Eszopiclone 2mg

Description

Eszopiclone 2 mg Tablets: The Middle Dose and How Prescribers Decide Whether to Step Up

Eszopiclone 2 mg sits in the middle of the range. It is used when 1 mg has not been enough, or when a prescriber judges that a slightly higher dose is appropriate and safe from the start. Because the gap between doses is small, the main question with 2 mg is not “is more better?” but “is this the lowest dose that works for me?”

This guide explains when 2 mg is chosen, how to judge it, and the risks to know about. It is general education and does not replace your prescriber’s instructions or the patient leaflet.

Eszopiclone 2 mg at a Glance

Medicine	Eszopiclone (“Z-drug” hypnotic)
Strength	2 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

When Is 2 mg Chosen?

• After 1 mg: if 1 mg was tolerated but did not help enough over several nights
• As a first dose in some adults without extra risk factors, at the prescriber’s judgement
• As a ceiling for some people, such as older adults, for whom 2 mg is often the most that is advised

The highest strength is 3 mg, which is the maximum dose. Many people never need it.

How to Judge Whether 2 mg Is Right

Signs the dose may suit you	Signs it may be too high
You fall asleep reasonably quickly	You feel groggy or slow in the morning
You sleep most of the night	You feel unsteady, dizzy or confused
You feel alert the next day	You forget events after taking it
Side effects are mild	You have unusual night-time behaviour

Tell your prescriber if you recognise anything in the right-hand column. Going back to a lower dose is often the answer.

How to Take Eszopiclone 2 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.
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.

Risks to Know About

Next-day drowsiness and driving

Impairment the next day can occur even if you feel awake. 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. Stop the tablets and contact your doctor straight away if this happens.

Tolerance and dependence

Regular use can reduce the effect and lead to dependence. If 2 mg stops working, do not raise the dose yourself. Speak to your prescriber about a gradual reduction and other treatments such as CBT-I.

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.

Breathing

Eszopiclone can slow breathing, especially with alcohol, opioids or other sedatives. If someone is very hard to wake or breathing slowly, call 999.

Common Side Effects

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

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 and may mean a lower dose is needed.

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

Coming Off Eszopiclone

If you have taken it for more than a short spell, do not stop suddenly. Your prescriber will usually reduce the dose gradually. A few poor nights are common afterwards, and they settle.

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

Should I move up from 1 mg to 2 mg myself?

No. Only your prescriber should change your dose.

Is 2 mg a safe dose?

It is within the licensed range, but safety depends on your age, health and other medicines. Follow your label.

Can I take eszopiclone with alcohol?

No. Alcohol increases drowsiness and breathing risks.

Is there a 6 mg tablet?

No. The strengths are 1, 2 and 3 mg. See our eszopiclone 6 mg guide.

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.