How Long Does Lunesta (Eszopiclone) Stay In Your System?

Lunesta is eliminated from your system in less than two days after your last dose.

Lunesta is a brand-name sedative-hypnotic medication used by healthcare professionals for the short-term treatment of sleep disorders. It is available in generic form as eszopiclone.

Lunesta is classified as a non-benzodiazepine or z-drug and closely resembles other sleeping pills like zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien).

While Lunesta is generally safe and effective when used as directed, it can be habit-forming and is sometimes abused.

How Long Can Lunesta Be Detected In Urine, Hair, & Blood?

Benzodiazepine drugs like alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) are routinely tested for in drug screenings using various bodily tissues.

But while the action and effects of Lunesta resemble those of benzos drugs, Lunesta and other Z-drugs are chemically distinct and do not generate a positive result in most drug screenings unless they are specifically tested for.

General detection periods for Lunesta in these specialized drug tests include:

• urine tests: Lunesta is detectable in urine for up to 48 hours after your last dose
• blood tests: Lunesta is detectable in the blood for up to only a few hours after your last dose
• saliva tests: Lunesta is not detectable using saliva tests
• hair tests: Lunesta use may be detectable in hair follicle tests for up to 90 days after your last dose

Factors That Influence Lunesta Detection Periods

Certain factors can increase or decrease the length of time during which Lunesta, or a pattern of Lunesta abuse, may be detectable in drug tests designed to specifically look for this medication.

These factors include:

• the size of your last dose of Lunesta
• your age (older adults tend to process drugs, including Lunesta, more slowly than younger adults)
• body composition
• metabolism and liver and kidney health
• hydration
• overall health, physical condition, and metabolism
• use of other substances with Lunesta, including alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines

Lunesta Half-Life

Lunesta has a half-life of around 6 hours. This is the amount of time it takes for your body to remove one-half of the dose of Luneta still present inside your body.

It typically takes 5-6 half-lives to remove a drug from the body, though some traces may remain in the hair follicles, fat cells, and certain other tissues after this point. A drug’s effects tend to wear off well before the drug is fully expelled from the body.

Lunesta’s Duration Of Action

Medical information provided with Lunesta prescriptions are very clear that Lunesta is meant to be taken by mouth before bed, but only in cases when you have seven or eight hours available for you to sleep without interruption.

This lines up with Lunesta’s typical duration of action, which is around eight hours.

If you take Lunesta and are woken before the drug’s effects have worn off, you may experience memory loss and have difficulty thinking and reacting to your environment.

Lunesta’s Mechanism Of Action

Like benzodiazepines, Lunesta interacts with GABA receptors in the brain. This releases physical and mental tension, causing feelings of drowsiness that can help you fall asleep faster and keep sleeping longer.

This also means that Lunesta acts as a central nervous system depressant, slowing breathing and heart rate while active in the body.

While the neurochemical effects of Lunesta are rarely dangerous or life-threatening on their own, the drug can contribute to overdoses if mixed with other drugs, especially other CNS depressants like alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.

Lunesta Side-Effects

The most common side-effects associated with the use of Lunesta include a bad taste in your mouth, sleepiness, dizziness, headache, and daytime sleepiness.This next day sleepiness, also known as next morning impairment, is a growing concern for Lunesta and similar prescription drug sleep aids.

Less-common side effects can include dry mouth, indigestion, nausea, anxiety, rash, hallucinations, and depression. Sleep walking and other complex sleep activities may also occur.

Lunesta Withdrawal

Lunesta withdrawal symptoms can occur whenever the drug is used for a prolonged period and then stopped cold turkey.

Common symptoms, which can often be minimized or avoided through tapering down your drug use, can include:

• cravings
• mood swings and other mental health changes
• sweating
• tremors and spasms
• nausea and vomiting
• rebound insomnia
• short-term memory impairment

Lunesta Addiction

Lunesta addiction may also occur and can be a dangerous and difficult condition to face on your own.

Addiction treatment options for prescription drug abuse may include medical detox, behavioral therapy, and peer support groups. These substance abuse services are available in both outpatient and inpatient treatment programs.

Get Help Today

For information on our outpatient rehab programs for substance use, please contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center today.