Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
04:34
Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia
Published on: February 17, 2023
Zopiclone: is it a pharmacologic agent for abuse?
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. ncimolai@interchange.ubc.ca
Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien
|December 14, 2007
Summary
Zopiclone, a hypnosedative, shows potential for abuse and addiction, with withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and seizures reported. Prescribers should exercise caution, limiting zopiclone prescriptions to short durations and recommended doses.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Zopiclone is a widely prescribed hypnosedative medication for insomnia.
- Concerns exist regarding its potential for misuse and dependence.
Observation:
- Systematic review of medical literature identified case reports and patient series detailing zopiclone abuse and addiction.
- Withdrawal symptoms, including severe rebound insomnia, anxiety, tremor, palpitations, tachycardia, and seizures, were documented.
- Abuse was more prevalent in individuals with a history of substance abuse or psychiatric conditions.
Findings:
- Clinical trials indicate rebound insomnia occurs in a minority of patients after discontinuing recommended zopiclone dosages.
- Comparative studies on zopiclone versus benzodiazepines and other non-benzodiazepine hypnotics ('Z' drugs) yield conflicting results regarding abuse potential.
- Evidence suggests zopiclone carries a risk of abuse and addiction, though potentially less than traditional benzodiazepines.
Implications:
- Zopiclone should be prescribed with caution due to its abuse and addiction potential.
- Short-term prescribing and adherence to dosage guidelines are recommended to mitigate risks.
- Further research is needed to clarify comparative risks with other hypnotic agents.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines have both sedative and hypnotic properties. They include compounds such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Structurally, their cores are similar, consisting of the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring, but they share a common mechanism of action in the central nervous system (CNS).
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
01:19Management of Insomnia
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
01:14CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines
CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
01:23Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview
Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
01:20Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a drug class that acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate anxiety, promote relaxation and induce sleep.These drugs function by amplifying the actions of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resulting in reduced neuronal activity. Barbiturates, a subset of sedatives and hypnotics first synthesized in the late 1800s, are categorized into ultra-short, short, intermediate, and long-acting groups based on their duration of effect. A key...