Short answer: Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is a Z-drug sleep medicine for trouble falling or staying asleep. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance. Like zolpidem, it carries a boxed warning for complex sleep behaviors, and a bitter or metallic taste is a common side effect.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Eszopiclone is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic ("z-drug") and a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US.
- Main uses: Insomnia.
- Timing: effects start in about 1 hour and last 7 to 8 hours.
- Most dangerous mix: Opioids, which can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing.
- Naloxone: it does not reverse this drug, but give it whenever opioids could be involved.
- Dependence risk: Moderate.
- Legal route: only with a prescription from a DEA-registered clinician, filled by a licensed pharmacy.
What is eszopiclone?
Eszopiclone is approved for insomnia, helping people fall asleep and stay asleep. Unlike some sleeping pills, it was studied for up to six months of nightly use.
Quick facts
| Fact | Eszopiclone |
|---|---|
| Generic name | Eszopiclone |
| Brand names | Lunesta |
| Drug class | Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic ("Z-drug") |
| US legal status | Schedule IV, prescription only |
| Approved uses | Insomnia (sleep onset and maintenance) |
| Forms | Tablets |
| Onset | About 1 hour |
| Half-life | About 6 hours |
| Broken down by | CYP3A4 and CYP2E1 |
How long does eszopiclone last?
- Starts working: About 1 hour
- Effects last: 7 to 8 hours
- Half-life: About 6 hours
Timing varies with the dose, the form, how it is taken, liver and kidney function, age, and other drugs taken at the same time.
What are the biggest risks of eszopiclone?
The FDA requires boxed warnings, its strongest, on eszopiclone products, including:
- Complex sleep behaviors, including sleepwalking, sleep-driving, and other activities while not fully awake, have caused serious injuries and deaths. Stop the medicine if one occurs, and do not take it if you have had one before.
Common side effects include unpleasant taste, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, and dry mouth. Next-day impairment can occur, especially at higher doses.
What should you never mix with eszopiclone?
| Combined with | What happens | Label guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Opioids | Profound sedation, slowed breathing | Avoid unless no alternative |
| Alcohol | Greater impairment | Avoid |
| Other sedatives | Additive sedation | Avoid combining |
| Ketoconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir | Raise eszopiclone levels | Maximum 2 mg |
Check any combination with the DoseUses combination checker or ask a pharmacist.
What are the signs of an eszopiclone overdose, and what should you do?
Overdose causes excessive sleepiness progressing to coma, especially with alcohol or other sedatives.
If someone may have overdosed
- Call 911 if the person is unresponsive, hard to wake, or breathing slowly.
- For advice when the person is awake and stable, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US, free, 24 hours).
- If opioids could be involved, including pills not from a pharmacy, give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone does not reverse eszopiclone, but it will not harm the person.
- Stay with the person and place them on their side if they are drowsy or vomiting.
What is eszopiclone withdrawal like, and how long does it last?
After regular use, stopping eszopiclone can cause rebound insomnia and mild withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and abnormal dreams. Long-term users should taper with their prescriber.
- Nights 1 to 3Rebound insomniaTemporary worsening of sleep.
- Days 1 to 7Withdrawal in some usersAnxiety, abnormal dreams, nausea, upset stomach.
- WeeksRecoverySleep usually normalizes.
See the withdrawal timelines and the full eszopiclone withdrawal guide.
Is eszopiclone legal?
In the United States, eszopiclone is a Schedule IV controlled substance. The only legal way to get it is with a prescription from a clinician registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), filled by a licensed pharmacy. Depending on state law, that can be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
- Refills: a Schedule IV prescription can be refilled up to five times within six months of the date it was written. After that, a new prescription is needed.
- Telehealth: federal flexibilities let DEA-registered clinicians prescribe Schedule II to V medicines after a telemedicine visit, without a prior in-person exam, through December 31, 2026. A permanent DEA rule was under final review in late 2026. State rules can be stricter.
- Monitoring: prescribers and pharmacists in most states check a prescription drug monitoring program, a database of controlled-substance prescriptions, before prescribing or dispensing.
Outside the United States
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not marketed; related zopiclone is Class C |
| Canada | Prescription medicine |
| Australia | Not marketed; zopiclone is Schedule 4 |
| International | Not under UN control |
Frequently asked questions about eszopiclone
Why does Lunesta taste bad?
A bitter or metallic taste is one of the most common side effects, reported by about a third of people at higher doses.
Is eszopiclone better than zolpidem?
Eszopiclone lasts longer, which may help people who wake during the night, but it is more likely to cause next-day grogginess.
Is Lunesta addictive?
It can cause dependence and has a lower but real risk of misuse. It is Schedule IV.
Sources
- Lunesta (eszopiclone) prescribing information, DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine.
- FDA adds Boxed Warning for risk of serious injuries caused by sleepwalking with certain prescription insomnia medicines, US Food and Drug Administration, 2019.
- Controlled Substance Schedules, DEA Diversion Control Division.
- 21 CFR 1306.22, Refilling of prescriptions (Schedules III and IV), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
- Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth, US Department of Health and Human Services.
- BeSafeRx: Your Source for Online Pharmacy Information, US Food and Drug Administration.
- Safe Pharmacy, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
- One Pill Can Kill, US Drug Enforcement Administration.
This guide summarizes the sourced DoseUses Eszopiclone profile, written from FDA labels, DEA rules, and federal health agencies. It is educational and is not medical advice. Last updated October 5, 2026.
