Zimovane

Description

Side effects

(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients)

Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not apply in your case)

Comments

Zopiclone is a mild sleeping tablet and I have been taking it for about 3 years. Like anything new your body will get used to it and hopefully you will get used to any side effects. I have to say that since increasing my Gabapentin at night, I don't need to take it any more. Side effects include bitter/metallic after taste and dry mouth. I was told that they weren't addictive as were the old type of sleeping tablets. I was told that it is non addictive. Now I see that information was wrong. However, I have taken it for three years and came off it quite easily without any effects when I increased the Gabapentin. Sallie - Derbyshire, UK

Yep you are right, Lynda, Zopiclone taste puck! Take them with a big glass of water… it helps. Tim doesn't complain too much about the taste - he just wants sleep! It is only allowed to take 1/2 a day as you can get attached to them. - Chris - New Zealand

I think Zopiclone are wonderful though I do get a yucky metallic taste, but only as they are just beginning to work. This happens after about 15 minutes, and the next thing I know I am asleep. I sleep all night and have absolutely no hangover feeling the next day. I love the way they work… rather than making me feel drowsy and yucky before I fall asleep, it is like a sudden switch-off into sleep. I never take them before I go up to bed though; I did at my sisters once, then did things that I have no memory of the next day. (nothing dodgy, but I have no memory of conversations, writing emails etc that day). I also read about them not being recommended for long term use, like not to be taken every night. But the same warning applies to Temazepam etc, but I'd go for Zopiclone any day. I try not to take them every night. A 28-day pack probably lasts almost 3 months, with some weeks being busier than others.
The info leaflet I have from Cox Pharmaceuticals warns about withdrawal effects - mostly neurological things like tingling in limbs, numbness, headaches, muscle pains and anxiety symptoms. And it advises to taper when stopping. I think I would prefer to go with the occasional use schedule.
I tend to have a regular sleep pattern. I don't sleep for about 3 or 4 nights, then I am completely shattered, and sleep well for one or two… then no sleep again. The Zopiclone helps to bring the nights of sleep forward a bit. - Tia, a member of RSD_UK Group

My drug book says Zimovane is only meant for short term use and it is addictive! Leanne - UK

I have had sleep problems for 16 years now. When I say 'problems' I mean I really cannot sleep. My worst pattern was two years ago when I didn't sleep for 13 days/nights. I was completely zombiefied. I have been on prescribed drugs on and have for 16 years. As I suffer from depression & anxiety the amount of drugs I have taken in that time is immense. I was given the opportunity by my current GP to try zimovane for the second time (the first being a long time ago). I can't tell you how grateful I am to my GP because now I can sleep. Although it takes 3 x 7.5mg per night to work at least I sleep!
OK, I feel a little tired and lethargic during the day but I would rather feel like that than having to be a zombie. I don't even care if I'm addicted to these tablets. But I am concerned about long-term damage. If there is anyone with info about the damage that may be caused by long-term use please email me at: dtbarrow@hotmail.com. Tony - Hove, East Sussex, England.

I hear you say "Zimovane, that's Zopiclone!" That is the fight I had with the practice [non medical] staff and manager when I was getting my repeat prescription. Someone was doing a rationalisation of "the drugs we prescribe" and they came up with the answer that zopiclone and zimovane are the same. If they are, then why does Zimovane make me sleep when Zopiclone has no effect on me? Are they the same? My Zimovane is a white tablet with the texture of compressed powder. The Zopiclone I was getting was jelly like ovoid not much bigger than a grain of rice. How can they be the same? What the medical and pharmaceutical professions like to call the "active ingredients" may be identical, but their stereochemistry may be different because of manufacturing practices, which makes a difference to the overall chemistry of the respective products. They use different "extras" to get the differing shapes. Has anyone done any real research to prove that these extras do not alter the action of the drugs? In any case, the drug supplied as zimovane in the USA is not the same as in the UK, because the Quinoline Yellow constituent is not allowed in the States. Kenneth - Paisley, Scotland
Kenneth has made am interesting point that may be relevant to several drugs normally regarded as "equivalent". Does anyone have data or experiences to add to his comments? Editor

