Zopiclone belongs to the class of medications called hypnotics. It is used for the short-term and symptomatic relief of sleep disturbances. Zopiclone can help with difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, or early morning awakenings.
Why do some drugs have different names?
These are trade or brand names registered by the manufacturer. In different countries manufacturers will often use different trade names. The medications have the same active ingredients, but may look different and have a different trade name.
Imovane (Zopiclone)
Use:
Cyclopryrrolone hypnotic. Short-term (i.e. 7-10 consecutive days) insomnia therapy. Use for more than 2-3 consecutive weeks requires complete re-evaluation of the patient. Adults, 7.5 mg just before retiring for the night. Geriatrics, patients with impaired liver function or chronic respiratory insufficiency: 3.75-7.5 mg at bedtime, depending on acceptability and efficacy.
Contraindications:
Myasthenia gravis, sleep apnea syndrome, severe hepatic insufficiency, previous paradoxical reactions to alcohol and/or sedative medications.
Precautions:
Not recommended in pregnant or nursing women. Safety-efficacy in patients 18 years of age not established. Use with caution in patients with a history of substance or alcohol abuse, impaired renal or hepatic functions, severe pulmonary insufficiency, a history of seizures j(avoid abrupt zopiclone withdrawal), depression, elderly and/or debilitated patients.
Side effects:
Bitter taste. Somnolence, confusion, anterograde amnesia or memory impairment, asthenia, euphoria, depression, bad breath, coated tongue.
Interactions:
Hepatic enzyme-inhibiting agents (e.g. Cimetidine, crythromycin) and other CNS-depressant drugs may enhance zopiclone`s activity.
Patient tips:
Warn against concomitant use of alcohol or other CNS-depressant drugs. Caution re drowsiness (NB driving).
