ZOPICLONE

Zopiclone is a hypnotic from the group of cyclopirrolone derivatives, used as a treatment for insomnia. It induces sleep rapidly without diminishing REM sleep in its general structure and maintains sleep while maintaining a normal phase rhythm. The difference of Zopiclone from benzodiazepines and barbiturates is that it does not lead to tiredness or drowsiness in the mornings.

The drug also has sedative, anxiolytic, central muscle-relaxing, anticonvulsant, and amnestic properties. Thanks to the fact that the drug has a great level of affinity for the binding sites on the GABA receptors in the CNS (central nervous system), Zopiclone possesses a strong sedative-hypnotic effect. Zopiclone causes changes in electroencephalography and sleep architecture and also causes disturbances in sleep patterns when discontinued, as a relapse effect. The drug has a half-life of about 3 hours, which is very short; that's why it is achievable to manage the standard structure and sleep productivity.

Zopiclone Advantages:

• Reduces time that you need to fall asleep
• Reduces the number of awakenings because of nighttime
• Increases overall sleep duration
• Does not affect sleep patterns
• Doesn't decrease REM sleep significantly
• Repeated usage of Zopiclone is not followed by cumulation.

Indications for usage:

• difficulties with falling asleep
• night and early awakenings
• transient situational and chronic insomnia
• sleep disturbances in patients with mental disorders

Administration & Dosage

The standard therapeutic dose is 7.5 mg by mouth at night. If the insomnia is severe, it is possible to increase the dose to 15 mg. Zopiclone starts to work in 20-30 minutes.

If you are administering muscle relaxants or\and depressive psychotropic drugs, their effect will increase due to taking this medication. It also reduces the concentration of trimipramine in the serum, which is why caution should be exercised when prescribing other tricyclic antidepressants.

If the patients are suffering from impaired renal function, they do not need the reduction of a dose of Zopiclone. If the patients are with severe hepatic impairment, the dose of Zopiclone should not exceed 3.75 mg.

If you are taking the drug for a long time, do not stop its intake abruptly. Аlcohol consumption should be excluded during the cycle. The next day after administering Zopiclone, be careful with driving a car and working with mechanisms .

The drug can be addictive, so it is not recommended to take it longer than the prescribed period (i.e., four weeks). Taking Zopiclone for 2-3 weeks cannot cause any dependence.

Side Effects

Zopiclone causes significantly fewer side effects compareвd to classic hypnotics. In rare cases, it is possible:

• From the digestive system: in the mouth - a sense of a bitter taste, dryness, nausea, vomiting.
• From the central nervous system: dizziness, headache, drowsiness, confusion, anterograde amnesia, hallucinations, nightmares.
• Dermatological reactions: skin rash.
• Other: drowsiness after waking up, lack of coordination of movements.

Do not cause post-somnic disturbances: after the drug intake, you will not feel fatigued and drowsiness the next morning