Zopiclone Explained: How It Helps You Sleep Better?

If you've experienced sleepless nights, rest assured you're not alone. Insomnia affects about one in three people in the UK at some point. Struggling with sleep disruptions can severely unsettle anyone's life. Zopiclone tablets, one of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of short-term insomnia.

What Is Zopiclone?

These are non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, known as Z-drugs, used for adult insomnia treatment. It helps you fall asleep and keeps you asleep longer by working in the brain for a calming effect. Zopiclone is used short-term (2-4 weeks) in the UK to avoid dependence or reduced efficacy.

How Zopiclone Works?

Zopiclone boosts brain GABA levels, increasing their activity. GABA, a natural brain chemical, calms nerves and promotes sleep. Ideally, you should think of it as your brain's "brake pedal'. So, Zopiclone will act on this calming signal to make falling asleep and staying asleep easier.

Effects can occur 30 minutes to 1 hour post-drug intake for most individuals. It is mostly considered for taking it just at bedtime once ready to sleep.

Who Might Benefit from Zopiclone?

Zopiclone helps adults with short-term insomnia impacting daily life, not for chronic insomnia. However, it alleviates misery when there are no other avenues available. Examples of patients who might find help using Zopiclone:

Acute stress or anxiety will lead to a change in sleep pattern
Tragedies, broken relationships, work stress, and health issues disturb sleep patterns. Zopiclone will probably help change bad sleep patterns on such particularly hard times.

Shift Workers or Jet Lag Victims
Working varying hours or traveling across time zones disrupts a consistent sleep routine. Zopiclone can bring your body's clock back in line when sleep is out of kilter.

Postoperative or Post-illness Patients
Pain, uneasiness, or anxiety associated with healing often hampers sleep. Zopiclone can be deemed short-term assistance in the process of healing by supporting undisturbed resting.

Those Who Have Temporary Insomnia
Sometimes, sleep issues are without obvious causation. Consider Zopiclone for persistent sleep problems to regain a natural sleep cycle.

How to Take Zopiclone Safely?

• Do take it only if you have a full night of sleep (7-8 hours).
• Avoid alcohol as it aggravates side effects like drowsiness or confusion.
• Unless you are completely alert the next day, do not drive or operate machinery.
• Keep this medicine in a safe place, out of the reach of children.

Possible Side Effects

Zopiclone can cause side effects, but not everyone will experience them. Most side effects are mild and temporary, so it's important to be aware of what to expect. The common side effects (more than 1 in 100 people):

• Bitterness or a metallic taste in the mouth
• Dry mouth
• Headiness or somnolence for about the next day
• Headache
• Most of these side effects are not serious and usually become better with continued use.
• If they persist, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Can You Become Dependent on Zopiclone?

Indeed, Zopiclone becomes addictive after a longer duration than prescribed. It proves an effective short-term insomnia treatment, but its long-term use. Zopiclone is prescribed in the UK for 2 to 4 weeks to avoid dependency.

The body becomes reliant on the drug for normal function. Zopiclone may become less effective over time, known as tolerance. Feeling an urge to up the dose raises side effects and complicates withdrawal.

Abruptly stopping long-term Zopiclone use can cause withdrawal symptoms.

• Having anxiety or feeling irritable
• Restless
• Shake
• Rebound insomnia (now sleeps worse than before using medication)
• To prevent this, your GP might advise titrating Zopiclone instead of stopping it abruptly.
• This will adjust the body for reduced chances of negative withdrawal effects.
• Physical dependence is different from addiction; not all drug-dependent individuals are addicted.
• Addiction is an insatiable craving that overlooks harm; dependence involves physiological reactions.
• Discuss concerns of Zopiclone tolerance with your healthcare provider.
• Consider CBT-I or lifestyle changes instead of long-term Zopiclone use for managing insomnia.
• Zopiclone provides short-term benefits but has risks of misuse.

Tips for Better Sleep Without Medication

Zopiclone helps short-term, but long-term cure needs better sleep habits. Here are tips to reduce sleeping pill use and improve sleep naturally.

Sleep Schedule
Try sticking to your bedtime and up-time every day of the week and on weekends. Following a routine consistently helps train the internal body clock to fall asleep much more naturally.

No Screens Before You Sleep
Blue light from devices disrupts sleep-inducing melatonin release. Switch off all your screens at least one hour before sleeping.

Cut Back on Caffeine and Alcohol
Avoid coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate in the afternoon and evening. Alcohol can aid initial sleep but disrupts later sleep.

Wind Down with a Relaxing Routine
You can try reading, yoga, meditation, or a pre-bedtime bath. Send a signal to your brain that it's time to wind down.

Make a Sleep-Friendly Environment
The bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Consider blackout curtains, earplugs, or a white noise machine for better sleep; prioritize comfortable pillows and mattresses.

Only Use Your Bed for Sleep
Try not to work, read, or use the phone while lying in bed. This has the following effect: it helps your brain associate bed with sleep, not stimulation.

Try CBT-I
CBT-I is a proven non-medication treatment for insomnia, focusing on thoughts and behaviors affecting sleep. Talk to your GP about CBT-targeted local or online options.

Conclusion

Zopiclone is a fast-acting sedative for sleep; short-term use is recommended due to potential long-term side effects. You may feel drowsy, and it can lead to addiction, so always take it under medical supervision.

Avoid alcohol, Maintain healthy sleep habits: schedule, minimize distractions, and avoid screens at bedtime. It is not easy to achieve good sleep. Zopiclone is only one means of achieving good sleep. Talk to your GP if sleep problems persist. Help is available. Better sleep is possible- one at a time. Improve sleep with caution. Short-term use only. Consult your GP.