Lunesta and Weight Loss

Getting an insufficient night's sleep might prevent you from maintaining a healthy weight. Lunesta is a prescription drug used to treat insomnia, a common sleep disorder. When used as directed, Lunesta can help you fall and stay asleep, but has side effects that include weight loss and other more severe adverse reactions. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about your health condition and the benefits and risks of Lunesta, including losing weight.

Sleep and Weight Management

Short sleep duration of less than six hours and long sleep duration of nine or more hours per night is associated with increased weight gain in adults, children and adolescents. Research by scientists at the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki in Finland and published in the "Journal of Sleep Research" in 2010 discovered that short sleep duration is associated with weight gain among middle-aged women. Short sleep duration is also associated with weight gain in men, according to research by scientists at the Department of Occupational Mental Health at Kitasato University in Japan and published in "Sleep" in 2010. The research demonstrates that almost 6 percent of non-obese men become obese after one year of short sleep duration. Research by scientists at Maastricht University in The Netherlands and published in the "International Journal of Obesity" in 2010 found that less sleep is associated with greater weight gain in children and adolescents.

Lunesta Indication

The Food and Drug Administration approved Lunesta in oral tablets in multiple dosages of 1, 2 and 3 mg in 2004. Eszopiclone is the active ingredient in Lunesta. According to the product label, Lunesta is indicated for the treatment of insomnia. Clinical trials among outpatients and in sleep laboratories demonstrate that Lunesta administered at bedtime decreases sleep latency and improves sleep maintenance. The starting dose for most non-elderly adults is 2 mg. Dosing can increase to 3 mg, the most effective dosage for maintaining sleep. In elderly patients, 1 mg is an effective dose for falling asleep and 2 mg is effective for sleep maintenance. Consult your doctor about your sleep problems to determine your dosage.

Side Effects

The results from clinical trials show that weight loss and weight gain may occur infrequently as adverse reactions from taking Lunesta. Other side effects include memory loss, anxiety, drowsiness, dizziness, headache and getting out of bed without being fully awake and pursuing an activity you may not be fully aware you are doing, such as sleep-walking, eating or having sex. Do not drive a vehicle after taking Lunesta until you are fully awake.

Considerations

Getting a complete night's sleep and sleeping without interruption may help you prevent weight gain and maintain a healthy weight, or to lose weight. If you have insomnia, medication such as Lunesta may help you fall and stay asleep. Scientists do not know why Lunesta may cause infrequent adverse reactions that include weight loss or weight gain, but it may have to do with sleeping between six and eight hours or nine or more hours, respectively.