Zopiclone

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. On my packet Zopiclone also come under the name of Zileze, which is the trade name. 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. Tia, a member of RSD-UK

I have been reading about Heather who has been prescribed Lofepramine. I too was prescribed it 70mg twice daily. I suffer with anxiety and depression and have dreadful times when my sleep is poor. Since taking this drug I have had yellow bruising, severe muscle pain and muscle spasm. I have been prescribed Diazepam because twelve months ago my depression worsened, and now I take lithium alongside Lofepramine, and Frusemide because of water retention. I also have to take Zimovane as I can no longer sleep. I was told by my GP to increase Lofepramine but I felt dreadful and sweated profusely. Now I haven't a clue which tablet is causing me to feel so unwell. I am a qualified nurse who cannot practice because of my ill health, so please has any one any help for me as the hospital have given me no encouragement, and I have slowly lost faith in the doctors. Sian Goodman - UK

I have had only three prescriptions (28 7.5mg tabs each) over the last couple of years. I had problems getting to sleep for as long as I could remember, with no obvious cause, and only sought medication in my early twenties after unsuccessfully trying natural/lifestyle remedies. I only take them consecutively for a week, then reduce the dose until my use becomes sporadic/very occasional. I find this allows me to readjust my (nocturnal) sleep pattern, and I am then able to keep it relatively steady without medication for some months (with interspersed periods of insomnia). I only seek another prescription when my sleep cycle has once again reverted to nocturnal, genuinely impeding my day to day life. It seems from reports that the main concerns over its use are due to a lack of information regarding its addictive qualities, and dependency among people with underlying emotional or psychological problems, increasing the tendency towards dependant behaviour. This however, can be said of virtually EVERY psychoactive drug! These factors should be considered before taking, but with cautious use, and no over-riding mental issues, I have found Zopiclone to be a highly effective sleep aid when used sparsely and responsibly. Laurence - Bedfordshire, UK

I have been using Zopiclone for approximately 6 months and my dosage is been 1-2 7.5mg tabs every night. I am now addicted to them and have tried numerous other sleeping prescriptions. It is now effecting my long term and short term memory and, when I wake up in the morning, it takes 3-4 hours before I am properly alert. I have to write notes every time I have things to do so I can remember. I wish my doctor had warned me. T. Hamilton - USA

I have been taking Zopiclone 7.5mg as well as Prozac for the past 3 years. I started to come of Prozac in the last 3 months and have had lot of side effects, tremors in chest (which is horrible), unstable balance, sweating and headache. If I feel tremors in my chest I take Zopiclone 7.5mg and this seems to relieve the symptoms. I also then take 2 Zopiclone 7.5mg when going to bed, which helps me sleep. I find it is getting me hooked but what can I do as it relieves my symptoms? I used to only take 1 but now it takes 2 to get me asleep Mervyn - Belfast, Northern Ireland

Zopiclone, like all hypnotic drugs (sleeping tablets) are intended for short term use only. Research has shown that these type of drugs become ineffective after only a few weeks use, as tolerance develops. Dependence to such drugs is generally psychologically caused as many feel that they will simply not sleep if they do not take their pill. My advice to to people taking such tablets is to withdraw gradually from these tablets and address the underlying causes to your insomnia. Life long use of such hypnotic tablets have shown cases of amnesia, therefore it is beneficial to your health if you stop. Richard - London, England

I have been on Zopiclone/Zimovane as sleeping tablets for nearly 2 years now, I suffer with depression but because I have suffered from epileptic fits I cannot take anti depressants. I take pills for my epilepsy as well as these sleeping pills and I am totally hooked on them now. Natalie - Slough, Berkshire, England

Really this is to Natalie from Slough. If you are under a mental health team you must have some kind of helper or CPN. Tell them whats going on and get them to contact your Epilepsy consultant and go through these difficulties. Make an appointment with the Epilepsy centre or specialist and make sure your support worker or CPN from the Mental health team goes with you to this appointment to get these issues solved. Dont sit back and put up with it, there are other drugs out there they may work. there is also that new opperation called Vagisnerve inplant to control epilepsy. You would have to see your GP about that one as its done on government funding. I do know one lady who has had the op and she no longer has any seizures. So keep your head and hopes up. Louise - Slough, Bekshire, UK

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 stereo chemistry 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 an 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

