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Lunesta generic availability, cost, and more

Looking to save on insomnia medication? Generic Lunesta (eszopiclone) offers the same benefits at a fraction of the price. Learn how to switch and what to expect.
Karen Berger medical writer and reviewer headshot
By | Aug. 13, 2025
Three Rx bottles: Lunesta generic

Key takeaways

  • Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a prescription sleep medicine that is FDA-approved to treat insomnia in adults.

  • A generic version, eszopiclone, is widely available and typically costs much less than brand-name Lunesta.

  • Generic eszopiclone is just as safe and effective as Lunesta, and most people can switch without issues.

  • Like other sleep medications, Lunesta has side effects and safety risks, including complex sleep behaviors and next-day drowsiness.

  • Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about switching to generic eszopiclone.

In this article:

If you have trouble sleeping, you are in good company. According to the Sleep Foundation, up to two-thirds of adults occasionally have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and up to 15% of people are living with chronic insomnia (trouble sleeping that lasts more than a few months). Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a prescription medicine that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of insomnia in adults. It helps people fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night. Lunesta is part of a drug class known as nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotic agents, similar to “z-drugs” like Ambien (zolpidem) and Sonata (zaleplon). Brand-name drugs like Lunesta can be pricey, so you may want to know, is there a generic for Lunesta? The good news is that there is a generic for Lunesta that works just as well and can save you a significant amount of money.

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Is there a generic for Lunesta?

Yes, the good news is that there is a generic for Lunesta—eszopiclone. Brand-name Lunesta, which is made by the pharmaceutical company Waylis Therapeutics, was FDA-approved in 2004. The first eszopiclone generic was approved in April 2014. Now, many companies make generic versions of eszopiclone, which are much more affordable than brand-name Lunesta.

What are the differences between brand-name and generic Lunesta?

Generic drugs may not look exactly the same as their brand-name counterparts, but they are available in the same dosage forms, contain the same active ingredient, and work in the same way. What’s more, generics are much more affordable than their brand-name counterparts, often costing up to 85% less. 

Generic drugs are the same as brand-name drugs in terms of safety and effectiveness. The FDA requires manufacturers of generic drugs to conduct studies to show that their products are bioequivalent to the brand-name drug. This means that the generic drug results in the same blood levels over the same period of time as the brand. 

The Association for Accessible Medicines reports that generic drugs are very popular. In 2024, 90% of prescriptions in the U.S. were filled for generic or biosimilar drugs. 

The following table summarizes important information about Lunesta and its generic, eszopiclone.

Lunesta (eszopiclone) drug info
Uses Insomnia in adults (helps people fall asleep faster and stay asleep)
Standard dosage
  • Lunesta and its generic are available in 1 mg, 2 mg, and 3 mg oral tablets
  • Healthcare providers prescribe the lowest effective dose 
  • The typical starting dose is 1 mg by mouth once daily just before bedtime, with a full night’s sleep remaining (at least 7 or 8 hours remaining to sleep)
  • The dose may be increased by the healthcare provider if needed, to higher doses, up to a maximum of 3 mg once daily, just before bedtime
  • Older adults, people with liver problems, and people who take certain medicines typically will take lower doses
  • Lunesta should not be taken with a meal or just after eating. Taking Lunesta with or just after a heavy or high-fat meal can cause the drug to be absorbed more slowly and not work as well. 
  • You should take Lunesta exactly as directed. Stopping Lunesta abruptly or too quickly could cause withdrawal symptoms. 
Common side effects
  • Unpleasant taste in the mouth
  • Dry mouth
  • Sleepiness or drowsiness, including next-day drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Common cold symptoms 
Contraindications You should not take Lunesta if you are allergic to this medicine or any of its ingredients or if you have had a complex sleep behavior associated with any sleep medicine. 
Other considerations
  • Before taking Lunesta, be sure your healthcare provider knows about all your medical conditions, especially if you have a history of depression or any mental health condition, drug or alcohol use, or liver disease.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
  • Also, tell your provider about all your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. Some medicines, such as benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, or opioids, may interact with Lunesta and increase the risk of serious side effects like excessive drowsiness, dizziness, or breathing problems. Other drugs, like ketoconazole, itraconazole, or clarithromycin, will typically require you to take a lower dose of Lunesta. Your provider can check for drug interactions and help you determine which combinations are safe or should be avoided.
  • You should not drink alcohol while taking Lunesta.
  • Lunesta may cause you to fall asleep very quickly. Take it just before you get into bed, not sooner. Taking Lunesta while you are still up and moving around can cause short-term memory problems, hallucinations, dizziness, lightheadedness, and incoordination.
  • Lunesta may cause you to feel drowsy the next day. Only take Lunesta if you sleep at least 7 or 8 hours. Do not drive or do any other dangerous activities the next morning until you feel completely awake.
  • Lunesta is a Schedule IV controlled substance, which means there is some risk of abuse and dependence. If you have a history of drug or alcohol use or dependence, tell your healthcare professional.
  • Lunesta has a boxed warning. This drug may cause a serious side effect called complex sleep behaviors, which may cause you to get out of bed while not fully awake and do activities like cooking, sleepwalking, or sleep-driving. These actions can be dangerous and can even lead to death. If you experience any of these behaviors or someone tells you that you have, stop taking Lunesta and call your healthcare provider right away. 
  • Severe allergic reactions are rare. If you have hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling, get emergency medical help right away.
  • Other serious side effects may include memory loss and anxiety. Mood and behavior changes can also occur, including new or worsening depression, aggression, hallucinations, or suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

How much is generic Lunesta?

Without insurance, a 30-day supply of 3 mg brand-name Lunesta costs about $1,314. Using a free SingleCare discount can bring the price down to $1,261. 

To maximize your savings, choose generic eszopiclone and use a free SingleCare discount. This can decrease the price to as low as $10 per month, making it far more affordable. You can use the SingleCare coupon on your initial prescription and each refill. 

Brand vs. generic Lunesta prices
Brand-name Lunesta Lunesta generic (eszopiclone)
Average cost without insurance $1,314 for 30, 3 mg tablets of Lunesta $334 for 30, 3 mg tablets of generic eszopiclone
SingleCare’s lowest price $1,261 for 30, 3 mg tablets of Lunesta $10 for 30, 3 mg tablets of generic eszopiclone
Free coupons Lunesta coupons Eszopiclone coupons

How to switch from Lunesta to eszopiclone

Since eszopiclone is essentially the same as Lunesta, the transition from brand to generic should be seamless. Most people can switch to generic and start taking the equivalent dose of eszopiclone right away, without any tapering or transition period.

If you currently take brand-name Lunesta and want to switch to generic, ask your pharmacist to check the prescription your healthcare provider sent in or wrote. If your healthcare provider has indicated “substitution permissible,” in most cases, you should be able to request the generic on your own. However, if your healthcare provider has indicated “Do not substitute,” or “brand medically necessary,” your pharmacist will have to check with your provider before making the switch. 

Always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or for medical advice about sleep problems and treatment.

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