Lunesta (Eszopiclone) Addiction: Signs and Side Effects of Abuse

Lunesta is the brand name for eszopiclone, a prescription sleep aid medication. It’s often grouped with nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics, which are sometimes referred to as Z-drugs, sleepers, zombies and Zs.

While not known for drug addiction in the same way as benzodiazepines, Lunesta abuse, or Lunesta misuse, as it’s more generally known, can still lead to dependence and tolerance. Misuse can look like taking extra doses at night or mixing it with alcohol and other drugs to intensify the effects.

This guide discusses Lunesta addiction, including why it can be addictive, key warning signs and withdrawal symptoms. Since it focuses on signs of addiction and health effects, it doesn’t discuss rehab or treatment options.

Lunesta works by increasing GABA activity and slowing brain activity, which promotes relaxation and sedation. The medication provides fast relief from insomnia, which can reinforce repeated use, especially for people who fear they won’t be able to sleep without it. As the cycle continues, a person can develop a sleep medication use disorder.

Factors that can increase Z-drug misuse risk include:

• Doctors often prescribe it for use “as needed,” without clear boundaries.
• Lunesta tolerance can build quickly, with people needing higher doses to feel the same effects.
• Users are uninformed or unaware of the risks associated with taking extra doses, using it during the day or mixing it with other substances.
• Psychological reliance can form when people believe they need it to sleep and lose faith in their ability to fall asleep naturally.
• Many people hold the false belief that it’s safe because it’s a prescription drug.

Lunesta abuse and addiction share some common characteristics, but they’re actually different conditions, with abuse often leading to addiction.

Abusing Lunesta, which is now more commonly referred to as eszopiclone misuse, generally means any type of use outside of medical guidance. This can mean taking higher doses than prescribed, continuing to take it after your prescription ends or buying pills from a nonmedical source. Lunesta addiction describes a pattern of behaviors that become ongoing and consistent, such as cravings, compulsive use with impaired control and continued use despite experiencing negative consequences.

Examples of Lunesta misuse include:

• Taking an extra pill on nights when you need to “make sure” you sleep
• Taking a pill during the day to deal with stress
• Waking up in the middle of the night and taking another pill to fall back asleep
• Mixing Lunesta with alcohol or other substances to feel more relaxed

Examples of Lunesta addiction include:

• Feeling unable to sleep without Lunesta and having a sense of dread or panic when having to go to bed without it
• Experiencing rebound insomnia, anxiety or racing thoughts when you attempt to stop taking it
• Continuing to use Lunesta after loved ones or a health care provider have told you to stop

Lunesta can cause physical and psychological dependence because of the way it acts on the brain’s GABA receptors. While dependency isn’t the same thing as addiction, it can be a signal that there’s a growing problem.

If you have a physical dependence on the drug, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking it. With psychological dependence, you may rely on Lunesta to feel safe at bedtime and be able to sleep.

The risk for both types of eszopiclone dependence increases with higher doses, long-term use or other forms of repeated misuse. As the risk for dependency increases, so does the risk for tolerance and addiction.

Lunesta misuse warning signs aren’t always obvious at first and may manifest as subtle changes in sleep behaviors and mood. Recognizing the warning signs early is essential for getting help before the condition worsens and interferes with your health and quality of life.

Behavioral Signs

Lunesta addiction doesn’t usually involve drastic behavioral changes, but often shows up quietly in a person’s daily habits, routines and decisions. These small shifts are important to understand and recognize, but they’re often easy to overlook.

Behavioral signs of Lunesta addiction include:

• Taking Lunesta earlier than directed
• Taking extra doses
• Running out early or seeking refills sooner than expected
• Hiding use or being secretive about it
• Using it for reasons other than sleep
• Prioritizing Lunesta use over healthy sleep habits

Sleep-Related Signs

Sleep patterns tend to become increasingly disrupted with continued use, which reinforces Lunesta misuse.

Sleep-related signs of Lunesta addiction include:

• Panic about bedtime
• Believing sleep is impossible without Lunesta
• Using Lunesta even when sleep pressure is low
• Poor quality sleep

Physical Signs

If someone is showing physical signs of Lunesta addiction, it could mean their body has already adapted to the drug. These symptoms generally continue to get worse, especially when trying to discontinue use.

Physical signs of Lunesta addiction include:

• Excessive drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Poor coordination
• Slurred speech
• Slowed reaction time
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Muscle tremors

Cognitive Signs

Lunesta can affect decision-making and memory retention. These changes often develop gradually.

