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Lunesta is used to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). Lunesta is in a class of medications called hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain.
Lunesta comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day at bedtime. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Lunesta exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not take Lunesta with or shortly after a heavy, high-fat meal. Lunesta may not work well if it is taken with high fat foods. You will probably become very sleepy soon after you take Lunesta and will remain sleepy for some time after you take the medication. Plan to go to bed right after you take Lunesta, and to stay in bed for at least 8 hours. If you do not go to bed right after you take Lunesta or if you get up too soon after taking Lunesta, you may experience dizziness, lightheadedness, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), and problems with coordination and memory. Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of Lunesta and gradually increase your dose.Your doctor may also decrease your dose if you are too drowsy during the daytime. You should be sleeping well within 7 to 10 days after you start taking Lunesta. Call you doctor if your sleep problems do not improve during this time or if they get worse at any time during your treatment. Do not stop taking Lunesta without talking to your doctor, especially if you have taken it for longer than 1-2 weeks. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking Lunesta you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, unusual dreams, stomach and muscle cramps,upset stomach, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and, rarely, seizures. After you stop taking Lunesta, you may have more difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep than you did before you took the medication. These sleep problems are normal and usually get better without treatment after one or two nights. |