To Kenneth, Paisley (please say hello to Scotland for me - it's been too long!)
I am taking 7.5mg Zopiclone which is a smallish white crystalline tablet so I don't know what you're getting. I try not to take it EVERY night. I also take diazepam 5-15mg daily,Trazodone caps. 200mg nightly, reboxetine 4mg daily (am) and Effexor 75mg XL capsule + 37.5 tablet. Firstly most of my medications seem to come from a different source each prescription e.g. Mexico, Barcelona, Geneva etc. and I find that they do vary slightly - some more than others but I have found the Zopiclone to be the most consistent. Lucky - Bournemouth, Dorset, England

Zopiclone was prescribed to me after a nervous breakdown when I was 24. Over the last 4 years I have been unable to function with out these tablets (my life runs around what time I will take my sleeping pills). Over the last 18 months the side effects have become apparent and I need to increase the dosage in order to sleep. I was taking up to 6x 7.5m.g per evening in order to sleep as the recommended 2x 7.5mg would only calm me down and give me 30 minutes of euphoria in the evening. One of the most apparent side effects was loss of memory along with increases in my aggressiveness, irritability and confusion. The comments on this site have opened my eyes to this drug's true addictive nature. I have not taken the tablet for 3 weeks now. The withdrawal symptoms have been harsh and included severe depression and inability to sleep. Nick - London, England

I was prescribed Zopiclone by my doctor whilst suffering from severe post natal depression. I have been on them for 11 months. At one point I had weaned myself of them and was doing really well, but then I went back on them. I just tried to come off them again and had really bad withdrawal symptoms but I am determined to come off them. My advice is don't ever go on them in the first place. I think 2 hours of quality sleep is better then 8 hours of drug related sleep! Suzie - Dorset, England

I first was prescribed Zopiclone in Sweden in 1993 when I was suffering a severe depressive episode. During the next 2 years I became dependent on them for 'pain release' and at one time was taking up to 10x7.5mg per day. I simply used the drug to relieve reality. They ARE addictive. I was more hooked on the period of euphoria preceding the sleep itself. James - London, 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 8 a.m. 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 8 a.m., 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

I have been taking Zopiclone for about 4 years now. And my advice to anyone out there who has just started taking them is DON'T! Yes it is a great feeling when you get that euphoric rush and you can finally sleep but in the long term the side effects can be dreadful. In the past year I have been suffering from severe depression, Panic attacks and the most dreadful anxiety you could possibly imagine and I am convinced it is all down to Zopiclone. I used to take one everynight to sleep and now I am finding that if I dont take one in the day I get severe panic attacks and the only thing that stops the feeling is taking a zim! So now I am not taking them so much to sleep as to feel normal! There might be people out there who have none of these symptoms but I am also willing to bet there are a lot of people who do! Leave the zims alone! Sam - Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England

Hi, I was prescribed this drug to help me sleep, I'd just come out of a 5 year relationship, and work funny shift patterns, and was not sleeping. I went to my Doctor who prescribed me zopiclone, to be taken as and when I couldn't sleep - and that they weren't addictive. I've had them for the last 3 months and only used them 5 times. I'm shocked to find out they are addictive. My usage is very low. But its scares me to think that I could be a junkie with these things. They leave me with a very metalic bitter taste in my mouth after I've taken one. But they help me to sleep and I have no ill effects after them. But like with any drug, Ionly take it if its the last thing that can help... D - Cheadle, Cheshire, UK

My husband was prescribed Zopiclone tablets. They were perfect for him as for the first time in many years he was "guaranteed" a full night's sleep with no side effects! He was not told it was addictive. Last month he went for his medication review and his GP told him that he should have been taken off them after 4 weeks! He is now on tramazapam. One tablet does not do anything and two tablets give him about 3/4 hours sleep. He is anxiously desperate to get back on to the Zopiclone as he knows his sleep will be guaranteed; he is now so short tempered and angry he can't get anywhere with his GP or anyone else. We even sleep in separate rooms 3/4 nights a week to keep the slightest noise or movement minimal! I am at the end of my rope with it all! He used to be so mild mannered. Curse Zopiclone for this change in my husband. Yvonne - Wrexham, North Wales.

Hi there. I have been taking Zopiclone now for 8 years. When I first started the drug it was very good; now 8 years down the line I wish I had never started. five times I have tried to come off but failed each time. I find they increase my appetite a lot and I have put on 5 stone in 8 years. When I was prescribed Zopiclone I wasn't aware of how addictive they were. My advice to anyone thinking of trying this drug is, please reserch well - there are so many alternatives. Karen - Totnes, Devon, 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