Lunesta vs. Desyrel (Trazodone)

• Are Lunesta and Desyrel (Trazodone) the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lunesta?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Desyrel (Trazodone)?
• What Is Lunesta?
• What Is Desyrel (Trazodone)?
• What Drugs Interact with Lunesta?
• What Drugs Interact with Desyrel (Trazodone)?
• How Should Lunesta Be Taken?
• How Should Desyrel (Trazodone) Be Taken?

Lunesta (eszopiclone) and trazodone are used to treat insomnia.

Desyrel (Trazodone) is also used to treat depression ad it is used off-label for insomnia.

Lunesta and trazodone belong to different drug classes. Lunesta is a sedative hypnotic and trazodone is an antidepressant.

Side effects of Lunesta and trazodone that are similar include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, constipation, unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth, or dry mouth.

Side effects of Lunesta that are different from trazodone include "hangover" feeling, problems with memory or concentration, anxiety, depression, nervous feeling, stomach pain, loss of appetite, or mild skin rash

Side effects of trazodone that are different from Lunesta include vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, blurred vision, changes in weight, muscle ache/pain, stuffy nose, or change in sexual interest/ability.

Both Lunesta and trazodone may interact with alcohol and seizure medicines.

Lunesta may also interact with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotics, prescription cough medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or depression).

Desyrel (Trazodone) may also interact with HIV medicines, antifungal medications, digoxin, warfarin, or MAO inhibitors.

Do not stop using Lunesta suddenly after taking it over several days in a row, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Common side effects of Lunesta include:

• dizziness,
• tiredness,
• daytime drowsiness (or during hours when you are not normally sleeping),
• loss of coordination,
• headache,
• depression,
• memory problems,
• numbness or tingly feeling,
• nervousness,
• excitability,
• irritability,
• changes in menstrual periods,
• itching,
• increased or decreased interest in sex, or
• blurred vision.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Lunesta including:

• memory loss, or
• mental/mood/behavior changes (such as new or worsening depression, abnormal thoughts, thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, aggressive behavior, or anxiety).

Rarely, after taking Lunesta, people have gotten out of bed and driven vehicles while not fully awake ("sleep-driving"). People have also sleepwalked, prepared/eaten food, made phone calls, or had sex while not fully awake. Often, these people do not remember these events. This problem can be dangerous to you or to others. If you find out that you have done any of these activities after taking Lunesta, tell your doctor right away.

Common side effects of Desyrel (Trazodone) include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• tiredness,
• blurred vision,
• changes in weight,
• headache,
• muscle ache/pain,
• dry mouth,
• bad taste in the mouth,
• stuffy nose,
• constipation, or
• change in sexual interest/ability.

Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a sedative hypnotic used to treat insomnia.

Desyrel (trazodone hydrochloride) is an antidepressant used to treat depression. The brand name Desyrel is no longer available in the U.S. but may be available in generic form.

Lunesta may interact with alcohol, other medicines that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (such as cold medicines, pain medications, muscle relaxants, and medicines for depression, anxiety, or seizures), ketoconazole, rifampin, or antidepressants.

Trazodone may interact with HIV medicines, antifungal medications, digoxin, seizure medicines, warfarin, or MAO inhibitors. Tell your doctor all medications you use. During pregnancy, trazodone should be used only when prescribed. This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The recommended starting dose of Lunesta is 1 mg, taken with a full glass of water. Avoid taking Lunesta within 1 hour after eating a high-fat or heavy meal, because this will make it harder for your body to absorb the medication.

The initial adult dose of trazodone is 150 mg/day in divided doses. The dose may be increased by 50 mg/day every three to four days. The maximum dose for outpatients usually should not exceed 400 mg/day in divided doses.