LUNESTA - Understanding Insomnia: Effects of Insomnia

FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

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EFFECTS OF INSOMNIA

Insomnia should not be ignored. Sleep helps the body conserve energy and recharge. So it's no surprise that lack of sleep may have a direct impact on how you function the next day. It might even impact your health. With lack of sleep you might experience:

Daytime fatigue
Irritability
Decreased feelings of well-being
Decreased ability to concentrate
Decreased ability to problem solve
Difficulty in making decisions

According to the National Sleep Foundation, insomnia should be treated whether or not there are other coexisting medical conditions. Insomnia has its own set of symptoms that include:

Difficulty falling sleep
Difficulty staying asleep
Waking up too early in the morning
Waking up feeling exhausted but unable to sleep
Sleeplessness creating a negative impact on daytime functions

Treating only other medical conditions, without specifically addressing those directly related to sleep, may not improve insomnia.

Treating Insomnia

Lunesta^® (eszopiclone) is a prescription sleep medicine used in adults for the treatment of a sleep problem called insomnia. Symptoms of insomnia include trouble falling asleep and waking up often during the night.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
LUNESTA acts quickly, so take it right before bed, and only if you have 8 hours to devote to sleep. Until you know how you will react to LUNESTA, you should not drive or operate machinery. Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problems. Walking, eating, driving or engaging in other activities while asleep without remembering it the next day have been reported. Other abnormal behaviors include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations and confusion. In depressed patients, worsening of depression including risk of suicide may occur. These risks may increase if you drink alcohol. Severe allergic reactions such as swelling of the tongue and throat occur rarely and may be fatal. Call your doctor if you experience these or any effects or reactions that concern you. LUNESTA, like most sleep medicines, carries some risk of dependency. Side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, morning drowsiness and dizziness. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. 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 healthcare provider. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare 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.

This site is intended for U.S. residents 18 years of age or older.