Eszopiclone 1mg

Description

Eszopiclone 1 mg Tablets: Why the Lowest Dose Is Often the Right Place to Start

Eszopiclone is a prescription sleeping tablet for short-term insomnia in adults. The 1 mg tablet is the lowest strength, and prescribers choose it first for many people because sleeping tablets work on the brain’s calming system, and the smallest effective dose carries the smallest risk. For people who are more sensitive to sedatives, it may also be the highest dose that is safe.

This guide explains who 1 mg suits, how to take it and what to watch for. It is general education and does not replace your prescriber’s instructions or the patient leaflet.

Eszopiclone 1 mg at a Glance

Medicine	Eszopiclone (“Z-drug” hypnotic)
Strength	1 mg per tablet
Used for	Short-term treatment of insomnia in adults
Usual use	One tablet immediately before bed, only when you can have a full night’s sleep
Treatment length	As short as possible, usually no more than a few weeks
Prescription required	Yes

Who the 1 mg Tablet Is Chosen For

• People starting a sleeping tablet for the first time, so the lowest effective dose can be found
• Older adults, who are more prone to confusion, unsteadiness and falls
• People with liver problems, where the medicine is cleared more slowly
• People taking medicines that raise eszopiclone levels, such as some antibiotics and antifungals
• People who are sensitive to sedatives in general

If 1 mg is not enough and it is safe to increase, your prescriber may move to 2 mg or, at most, 3 mg. Never raise the dose yourself.

Is It Working? What to Expect

• Many people fall asleep faster within the first nights, though the full effect varies.
• If you are still awake after about 30 minutes, do not take another tablet.
• If a dose does not help after a few nights, speak to your prescriber rather than taking more.
• Judge the benefit over the days of your course, together with how alert you feel the next day.

How to Take Eszopiclone 1 mg

1. Take it immediately before getting into bed.
2. Only take it if you can stay in bed for a full night, about seven to eight hours.
3. Swallow with water, and avoid taking it with or soon after a heavy meal, which can slow its effect.
4. Take one tablet a night at most, and never repeat the dose if you wake.
5. Follow your prescriber’s plan for how many nights to use it.

Sleep Habits That Make a Low Dose Work Better

• Keep a regular bedtime and wake time
• Keep the bedroom dark, cool and quiet
• Limit caffeine after midday, and avoid alcohol in the evening
• Switch off screens an hour before bed
• Ask your GP about CBT for insomnia (CBT-I), which has the best long-term results

Risks to Know About

Next-day drowsiness and driving

Even at a low dose, you may feel drowsy or slow the next day. In the UK it is an offence to drive while impaired by a medicine. Do not drive unless you feel completely alert after a full night’s sleep. See the GOV.UK drug-driving page.

Complex sleep behaviours

Rarely, people have sleepwalked, eaten, made calls or even driven while not fully awake, with no memory of it. If this happens, stop the tablets and contact your doctor straight away. Anyone who has had such an episode on a sleeping tablet should not take it again.

Tolerance and dependence

Regular use can reduce the effect and lead to dependence. Stopping suddenly after regular use can cause rebound insomnia and anxiety, so doses are reduced gradually.

Low mood

Sleeping tablets can worsen mood in some people. If you have thoughts of self-harm, contact your doctor or call 999, or call Samaritans free on 116 123.

Common Side Effects

• An unpleasant or bitter taste in the mouth
• Drowsiness or a hangover feeling
• Headache and dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Nausea or indigestion

Alcohol and Other Medicines

Alcohol greatly increases sedation and breathing risk. Do not drink on a night you take it. Tell your prescriber about opioids, benzodiazepines, other sleeping tablets, pregabalin or gabapentin, sedating antihistamines and antidepressants, and about antibiotics or antifungals such as clarithromycin, ketoconazole and itraconazole, which can raise eszopiclone levels.

Who Should Not Take It

• People with myasthenia gravis
• People with severe sleep apnoea, severe breathing problems or severe liver disease
• Anyone who has had a complex sleep behaviour episode
• Anyone allergic to eszopiclone or zopiclone
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: generally avoided; talk to your prescriber
• People with a history of drug or alcohol dependence, who usually need a different approach

Storage and Disposal

• Keep in the original pack at room temperature, out of reach of children.
• Store securely, and return unused tablets to a pharmacy.
• Never give tablets to anyone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 1 mg enough to help me sleep?

For many people it is, especially older adults. If it does not help, speak to your prescriber rather than taking more.

Why do I get a bitter taste?

Some of the medicine passes into saliva. It is common and usually fades.

Can I drink alcohol with it?

No. Alcohol increases drowsiness and breathing risks.

Can I take it every night?

Only for the short course your prescriber advises.

Can I buy it without a prescription?

No. It must be supplied on a valid prescription.

Where to Read More

See the NHS insomnia pages and the patient leaflet for your product on the electronic medicines compendium.

Medical disclaimer: This information is for general education and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Always follow your prescriber’s instructions and the patient leaflet supplied with your medicine.