Cognitive signs of Lunesta addiction include:

• Memory gaps
• Confusion
• Impaired judgment
• Next-day grogginess
• Difficulty learning new information

Functional Signs

The functional signs of Lunesta misuse often show up in daily responsibilities and routines and overall quality of life. When Lunesta use is interfering with your everyday life, it can be a strong indication that you need professional addiction treatment.

Functional signs of Lunesta addiction include:

• Missed responsibilities
• Declining performance at work or school
• Relationship strain
• Risky driving
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Neglect of hygiene and self-care
• Mixing Lunesta with alcohol, opioids or other sedatives

Withdrawal symptoms can happen after a person’s brain adapts to the presence of eszopiclone and its sedating effects. When they try to cut back or stop taking it, they may experience rebound effects. The severity of withdrawal symptoms depends on a person’s dose, how long they’ve taken it, frequency of use and whether they combine it with other depressants.

Lunesta withdrawal symptoms include:

• Rebound insomnia
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Tremors
• Mood swings
• Cravings
• Fatigue
• Body discomfort

Recognizing Lunesta side effects and sedative risks is crucial to identifying misuse and preventing long-term complications.

Short-Term Effects

Lunesta quickly affects the mind and body, resulting in symptoms that appear fast and get worse with continued use. Identifying these signs early is essential for protecting people from worsening health issues. Short-term effects of Lunesta abuse include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Dry mouth
• Impaired coordination
• Slowed reaction time
• Low blood pressure
• Increased risk of falls and accidents

Cognitive and mood effects of Lunesta abuse include:

• Memory issues
• Disinhibition
• Irritability
• Next-day impairment that affects work, school or driving
• Suicidal thoughts

Complex sleep behaviors (CSBs) from Lunesta abuse include:

• Sleepwalking
• Sleep eating
• Sleep driving
• Making calls or sending texts
• Shopping online
• Cleaning, organizing and other routine tasks

Long-Term Concerns

Long-term use can have adverse effects, such as:

• Tolerance
• Dependence
• Worsening sleep quality
• Worsening mental health
• Increased overdose risk
• Memory loss
• Chronic fatigue
• Strain on the liver

Certain risk factors can increase a person’s risk for developing dependence or addiction over time. Understanding Lunesta addiction risk factors can help you address issues before they escalate.

Sleep and Mental Health Factors

Mental health conditions and sleep disorders tend to reinforce each other, creating an ongoing cycle. Over time, this can lead to misuse, even if you started taking it as prescribed.

Sleep medication misuse risk factors include:

• Chronic insomnia
• Irregular sleep schedule
• Poor sleep hygiene
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma history

Behavioral Factors

Certain behavioral patterns can indicate that Lunesta use has shifted from short-term relief to an unhealthy dependence.

Behavioral sleep medication misuse risk factors include:

• Using Lunesta nightly for a long period of time
• Increasing dosage without guidance or against recommendation
• Using it to cope with stress in addition to sleep
• Ignoring side effects or warning signs

Substances History Factors

Having a history of substance use disorders can change a person’s brain in long-lasting ways, making it easier for them to relapse or succumb to addiction in the future. Substance history factors include prior misuse of alcohol, over-the-counter sleep medications, benzodiazepines or other sedatives.

Access Factors

Easy access to Lunesta can increase your risk of addiction.

Access sleep medication misuse risk factors include:

• Having a long-term or open-ended prescription
• Having leftover medication after your prescription ends
• Sharing a prescription with a friend or family member
• Lack of medication monitoring
• Telehealth or quick-visit prescription with limited evaluation

Diagnosing Lunesta addiction involves an assessment by a healthcare professional. If you meet the criteria, you’ll receive a sedative-hypnotic addiction diagnosis.

Your clinician will evaluate you based on:

• Loss of control
• Cravings
• Dependence and tolerance
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Risky use
• Continued use despite harm

They’ll likely assess your sleep history and conduct a mental health screening to check for co-occurring issues. You’ll also be asked about safety issues, such as falls and accidents, memory gaps and blackouts, impaired driving or CSBs.

During this assessment, it’s important to be honest about your substance abuse. Minimizing your Lunesta use because it’s a prescription drug can delay diagnosis.

Anyone can become dependent on sleep medications, so it should never be seen as a personal failure. If Lunesta misuse causes memory gaps, falls, worsening mental health or dangerous nighttime behaviors, it’s vital to take action and seek professional help to protect your well-being.

Help.org offers a free and confidential treatment finder to locate Lunesta rehab programs based on your location, needs or personal preference.