Wow, I thought I had sleep problems until I read Tony's 13-night nightmare. My problems started a few years ago when I began to feel anxious and jumpy for no reason. Often this worsens at bedtime and sleep refuses to come until 4 or 5 AM, and then I awake at 7AM. Some nights there is no sleep at all.
Yesterday (10 June 2003) I went to see my doctor and I must have sounded desperate because instead of her usual 'try to find the source of your anxiety' etc) she put me on Zimovane 3.75.
Came the night and I took one tablet and settled down for a good night's sleep, but nothing happened, not even the funny taste. After an hour, I risked taking a second tab and the next thing I knew it was 7AM! Not only that, I fell asleep again until 9:30 despite the bitter, metallic taste in my mouth. I feel so much better for a decent night's sleep!
Downside is a slight 'vagueness' and dreamy feeling, but I'd trade this for that sick/zombie/bad-tempered/headache that accompanies the awful tiredness after not sleeping for nights on end. Andrew - Dukinfield, Cheshire, England

Hi, I take Zimovane 7.5 - I have been on them for 3 months. I am deeply depressed and zimovane does work for me. I know I should only take one but I can take up to 5 a night. I don't remember things... I wake up paralysed some times. I think its a great feeling. I just wish I could sleep forever. Hope things work out for the best everyone. Kacey - Bideford, Devon, UK

I had been taking Zimovane for three years due to insomnia but only a mild dosage. During the last twelve months I started getting severe muscular pains, especially in my thighs and back, sometimes unbearable. I do not take any other drugs. Recently I stopped taking Zimovane and the pains have disappeared. I was told by doctor it was the aging process (I am 67) but if this was so why have the pains stopped so suddenly? I am positive that the link was Zimovane, there is no other reason. B. Munro - Bridgwater, Somerset, UK

I had only just started taking Zimovane for sleeping problems that I have had over the last 6 months, I started them during the week to get a good night's sleep but decided not to take them over the weekend as I didn't have to work the next day. I decided not to take them on the Sunday night as I was feeling generally tired but had a very bad anxiety attack on the next day. Why don't the doctors warn you about these side effects? I have decided against them now but am back to having bad nights sleep; can you win? I think not!! James -Glastonbury, Somerset, England

I have been on Zopiclone/Zimovane now for over 8 months...it's fantastic! In the past I really wasn't getting any sleep. At the time my sleep pattern was falling asleep roughly 5am then waking up after 8am I was irritable, stressed out and moody because I hadn't slept well. Since taking the Zopiclone I sleep like a baby, I did run out of them two weeks ago as I forgot to get a repeat prescription I had to wait four days before I could get anymore due to it being a bank holiday, Ggrrrrrrrrrrrr! It was four nights of absolute hell, I was tossing, turning, crying, counting sheep you name it I was doing it, I didn't fall asleep until 4:40am every night and was up by 8am, it was horrid, but thank goodness I now have enough to keep me going for the next month. I will make sure this time I get my repeat prescription in on time!
I hear Zopiclone is very addictive but I don't care if it is, I don't get any side effects apart from the occasional dry mouth which I can tolerate and if it gets me a goodnights sleep I don't care what it is as long as it does the job! Michelle Cooper - South London, UK

Having been prescribed Zimovane for intermittent insomnia I have found that one of the side effects is that due to the muscle relaxing properties of the drug, I get relief from the constant pain I suffer from RSI, a muscular skeletal problem. It also helps alleviate the lower back and leg pain which again is muscular.
I am now in a quandary as I don’t want to become dependant on drugs to sleep but can see a solution to the constant pain I have been in for years which is very tempting.
Do I take them and risk becoming addicted and creating a bigger problem? Would becoming addicted to Zimovane be a bigger problem than being in constant pain? My doctor is against me taking them continuously for obvious reasons.
Has anyone else been taking them regularly for a similar problem? I would be glad to hear of anyone else’s experience. Sue - Guildford, Surrey, UK

I have been taking Zimovane/Zopiclone for the past ten years, I used to take a whole tablet each night and then reduced it to half a tablet. I have tried to do without, but end up with a terrible night's sleep and vivid dreams where I wake up sweating. I guess I may not be quite so alert during the daytime but it's a price I am willing to pay. My blood pressure is normal although I am experiencing dizziness and headaches, hence my reason for looking up side effects, although I'm pretty sure it is unrelated. Steve - Maidstone, Kent UK