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Fatal Intoxications with Zopiclone-A Cause for Concern?
Lova Tralla1,2, Sara Gustavsson2, Carl Söderberg2
1Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Drug Safety
|March 27, 2024
Summary
Zopiclone, a common insomnia medication, is increasingly found in fatal intoxications. Most deaths involved prescribed zopiclone, suggesting stricter prescribing may prevent future fatalities.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Zopiclone, a prescribed medication for insomnia, is a frequent finding in forensic autopsies.
- This study examines the prevalence and impact of zopiclone in fatal intoxications within Sweden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and extent of zopiclone use in fatal intoxications in Sweden.
- To determine the proportion of fatal zopiclone intoxications involving prescribed medication.
- To analyze characteristics of individuals who died from zopiclone intoxication.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of forensic autopsy cases positive for zopiclone in femoral blood (2012-2020).
- Identification of fatalities attributed to intoxication, with zopiclone as a contributing factor.
- Utilization of the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register to check for zopiclone prescriptions.
Main Results:
- Zopiclone was implicated in 573 out of 7320 fatal intoxications.
- 87% of zopiclone fatalities had a prescription; 8% were monointoxications.
- 62% of fatalities were suicides, with zopiclone involved in 17% of all intoxication suicides; women were overrepresented.
Conclusions:
- Zopiclone toxicity can be lethal, alone or with other substances.
- The majority of fatal zopiclone intoxications involved prescribed medication.
- More restrictive prescribing practices may reduce zopiclone-related deaths, particularly in at-risk populations.
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