Description

Zopiclone 7.5mg UK

Zopiclone is a prescription sleeping tablet used in the UK for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia. Zopiclone 7.5mg is the standard adult dose, taken once at bedtime, usually for no more than two to four weeks.

This guide explains what zopiclone is, how it works, how to take it safely, its side effects, the risk of dependence, and how it compares with other sleep treatments. It is general information, not medical advice. Always follow the instructions from your prescriber and the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

What is zopiclone?

Zopiclone is a hypnotic, a medicine that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. It is one of the “Z-drugs”, alongside zolpidem. In the UK, it is available as zopiclone 3.75mg and 7.5mg tablets, and was previously sold under the brand name Zimovane.

How does zopiclone work?

Zopiclone boosts the effect of GABA, a natural chemical in the brain that calms nerve activity. This slows brain activity down, making you feel sleepy and helping you stay asleep through the night.

It acts on the same brain receptors as benzodiazepines such as diazepam and temazepam, which is why it carries similar risks of dependence, even though it is a different type of medicine.

What is zopiclone used for?

Zopiclone 7.5mg tablets are used for the short-term treatment of insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep) when it is severe, disabling, or causing a lot of distress. It is not a long-term solution for poor sleep.

It is not licensed for anxiety and should not be taken during the day. If anxiety or low mood is keeping you awake, speak to your GP, as other treatments are more suitable. [internal link: your insomnia guide]

Is zopiclone a controlled drug?

Yes. Since June 2014, zopiclone has been a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, listed in Schedule 4 (Part 1) of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. This means:

• it is available only on a prescription from a qualified prescriber
• it is illegal to supply it to anyone else or to possess it without a prescription
• prescriptions are normally limited to a short supply, with regular review

Is zopiclone a strong sleeping pill?

Zopiclone is one of the more effective sleeping tablets available on prescription in the UK, which is why it is used only for short periods. It can cause drowsiness the next morning, and its effects are stronger with alcohol or other sedating medicines.

Zopiclone dosage

The usual zopiclone dosage for adults is one 7.5mg tablet taken just before bed. Some people start on a lower dose.

Who	Usual dose
Adults under 65	7.5mg (one tablet) at bedtime
Adults 65 and over	3.75mg at bedtime, increased to 7.5mg only if needed
People with liver, kidney or breathing problems	Usually 3.75mg at bedtime, as advised by the prescriber
Children and young people under 18	Not recommended

Zopiclone 7.5mg: how many can I take?

One. The maximum dose is 7.5mg in 24 hours, taken once at bedtime. Never take a second tablet that night, even if you wake up or the first one does not seem to work. Taking more increases the risk of next-day drowsiness, confusion, memory problems, falls and dangerous breathing problems, and doses above 7.5mg are not safe without medical supervision.

If you feel your dose is not working, talk to your prescriber rather than taking more.

How to take zopiclone 7.5mg tablets

• Take the tablet just before you get into bed, swallowed whole with a drink of water.
• Only take it if you can stay in bed for a full night (7–8 hours) before you need to be active.
• Do not take it if you have drunk alcohol that evening.
• If you forget to take it at bedtime, do not take it in the middle of the night. Wait until the next night.

How long does zopiclone take to work?

Zopiclone usually starts to work within about 30 minutes to an hour, which is why you should take it just before bed rather than earlier in the evening. Its effects last around 6–8 hours, and some people still feel drowsy the next morning.

How long can you take zopiclone for?

Zopiclone is recommended for no more than two to four weeks, including the time spent gradually stopping it. Many people only need it for a few nights. Using it for longer increases the risk of tolerance (it works less well) and dependence. Your prescriber will usually review you before giving any further supply.

How long does zopiclone stay in your system?

Zopiclone has a half-life of about 5 hours in healthy adults, and longer in older people and those with liver problems. Most of it leaves the body within a day, although it can be found in urine tests for a few days after the last dose.

