Zopiclone

Zopiclone is a somnolent medicine (Z-medicines) used in treatment of sleeplessness. Imovan, Somnol, Piklodorm is available in drugstores under the branded name. Sleeping medicine of new generation with the minimum influence on structure of a dream.

The analysis of these clinical testing provided to FDA concerning Z-medicines showed that these sedative sleeping medicines it is more, than twice, increase risk of development of a depression, in comparison with placebo.

Zopiclone causes similar to change benzodiazepines on an electroencephalography and architecture of a dream, and also causes violations in structure of a dream in case of the acceptance termination, as effect of a recurrence. Also its complete analogs zaleplon (Sonata) concern to group of gipnotik and they have no eszopiclone (Lunesta), however advantages and meet less often.

In the course of accommodation active metabolites are formed: N-oxide of zopiclone and N-demetil of a zopiclone which identification helps to establish a cause of death. Zopiclone became one of the favourite medicines of addicts for creation of "mixes". Considering the person in the weakened physical condition, 90 mg can represent a minimum lethal dose of zopiclone.

Zopiclone is intended only for falling asleep simplification. Medicine has short elimination half-life - about 3 hours in this connection it is possible to keep normal structure and productivity of a dream. The violations doesn't cause: there are no feelings of weakness and drowsiness for morning of the next day. Repeated acceptances of zopiclone aren't followed by cumulyation. Zopiclone causes much less side effects in comparison with the classical somnolent medicines applied in Russia.

Acquisition

It is available only according to the recipe of the doctor. Average price for 20 tablets: imovan - 300 rub, somnol - 200 rub. For receipt of the recipe it is necessary to address the neurologist or the psychotherapist, having shown claims to problems with falling asleep. It is necessary to emphasize that instead of regular tranquilizers you would prefer safer and effective remedy. It is necessary to specify to the doctor if you already accepted regular sedatives of phytogenesis like extracts of a valerian and motherwort and they don't help you. After that most likely to you will offer OTC medicine hydroksizin (to Ataraks).

"Attention" Should be meant, the experienced doctor won't write out to you the recipe on zopiclone without the corresponding clinical record or just at your request. Zopiclone is included into the list of strong medicines, and also in pharmaceutical points is accounting medicine.

Application in case of sleeplessness

At the moment hypnotic drugs are the optimum choice for not systematic treatment of sleeplessness. Sleeplessness still is up to the end not found out and there are no effective methods of treatment. Sleeping medicines don't cure of this disease, moreover after cancellation of pharmacotherapy symptoms of a sleep disorder can be aggravated. The specialist shall appoint treatment.

If sleeplessness is temporary and is caused by external factors (a stress, overloads and so forth) that use of sleeping medicines on a changeable basis is quite justified. It facilitates recovery of the correct day regimen, especially after vacation. Or allow to suppress disturbing thoughts quickly. You can try Phenazepam.

Dosage

The average therapeutic dose constitutes 7.5 mg inside for the night, in cases of heavy sleeplessness it is possible to increase a dose to 15 mg. Action begins in 20-30 minutes. At elderly patients, and also in case of dysfunction of a liver apply 3.75 mg. Can cause accustoming and a syndrome of cancellation with aggravation of sleeplessness therefore according to recommendations of Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties it shan't be applied longer than 7-10 days in a row, according to the official instruction no more than 45 days.

Dependence

Zopiclone is a drug, was initially presented as the drug having the reduced risk of development of dependence and a withdrawal in comparison with traditional benzodiazepine drugs. Actually, however, çîïèêëîí can have even a little larger potential of development of dependence, than benzodiazepines. The tolerance to influence of zopiclone can develop within several weeks. In most cases it is necessary to avoid long use of drug. Successful treatment of patients with serious sleeplessness as a result of alarm can be performed within several months. The sharp termination of reception, especially at long reception of high doses of drug, can cause cramps and a delirium in hard cases.

Publications in British Medical Journal don't give any proofs that zopiclone has the low potential of development of dependence. Actually, at administration of drug physical dependence, abuse and an abstinence syndrome, similar observed at cancellation of benzodiazepines often develops. Symptoms of an abstinence syndrome include concern, tachycardia, a tremor, a sweating, inflows, heartbeat, a derealization, and further – sleeplessness. It was reported also about cramps at cancellation during Zopiclone 's detoxicating, however in this case the person abused high doses of zopiclone.

The risk of development of dependence at reception of zopiclone within less than 2 weeks or is less, is very low. However, it is challenged in one research of the low doses of zopiclone accepted within 7 nights. It was established that the termination of reception of zopiclone causes a sleeplessness recurrence. Besides, at the termination of reception of midazolam after constant use within 7 nights, no recurrence of sleeplessness was observed that allows to assume what zopiclone can cause more vital issues of tolerance and dependence, than benzodiazepines. After 3 weeks of use, at the termination of reception of a zopiklon recurrence symptoms from mild to moderate degree are observed. Due to the risk of development of tolerance and physical dependence, zopiclone it is recommended to apply during a short period (at most 1-4 weeks), or, on the contrary, seldom to use drug during long periods.

Long-term users of zopiclone which gained physical dependence on drug shouldn't stop sharply substance reception as serious symptoms of a conclusion, such as a delirium can be bound to it. If zopiclone was accepted for several weeks or more, the termination of administration of drug should be carried out, gradually reducing a dose or passing to an equivalent dose of Diazepamum (Valium) which has much longer half-life period that facilitates a conclusion, and then gradually, within several months, to reduce a dosage to avoid development of extremely serious and unpleasant symptoms of cancellation (as, for example, internal concern, psychomotor exaltation, abdominal pains, a hypertonia, hallucinations, cramps, alarm, a depression, psychosis, etc.) which can last up to two years at too sharp termination of administration of drug. After 4 weeks of use of zopiclone for the night, at some users the day uneasiness bound to the termination of administration of drug develops. This symptom, however, isn't shown as intensively, as at reception of the triazolam having much shorter period of action and causing more potent symptoms of the day uneasiness bound to the reception termination in long-term users. According to World Health Organization, zopiclone, though isn't molekulyarno benzodiazepine, is capable not selectively and with high affinity to be bound to the same benzodiazepine binding site, as benzodiazepines. The World Health Organization also declared that it zopiclone has two-dimensional tolerance with benzodiazepines, and these drugs can replace each other.

Carcinogenicity

The recent analysis of data of FDA of the USA and results of clinical tests shows that not benzodiazepine Z-drugs in the ordered doses cause the increased risk of development of cancer in people. 15 epidemiological researches which showed that somnolent drugs enlarge risk of a mortality, generally at the expense of mortality augmentation from cancer were conducted (a brain, lungs, an intestine, a mammary gland and a bladder). One of possible explanations of augmentation of a mortality from cancer is that Z-drugs exert negative impact on immune system. The fact that in clinical tests at the patients accepting other Z-drugs (zolpidy, zaleplon and eszaleplon) the increased level of diseases was observed can support this theory. Indiplon, other not benzodiazepine drug, also showed augmentation of risk of development of cancer in clinical tests. In the review the following conclusion was drawn: "The probability of development of cancer is enough bike, both doctors and patients have to realize that hypnagogues can enlarge risk of development of cancer in patients".