.

Chronic or Long-term Insomnia:
Usually occurs at least 3 days a week and lasts 6 months or more. The most common causes are: Hormonal fluctuations; Aging; Medical conditions and treatment; Psychiatric illness.

Class of Drugs:
A group of medicines that work in a similar way to treat a particular disease.

Dose:
The amount of medicine to be taken at one time.

Decongestants:
Medicines that help drain congestion in the sinuses and nasal passages (i.e., Pseudoephedrine).

Eszopiclone:
The main active ingredient in Lunesta. Click here to learn how eszopiclone works in your body.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid):
An amino acid in the brain that aids sleep by naturally relaxing the muscles in the body and calming emotions.

Hypnotics:
Sleep-inducing drugs.

Insomnia:
Sleeplessness that impairs next-day functioning.

Nap:
Short period of planned sleep during the day. The need for a nap usually results from a lack of nighttime sleep.

Narcotic:
An addictive drug that dulls the senses and induces sleep. Opiates are the most common narcotics.

Pain Relievers:
Medicine that helps alleviate pain and reduce inflammation (i.e., acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Aspirin).

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS):
A sleep disorder characterized by a creeping sensation in the legs that occur while a person is lying still in bed. The sensation results in an irresistible urge to move or jerk the leg.

Sleep Apnea:
A sleep disorder characterized by a temporary cessation of breath caused by a periodic paralyses of the respiratory muscles, cutting off airflow through the nose and mouth.

Sleep Maintenance Insomnia:
Difficulty maintaining deep, uninterrupted sleep all night long. If sleep is disturbed, it's often a struggle to fall back asleep.

Sleep Onset Insomnia:
Difficulty falling asleep.

Tolerance:
Refers to a drug that becomes less effective the more times it's used.

Transient or Short-term Insomnia:
Usually lasts less than 4 weeks. The most common causes are: stressful/anxiety-producing events; medical conditions, psychiatric illness, hormonal fluctuations; jet lag; environmental disturbances.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
Lunesta helps you fall asleep quickly, so take it right before bed. Be sure you have at least eight hours to devote to sleep before becoming active. Until you know how you'll react to Lunesta, you should not drive or operate machinery. Do not take Lunesta with alcohol. Call your doctor right away if after taking Lunesta you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. In rare cases, severe allergic reactions can occur. Most sleep medicines carry some risk of dependency. Do not use sleep medicines for extended periods without first talking to your doctor. Side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, drowsiness and dizziness. For more information, please see the Lunesta Medication Guide.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a health care provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient. Lunesta is a medicine used to treat Insomnia. Remember that no medicine is for everyone. Only your doctor can prescribe Lunesta for you.