Zopiclone is a powerful sleeping pill that works well for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It affects a chemical in the brain that helps you fall asleep and stops you from waking during the night.
It is available as Zopiclone tablets, but it can also be taken as a liquid for people who find it hard to swallow pills. This pill takes about an hour to start working.
What is Zopiclone?
Zopiclone is a drug that is used to treat insomnia. It is part of a group of medications call sedative-hypnotics, which help you fall asleep and stay asleep. It works by enhancing the effects of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in your brain, which helps you relax.
Zopiclone comes in tablet form and is usually take once per day before you go to sleep at night. It can take up to an hour for it to start working, so it’s best to take it just before bedtime. You should not drink alcohol while taking this medication, as it will enhance its sedative effects. Zopiclone is not suitable for everyone and should only be use when prescribe by a doctor. It is not recommend for pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers, as it can pass into breast milk and could affect the fetus.
Other side effects include a metallic taste in your mouth, dry mouth, and daytime sleepiness. If you experience any of these side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
If you’re struggling with sleep issues, try non-pharmacologic therapies first before turning to medication like zopiclone. A good starting point is Sleepstation’s online CBTi programme which can significantly improve sleep in just four sessions. Alternatively, you can try yoga, meditation and other calming activities that will promote healthy sleep patterns. If you have developed a dependence on zopiclone, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Contact Primrose Lodge today to find out more about our zopiclone addiction treatment programme.
How does Zopiclone work?
Zopiclone is a short-acting medication that belongs to the class of medicines called sedative-hypnotics. It can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep through the night if you have insomnia. It works by acting on certain neurotransmitters in the brain to induce sleep and decrease anxiety.
This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women because it can increase the risk of birth defects, especially cleft lips and palates in newborns. It can also cause a reduction in fetal movement and a change in heart rate. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, talk to your doctor immediately.
It’s important to know that Zopicon 7.5mg tablet can affect your memory, and it’s better not to take it if you have something to do the next day like drive or operate machinery. It can also make you drowsy, so it’s important to avoid alcohol and other drugs that make you sleepy while you’re on this drug.
If you do drink alcohol while you’re taking Zopiclone, it can cause a condition called sleep-driving, which may result in a car accident or other serious injuries. It’s also not safe to breastfeed while you’re on this medication, as it can pass through the breast milk and harm your baby. It’s also not safe to take this medicine right before you need to have a medical exam or surgery.
What are the side effects of Zopiclone?
Zopiclone, also known by the brand names Imovane and Zimovane, is a sleep medication that falls under the category of sedative-hypnotics. It is primarily prescribed to treat insomnia, and helps people who struggle with falling asleep at night or wake up frequently throughout the night. Sleep drugs like zopiclone are best used as short-term treatments, since your body becomes accustomed to them quickly and it’s difficult for them to have the same effect if taken regularly.
When taken as directed, Zopiclone can have mild side effects such as a bitter taste in your mouth and dry mouth, but they will usually pass after a few days of taking the medicine. If the side effects are severe or persistent, talk to your doctor about finding alternative treatment.
More serious side effects of zopiclone are rare, but include rapid or pounding heartbeat, changes in vision, severe drowsiness and an allergic reaction (such as a rash, difficulty swallowing or breathing). If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
Some studies have found that zopiclone can cause dependence, but this is typically only reported in cases of long-term use at higher doses than prescribed and in people with mental health problems. However, it is important to note that this type of drug is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you’re concerned about your ability to fall and stay asleep, consider Sleepstation’s online CBTi programme instead.
How should I take Zopiclone?
Zopiclone comes as tablets or an oral solution, and you should take it by mouth just before bedtime. It usually takes about an hour to start working. You should not drive or operate machinery the morning after taking this medicine, as it can cause dizziness or drowsiness. It may also leave a strange taste in your mouth. This medicine can pass into breast milk, so if you are breastfeeding you should not take it.
Zopiclone is not normally recommend for long-term use, as it can cause a tolerance to the effects and lead to dependence. It is generally only prescribe for a few weeks or less for chronic insomnia. If you are taking this medication for longer than that, you should see your doctor to discuss other options for treating your insomnia, such as promethazine.
If you have a medical condition such as liver disease or kidney failure, breathing problems, depression, epilepsy or myasthenia gravis, it is important to tell your doctor before you start taking this medicine. This is especially true if you are taking other prescription or non-prescription drugs, including over-the-counter medicines and herbal remedies.
This medicine is a class C controlled drug. For more information about how it affects you, and how to take it safely, please read the patient information leaflet that came with your medicine or ask your doctor or pharmacist.
