Insomnia:

Insomnia affects a significant proportion of people across the globe with the possibility of severe health complications. If you have insomnia, you find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep at night, affecting your quality of life. People with insomnia also experience daytime sleepiness during their working hours. Only a few patients with insomnia are able to get the right treatment.

Besides affecting physical, emotional, and social domains and daytime functioning, your cognitive functioning is greatly affected by chronic insomnia. According to many studies, 40% of people who have insomnia also have depression and anxiety. (1,2)

If you’re tired of staying up all night due to insomnia, Zopiclone is the RIGHT option for you. Let's discuss the benefits and efficacy.

What is Zopiclone?

The last resort and ultimate solution to all your sleeping problems could be Zopiclone, which is a hypnotic drug belonging to the class of Z-drugs. This product is prescribed by doctors to manage and treat insomnia for the short term. Zopiclone is prescribed in combination with other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to achieve better outcomes. (3)

If you wake up too early, have difficulty falling asleep, and lie awake for prolonged hours, Zopiclone can make you relax and sleepy by working on chemicals in your brain.

When your body does not respond to non-medication treatments, then Medicine are prescribed. It should never be used for more than four weeks because your body can get used to it or dependent on it.

How you fall asleep and stay asleep after taking Zopiclone is by the binding of GABA Z receptor chloride channel macromolecular complex – a benzodiazepine receptor. In combination with other benzodiazepines, Zopiclone increases the inhibitory effect of GABA receptors to exert their anxiolytic and hypnotic effects. (4)

How to Take?

• Tablets are available in different doses: 7.5mg, 10mg and even 20mg
• Zopiclone is recommended for older adults aged over 65 years old or for those with liver or kidney disease. Zopiclone is taken before going to bed, and it takes one hour for the medicine to work.
• If you wake up from sleep, do not take Zopiclone.
• You can take Zopiclone with or without food. However, it is not recommended to chew or crush the tablet.
• You should not take every night. Your doctor only prescribes the medicine two to three times per week. (5)

Who Can and Cannot Take Zopiclone?

Only adults over the age of 18 can take Zopiclone prescribed by the doctor. However, you must speak with your pharmacist if you:

• Have had any mental health problems.
• Have muscle weakness called myasthenia gravis.
• Have had an allergic reaction to other medications, Zopiclone or Zopiclone ingredients.
• Are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Have a history of drug abuse or alcoholism.
• Have kidney or liver problems.
• Have sleep apnea or any breathing problems. Sleep apnea refers to a condition in which a patient stops breathing during sleep. (6)

Precautions:

As Zopiclone relaxes you and helps you fall asleep, you should be more concerned while taking Zopiclone. You feel sleepy and drowsy the very next day, which makes it hard for you to concentrate. Zopiclone can cause drowsiness for up to 11 hours. The following table contains some precautions and their description. (7)

References:

1. Morin CM, Drake CL, Harvey AG, Krystal AD, Manber R, Riemann D, et al. Insomnia disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primer. 2015 Sep 3;1(1):1–18.
2. Fava GA, Grandi S, Canestrari R, Molnar G. Prodromal symptoms in primary major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord. 1990 Jun;19(2):149–52.
3. Wadworth AN, McTavish D. Zopiclone. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy as an hypnotic. Drugs Aging. 1993 Oct;3(5):441–59.
4. Döble A, Canton T, Malgouris C, Stutzmann J, Piot O, Bardone M, et al. The mechanism of action of zopiclone. Eur Psychiatry J Assoc Eur Psychiatr. 1995;10 Suppl 3:117s–28s.
5. Zopiclone tablets; Zimovane for insomnia. Zopiclone side effects [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jun 2].
6. Zopiclone: a sleeping pill used to treat bouts of insomnia [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2019 [cited 2021 Jun 2].
7. Zealand (www.bka.co.nz) S designed and developed by bka interactive ltd Auckland, New. Zopiclone
8. Health Navigator NZ [Internet]. Health Navigator New Zealand. [cited 2021 Jun 2].