NutriStack
Alcohol and Eszopiclone, contraindicated.
Alcohol can add to eszopiclone's hypnotic and psychomotor-impairing effects. The combination can cause excessive sedation, impaired coordination, confusion, falls, and complex sleep behaviors. Older adults and people taking other sedatives are at higher risk.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
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Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Substances
- Alcohol and Eszopiclone
- Pair type
- Contraindicated
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Moderate
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −25 to your Stack Score (per scored contraindication row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Contraindicated · Moderate evidence
Contraindicated
What is happening. Alcohol can add to eszopiclone's hypnotic and psychomotor-impairing effects. The combination can cause excessive sedation, impaired coordination, confusion, falls, and complex sleep behaviors. Older adults and people taking other sedatives are at higher risk.
Mechanism. Eszopiclone acts at the benzodiazepine site of GABA-A receptors as a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic. Alcohol adds GABAergic CNS depression and impairs attention, balance, and memory.
Recommendation. Do not drink alcohol when taking eszopiclone. Skip eszopiclone rather than combining it with alcohol unless your prescriber gives different individualized instructions. Do not drive or perform hazardous tasks if both were used.
Sources (2)
- McCrae CS, Lichstein KL. Eszopiclone for late-life insomnia. Clin Interv Aging. 2007;2(3):313-326. PMID 18044182
- Richter G, Liao VWY, Ahring PK, Chebib M. The Z-Drugs Zolpidem, Zaleplon, and Eszopiclone Have Varying Actions on Human GABA(A) Receptors Containing gamma1, gamma2, and gamma3 Subunits. Front Neurosci. 2020;14:599812. PMID 33328871
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Alcohol and Eszopiclone are in the same stack, this pair applies −25 to your Stack Score (per scored contraindication row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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