Zopiclone side effects

Many people take zopiclone without problems, but side effects are possible. The most common is a bitter or metallic taste in the mouth.

Common side effects of zopiclone

• Bitter or metallic taste
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness or feeling “hungover” the next day
• Dizziness or unsteadiness
• Headache

Zopiclone side effects the next day

Zopiclone can still affect you the morning after you take it, especially at 7.5mg, in older people, or if you did not get a full night’s sleep. You may feel drowsy, slower to react, or less alert. Avoid driving, cycling or using machinery until you are sure you feel fully awake.

Less common but serious side effects

Stop taking zopiclone and speak to a doctor straight away if you notice:

• Complex sleep behaviors: sleepwalking, driving, cooking, eating or making phone calls while not fully awake, with no memory of it afterward. These can be dangerous. Do not take zopiclone again if this happens.
• Memory loss for events after taking the tablet
• Confusion, agitation, aggression, hallucinations or nightmares
• Low mood or thoughts of self-harm
• Breathing difficulties, especially if you have lung problems or sleep apnoea
• Signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing

Older people have a higher risk of confusion and falls, including hip fractures. Report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Who should not take zopiclone?

Zopiclone is not suitable if you:

• have myasthenia gravis, severe breathing problems, severe sleep apnoea or severe liver disease
• have had complex sleep behaviors after taking zopiclone before
• are allergic to zopiclone
• are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless your doctor advises otherwise

Tell your prescriber if you have depression, a history of alcohol or drug misuse, or kidney, liver or lung problems.

Zopiclone dependence, addiction and withdrawal

Zopiclone can be addictive. Using it for longer than two to four weeks, at higher doses, or every night increases the risk of tolerance and dependence. People with a history of alcohol or drug misuse are at higher risk.

Zopiclone withdrawal

Stopping suddenly after regular use can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• rebound insomnia (sleep worse than before)
• anxiety, restlessness and irritability
• shaking, sweating and a fast heartbeat
• rarely, confusion or seizures after long-term, high-dose use

If you have been taking zopiclone regularly, do not stop suddenly. Your GP can help you reduce the dose gradually.

Zopiclone addiction treatment

If you feel you cannot sleep without zopiclone, are taking more than prescribed, or are getting it from sources other than your prescriber, help is available. Speak to your GP, who can arrange a supervised reduction plan and support. You can also contact Frank for confidential advice on 0300 123 6600.

Zopiclone and alcohol

Do not drink alcohol while taking zopiclone. Alcohol increases the sedating effects, making severe drowsiness, memory loss, complex sleep behaviors, falls and dangerous breathing problems more likely.

What can you not take with zopiclone?

Check with your pharmacist before taking zopiclone with other medicines, especially:

• opioid painkillers such as codeine, tramadol or morphine. The MHRA has warned that combining them can cause dangerous breathing problems, coma and death.
• other sleeping tablets, benzodiazepines or sedating antihistamines
• some antidepressants, antipsychotics and epilepsy medicines
• some antibiotics and antifungals (such as clarithromycin and itraconazole), which can raise zopiclone levels

Zopiclone and driving

Zopiclone can impair your driving the next day. It is illegal in the UK to drive if your driving is impaired by any medicine. Do not drive until you know how zopiclone affects you, and never drive if you feel drowsy, dizzy or less alert.

Zopiclone overdose: what to do

Taking too much zopiclone, or combining it with alcohol, opioids or other sedatives, can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion, slow breathing and loss of consciousness. If someone has taken too much and is very drowsy, hard to wake or breathing slowly, call 999 immediately.

Zolpidem vs zopiclone

Zolpidem and zopiclone are both Z-drug sleeping tablets that work in a similar way. Both are Class C controlled drugs in the UK, and both are recommended only for short-term use.

