Recovering from Lunesta addiction usually begins with a detoxification process, and it’s one that’s typically medically managed for the safety of the patient. During detoxification, the patient experiences a gradual dosage reduction, which involves slowly tapering the patient’s Lunesta dosage over a period of days or weeks. Sometimes, if gradual dosage reduction is ineffective, a long-acting benzodiazepine, such as chlordiazepoxide or diazepam, may be administered instead because they can help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms during detoxification.
The length of the initial detoxification period depends on several factors, including how long and how much Lunesta the user has been taking and when they took their last dose. Lunesta’s half-life is about 6 hours, which means approximately half the dosage is removed from the body in this amount of time. Initial Lunesta detox can take several hours or days to complete, depending on the patient.
If the user has a long history of Lunesta use or if use of the drug has ceased abruptly, withdrawal symptoms can be severe.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Lunesta detoxification is linked to dangerous withdrawal symptoms
Lunesta is classified as a CNS (central nervous system) depressant. When dosages are abruptly reduced or stopped, patients may experience serious withdrawal symptoms, some of which may be debilitating or dangerous. Extreme anxiety, continued insomnia, hallucinations, seizures, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure can all put the patient at risk for serious complications.
Withdrawing from Lunesta can cause uncomfortable physical symptoms
In addition to debilitating side effects, the patient may also experience uncomfortable physical symptoms, such as stomach cramps, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
Lunesta withdrawal can lead to suicidal thoughts and personality changes
Aggression, agitation, changes in behavior, thoughts of self-harm, depression, and suicidal thoughts are all long-term withdrawal effects of Lunesta. This is part of why medically supervised detoxification programs are often recommended for Lunesta-addicted patients.
Lunesta Detoxification Medications
There is no one specific medication used to manage Lunesta detoxification and withdrawal, but medical professionals may use certain medicines that can manage symptoms and make the patient feel safer and more comfortable. In certain cases, a replacement non-benzodiazepine may be given to the patient to help manage withdrawal symptoms.
For more information about withdrawal, read our guide on Lunesta addiction.