Clip courtesy of:Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, the makers of LUNESTA®.
www.lunesta.com
Eszopiclone, marketed by Sunovion under the brand-name Lunesta, is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic used as a treatment for insomnia. Eszopiclone is the active dextrorotatory stereoisomer of zopiclone, and belongs to the class of drugs known as cyclopyrrolones.
Eszopiclone is a short acting nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotic. According to its manufacturer, it has been shown to be safe and effective for the SHORT TERM treatment of primary insomnia in the elderly and safe in younger adults for 6--12 months. All clinical trials of eszopiclone published so far have been funded by the manufacturer of eszopiclone .Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. Eszopiclone was studied for up to 6 months in a group of patients which showed no signs of tolerance or dependence in a study funded and carried out by Sunovion. There were 43 million prescriptions issued for insomnia medications during 2005 in the USA which generated a total of $2.7 billion for pharmaceutical companies. Eszopiclone is not marketed in the European Union following a 2009 decision by the EMA denying it new active substance status, in which it ruled that eszopiclone was too similar to zopiclone to be considered a new patentable product.
May 15, 2014 FDA Safety Communication regarding next day impairment associated with LUNESTA® (eszopiclone): Please note that there has been a change to decrease LUNESTA's recommended STARTING DOSE to 1mg at bedtime due to risk of next day impairment of driving and other activities that require alertness. Patients should consult with their doctor to determine the right dose to use.
