Lunesta vs. Restoril

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

Lunesta (eszopiclone) and Restoril (temazepam) are sedative hypnotics used to treat insomnia.

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 Restoril include:

• dizziness
• daytime drowsiness (or during hours when you are not normally sleeping)
• amnesia or forgetfulness
• muscle weakness
• loss of balance or coordination
• headache
• blurred vision
• depression
• nervousness
• excitability
• irritability
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach discomfort
• dry mouth
• increased thirst, or
• numbness
• burning
• pain, or
• tingly feeling

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Restoril including weak or shallow breathing, fast or pounding heartbeats, confusion, slurred speech, unusual thoughts or behavior, hallucinations, agitation, aggression, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, restless muscle movements (in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck), pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, problems with urination, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

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

Restoril (temazepam) is a benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic used to treat insomnia symptoms, such as trouble falling or staying asleep.

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.

Restoril may interact with fluvoxamine, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, or other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety).

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 usual recommended usual adult dose of Restoril is 15 mg before retiring, though 7.5 mg may be sufficient for some patients, and others may need 30 mg.