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Hi Doctor. I Have A Concern About A Prescription Im
Question: Hi doctor. i have a concern about a prescription im taking long term and its effects on my liver. i take 2 to 3 miligrams of eszopiclone nighlty for insomnia. i have been taking it consisgently for about a year. i am worried however of the possibility of this causing liver or kidney problems with long term use. I have a healthy liver and i have had liver tests done before and have been found to be fine, however this was before the eszopiclone use. Can taking eszopiclone long term cause liver or kidney damage in otherwise healthy individuals? If so, will lowering my dose to 2mg a night help?
Brief Answer:
Few side effects of prolonged use
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Eszopiclone can cause side effects like dry mouth, dizziness, unpleasant taste and sleepiness.
It should be used with precautions or better avoided if there is hepatic impairment in liver function tests. You must repeat the liver function tests now to check current status after taking this medicine. In case hepatic damage is there, stopping the drug would be needed. Lowering the dose will lower the damage but may not reverse it.
Maintenance dose should be 1 mg if needed or none at all if not needed.
When given for more than 2 years in rodents, it caused cancers. But no long term studies in humans, so effect of long term intake is unknown in humans. I would not prescribe it for so long.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Few side effects of prolonged use
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Eszopiclone can cause side effects like dry mouth, dizziness, unpleasant taste and sleepiness.
It should be used with precautions or better avoided if there is hepatic impairment in liver function tests. You must repeat the liver function tests now to check current status after taking this medicine. In case hepatic damage is there, stopping the drug would be needed. Lowering the dose will lower the damage but may not reverse it.
Maintenance dose should be 1 mg if needed or none at all if not needed.
When given for more than 2 years in rodents, it caused cancers. But no long term studies in humans, so effect of long term intake is unknown in humans. I would not prescribe it for so long.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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