Lunesta is a brand name for a medication called eszopiclone, which is used to treat insomnia. Lunesta is in a category called nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics, which work in a way that’s similar to benzodiazepines, though they have a different chemical structure.Along with benzodiazepines and alcohol, Lunesta is in a broad category of psychoactive chemicals called central nervous system depressants. These work to suppress the nervous system by affecting a specific chemical messenger called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This neurotransmitter is responsible for binding to its receptor and activating it, causing it to regulate excitability in the nervous system. In people with sleep disorders like insomnia, this process may not be efficient enough to facilitate sleep when it’s time to rest and relax. Lunesta can bind to GABA receptors and increase the effectiveness of your own GABA neurotransmitters.However, Lunesta can also have some side effects when it’s abused. In high doses, the drug can cause alcohol-like intoxication that includes sedation, lowering of inhibition, loss of motor skills, and euphoria. For that reason, it’s sometimes used recreationally. When the drug is abused, it can cause tolerance, chemical dependency, addiction, overdose, and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.