Lunesta Uses
Lunesta is in a class of drugs called sedative/hypnotics or sleep medications. Lunesta affects chemicals in your brain that may affect sleep.
How Lunesta Is Taken
Take Lunesta 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 Lunesta 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 Lunesta with or without food but for Lunesta 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 Lunesta only if you are able to get a full night's sleep (8 or more hours) before you must be active again.
Possible Side Effects while taking Lunesta
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Lunesta 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
confusion
strange behavior
memory loss problems
agitation
worsening of depression
hallucinations
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.
Lunesta 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.
Lunesta Warnings/Precautions
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Lunesta will cause drowsiness and may cause dizziness. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities. Lunesta should be taken just before bedtime. You may experience some carryover effects the next day.
Do not drink alcohol while taking Lunesta. Alcohol will increase drowsiness and may increase dizziness while you are taking Lunesta, 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 Lunesta unless your doctor directs otherwise.
Lunesta Overdose
Seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms of a Lunesta overdose may include sleepiness, confusion, dizziness, difficult or slow breathing, and unconsciousness.
Lunesta Interactions
Many drugs may affect the way that Lunesta 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 Lunesta.
Lunesta 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 Lunesta. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
Lunesta Missed Dose
Since Lunesta 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 Lunesta after you wake up.
Lunesta Storage
Store Lunesta at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Taking Lunesta during Pregnancy/Nursing
Lunesta is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is unknown whether Lunesta will harm an unborn baby. Do not take Lunesta without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
Lunesta 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.
More Lunesta Information
Talk to your doctor or visit the Lunesta manufacturer website.
Disclaimer
This
drug information is for your information purposes only,
it is not intended that this information covers all
uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or
adverse effects of your medication. This is only general
information, and should not be relied on for any purpose,
it should not be construed as containing specific instructions
for any particular patient. VastRX disclaims
all responsibility for the accuracy of, and reliability
of this information, and or any consequences arising
from the use of this information, including damage or
adverse consequences to persons or property, however
such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either
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