	Zopiclone	Zolpidem
Usual adult dose	7.5mg at bedtime	10mg at bedtime
Lower dose (e.g. older adults)	3.75mg	5mg
Half-life	About 5 hours	About 2–3 hours
Next-day drowsiness	More likely	Less likely, as it wears off faster
Common side effect	Bitter or metallic taste	Drowsiness, dizziness, headache
Recommended length of use	2–4 weeks	2–4 weeks

Neither is clearly better for everyone. Zolpidem may suit people who struggle mainly to fall asleep, while zopiclone may help more with staying asleep. Your prescriber will choose based on your sleep problem, age and other health conditions.

Is zopiclone a benzodiazepine?

No. Zopiclone is a different chemical type of medicine, but it acts on the same brain receptors as benzodiazepines such as diazepam and temazepam. It therefore has similar effects and similar risks, including dependence and withdrawal.

Alternatives to zopiclone for insomnia

For long-term insomnia, NICE recommends cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as the first treatment, not sleeping tablets. Other options your GP may discuss include:

• CBT-I, face-to-face or through a digital program. NICE has recommended the Sleepio app for some people with insomnia.
• Better sleep habits: a regular bedtime and wake time, less caffeine and alcohol, a dark, quiet bedroom, and less screen time before bed.
• Melatonin, licensed in the UK for short-term use in adults aged 55 and over.
• Daridorexant (Quviviq), which NICE recommends for some adults with long-term insomnia when CBT-I has not helped or is not available.

[internal link: your sleep hygiene guide]

How to get zopiclone safely in the UK

You can only get zopiclone legally with a prescription from a qualified prescriber who has assessed your sleep problem and health.

1. Speak to your GP first. They can look for causes of poor sleep, such as anxiety, pain, sleep apnoea or other medicines, and discuss the best treatment.
2. If zopiclone is prescribed, you will usually be given a short supply, with a review before any more.
3. If you use an online service, check that it is a UK pharmacy on the GPhC register and that a prescriber properly reviews your medical history. Legitimate services may also check with your GP before prescribing a controlled drug.

Websites that sell zopiclone without a proper consultation are acting illegally. Tablets from these sources may be fake, contain the wrong dose, or contain other dangerous drugs, and possessing zopiclone without a prescription is an offense.

Zopiclone FAQs

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What happens if you take zopiclone and stay awake?

If you take zopiclone and stay up, you are likely to feel very drowsy and unsteady, and you may have memory gaps or act without being fully aware, which raises the risk of falls and accidents. This is why zopiclone should be taken only just before you get into bed.

Is 15mg of zopiclone safe?

No. The maximum licensed dose is 7.5mg in 24 hours. Taking 15mg doubles the risk of serious side effects, including confusion, dangerous breathing problems and overdose, especially with alcohol or opioids. Speak to your prescriber if 7.5mg is not helping.

Can you take zopiclone during the day for anxiety?

No. Zopiclone is a sleeping tablet and is not licensed for anxiety. Taking it during the day can cause drowsiness, memory problems and accidents. Speak to your GP about treatments for anxiety.

Is zopiclone addictive?

It can be. The risk rises if you take it for longer than two to four weeks, take more than prescribed, or have a history of alcohol or drug misuse. Using it for the shortest time possible keeps the risk low.

Does zopiclone cause weight gain?

Weight gain is not a recognized common side effect of zopiclone. If your weight changes while taking it, speak to your GP, as poor sleep itself and other medicines can affect weight.

Can zopiclone cause depression?

Zopiclone can occasionally cause or worsen low mood. Tell your doctor straight away if you feel depressed or have thoughts of harming yourself while taking it.

What is the difference between zopiclone 3.75mg and 7.5mg?

They contain the same medicine at different strengths. 7.5mg is the usual adult dose. 3.75mg is used for older people and those with liver, kidney or breathing problems, who are more sensitive to its effects.

Can I buy zopiclone without a prescription in the UK?

No. Zopiclone is a prescription-only, Class C controlled drug. Buying it without a prescription is illegal and unsafe, as tablets from unregulated sellers may be fake or contain other drugs.

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