Lunesta

Eszopiclone (Lunesta), the S-enantiomer of racemic zopiclone, is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agent that is approved in the US as an oral, once-nightly therapy for insomnia in adults; eszopiclone is also currently under review by the European Medicines Agency. Eszopiclone is rapidly absorbed after oral administration without any next-day clinical residual effects being detected. Large, well designed trials of up to 6 months' duration have shown that eszopiclone significantly improves both sleep onset and sleep maintenance compared with placebo in adult and elderly patients with primary insomnia...

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According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 30 percent of all Americans complain of sleep disruption, while 10 percent display symptoms congruent with chronic insomnia. One of the most common treatments for insomnia is prescription sleep medications that help people fall asleep and remain asleep. Historically barbiturates were initially popular for treating insomnia, but their long "hangover" effect made them easily replaced with the introduction of the benzodiazepines. Triazolam (Halcion), diazepam (Valium), and oxazepam (Serax) rapidly became the treatment of choice for insomnia...

OBJECTIVE: Although the clinical benefits of pharmacological treatments for insomnia have been studied, no systematic assessment of their economic value has been reported. This analysis assessed, from a broad payer and societal perspective, the cost effectiveness of long-term treatment with eszopiclone (LUNESTA, Sepracor Inc., [Marlborough, MA, USA]) for chronic primary insomnia in adults in the US. METHODS: A decision analytical model was developed based on the reanalysis of a 6-month placebo-controlled trial, which demonstrated that eszopiclone 3mg significantly improved sleep and daytime function measures versus placebo in adults with primary insomnia...

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Randomized, placebo-controlled trials have shown that eszopiclone, a newly available nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic, effectively treats the symptoms of insomnia. Its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters are similar to those of the other currently available nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics (i.e., zolpidem and zaleplon). The unique quality of eszopiclone lies in its product labeling. It is not restricted to short-term use, unlike both zolpidem and zaleplon. Dosing of eszopiclone should begin at 2 mg for nonelderly patients and may be initiated at or increased to 3 mg if clinically indicated...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Eszopiclone [Lunesta, Estorra] is a short-acting hypnotic agent that is a stereoselective isomer of the agent zopiclone, which has been available in Europe since 1992. Eszopiclone is structurally unrelated to the benzodiazepines, and Sepracor (the originator of eszopiclone) has stated that the drug acts rapidly, with the duration of effect lasting up to 6 hours. This may result in improved sleep maintenance, with less nocturnal awakening.Originally, racemic zopiclone was developed and marketed by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, which merged with Hoechst Marion Roussel to form Aventis...

Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is effective for treatment of insomnia for at least 6 months, with no evidence of tolerance, dependence or abuse. It has caused mild, transient memory impairment in some patients. No studies are available comparing eszopiclone with similar drugs like zolpidem (Ambien) or zaleplon (Sonata).