What is Insomnia?

If you toss and turn at night, you’re not alone. Approximately 20 million adults in the U.S. suffer from insomnia—a medical condition in which difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep have a negative impact on the next day. According to the National Sleep Foundation, symptoms of insomnia include:

  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Waking up frequently during the night
  • Difficulty returning to sleep
  • Waking up too early in the morning
  • Unrefreshing sleep
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability

Effects of Insomnia

Insomnia shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is a serious medical condition that can affect your mind and body. We need plenty of sleep to rebuild and recharge, and without enough of it you may experience some or all of the following:

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

The National Institutes of Health recommend that adults get 7 - 8 hours of sleep a night. If you're not getting enough sleep or experiencing any of these symptoms, you should make a plan to talk to your healthcare professional. It's important to seek treatment sooner rather than later.

Next: Causes of Insomnia

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
LUNESTA acts quickly, so take it right before bed, and only if you have 8 hours to devote to sleep. Do not take LUNESTA if you are allergic to anything in it. LUNESTA should not be taken together with alcohol. 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.

INDICATION
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.

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 and Full Prescribing Information.