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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jerrympls on December 16, 2004, at 18:42:19
Medication Tested for Long-Term Continuous Use Gets FDA Approval for Treatment of Insomnia
A new medication -- Lunesta™ (eszopiclone) -- was approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday for the treatment of insomnia. More than one-half of America's adults, 58% or 126 million people, experience at least one symptom of insomnia a few nights a week, according to NSF's 2002 Sleep in America poll.
NSF chairman, Dr. James K. Walsh, Executive Director and Senior Scientist of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke's Hospital said, "Because insomnia is widespread and can contribute to poor health and adversely affects well-being, it is important for physicians and patients to have treatment options. Eszopiclone has been shown to relieve insomnia and improve perceived daytime function for as long as six months of nightly use."
Eszopiclone was studied using both objective and subjective sleep improvement measures in multiple clinical trials of transient and chronic insomnia among both adults (18-64) and older adults (65-86).
Posted by jerrympls on December 16, 2004, at 18:43:57
In reply to New med for insomia approved, posted by jerrympls on December 16, 2004, at 18:42:19
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 16, 2004, at 20:19:03
In reply to New med for insomia approved, posted by jerrympls on December 16, 2004, at 18:42:19
> Medication Tested for Long-Term Continuous Use Gets FDA Approval for Treatment of Insomnia
>
> A new medication -- Lunesta™ (eszopiclone) -- was approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday for the treatment of insomnia. More than one-half of America's adults, 58% or 126 million people, experience at least one symptom of insomnia a few nights a week, according to NSF's 2002 Sleep in America poll.
>
> NSF chairman, Dr. James K. Walsh, Executive Director and Senior Scientist of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke's Hospital said, "Because insomnia is widespread and can contribute to poor health and adversely affects well-being, it is important for physicians and patients to have treatment options. Eszopiclone has been shown to relieve insomnia and improve perceived daytime function for as long as six months of nightly use."
>
> Eszopiclone was studied using both objective and subjective sleep improvement measures in multiple clinical trials of transient and chronic insomnia among both adults (18-64) and older adults (65-86).It's not really a new drug. It's the s-enantiomer of zopliclone (Imovane). The patent is running out, and this gives them another patent. Maybe it works better, who knows.
Lar
Posted by jerrympls on December 16, 2004, at 21:41:27
In reply to Re: New med for insomia approved » jerrympls, posted by Larry Hoover on December 16, 2004, at 20:19:03
It's a new drug in the U.S. tho - isn't it? I can't find anything on Imovane in my med book . Anyway, it's the first sleep aid to allow for chronic use - up to 6 months or longer. I thought I read it's supposed to be 6 times more potent than Ambien? I hope it works for me - I hate being on an antipsychotic for insomnia.
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 17, 2004, at 9:28:16
In reply to Re: New med for insomia approved, posted by jerrympls on December 16, 2004, at 21:41:27
> It's a new drug in the U.S. tho - isn't it? I can't find anything on Imovane in my med book . Anyway, it's the first sleep aid to allow for chronic use - up to 6 months or longer. I thought I read it's supposed to be 6 times more potent than Ambien? I hope it works for me - I hate being on an antipsychotic for insomnia.
Apologies, mate. I thought zopiclone was available in the US. You are correct, this would be a new med in the US.
BTW, the patent thing would still be true. Drug companies patent a new drug everywhere, even if it's not approved for use. That still keeps other companies from marketing it.
Lar
Posted by linkadge on December 17, 2004, at 16:11:50
In reply to Re: New med for insomia approved » jerrympls, posted by Larry Hoover on December 17, 2004, at 9:28:16
Imovane is availabe here in canada but it is not so special. It will knock you out, but I found It was addicting.
Linkadge
Posted by jerrympls on December 17, 2004, at 23:14:27
In reply to Re: New med for insomia approved, posted by linkadge on December 17, 2004, at 16:11:50
> Imovane is availabe here in canada but it is not so special. It will knock you out, but I found It was addicting.
>
> LinkadgeAs long as it knocks me out - that's all I care. I want OFF Seroquel for insomnia!!
thanks!
Jerry
Posted by rvanson on December 18, 2004, at 16:38:34
In reply to New med for insomia approved, posted by jerrympls on December 16, 2004, at 18:42:19
Ho-hum,
Just another "safe" and "non-addictive" drug company knock-off, that the Pdocs can Rx for insomnia and anxiety even when it doesnt work, like those awful and horrible Benzodiazapines do.
Its all about drug money, and making it as fast as possible in today's marketplace at the expense of the patient's health.
Posted by jerrympls on December 18, 2004, at 17:07:28
In reply to Re: New med for insomia approved, posted by rvanson on December 18, 2004, at 16:38:34
> Ho-hum,
>
> Just another "safe" and "non-addictive" drug company knock-off, that the Pdocs can Rx for insomnia and anxiety even when it doesnt work, like those awful and horrible Benzodiazapines do.
>
> Its all about drug money, and making it as fast as possible in today's marketplace at the expense of the patient's health.
>
>
>Well, I need to sleep so I don't care.
Posted by linkadge on December 18, 2004, at 19:01:50
In reply to Re: New med for insomia approved » rvanson, posted by jerrympls on December 18, 2004, at 17:07:28
Just to offer some contrast, I did find that the drug worked well in that it "hit hard" and was out of your system in the early morning. As well, it is not really a benzodiazapine, and I felt that zopiclone took much longer to build a tollerance to than did lorazepam. (Ie I wasn't sleeping worth beans, and it got me to sleep for a few months before the effects subsided)
Lorazepam only aided sleep for a few weeks before its effects were nonexistant.
Linkadge
Posted by jerrympls on December 18, 2004, at 19:32:28
In reply to Re: New med for insomia approved, posted by linkadge on December 18, 2004, at 19:01:50
> Just to offer some contrast, I did find that the drug worked well in that it "hit hard" and was out of your system in the early morning. As well, it is not really a benzodiazapine, and I felt that zopiclone took much longer to build a tollerance to than did lorazepam. (Ie I wasn't sleeping worth beans, and it got me to sleep for a few months before the effects subsided)
>
> Lorazepam only aided sleep for a few weeks before its effects were nonexistant.
>
> Linkadge
>
>
Ahhh...that's what I wanted to hear. I hope it works as well for me.
Posted by Jaynee on December 18, 2004, at 19:59:25
In reply to Re: New med for insomia approved » linkadge, posted by jerrympls on December 18, 2004, at 19:32:28
Hi Jerry,
I have been taking zopiclone to sleep for over a year, and it is still working for me. I hope the new and improved zopiclone or LUNESTA will work for you. It should.
Posted by jerrympls on December 18, 2004, at 22:12:42
In reply to Jerrympls, posted by Jaynee on December 18, 2004, at 19:59:25
> Hi Jerry,
>
> I have been taking zopiclone to sleep for over a year, and it is still working for me. I hope the new and improved zopiclone or LUNESTA will work for you. It should.I hope so! Thanks Jaynee!
This is the end of the thread.
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