What is the difference between zopiclone and zimovane

It is the sleeping pill that is often used for the treatment of bad bouts of insomnia. Zopiclone will allow you to fall asleep fast and prevents you from waking up during the night. Zopiclone is marketed as a tablet.

It is also available in liquid form, designed for people who find it difficult to swallow tablets. Zolpidem and Zopiclone are both nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agents. A double-blind comparative study of the two drugs in the treatment of chronic primary insomnia showed that zolpidem was at least as effective as zopiclone and showed significantly less rebound of insomnia on discontinuation of the drug and was tolerated better.

The two drugs, being both nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agents, work almost the same. Zolpidem is a medication that should be used short-term. It should not be used for more 2 weeks. While Zolpidem is generally seen as harmless and non-addictive, prolonged use can lead to abuse and dependence, causing severe withdrawal symptoms when the use is stopped. Before you start taking Zolpidem, it is important that you read and understand first the instructions on how to take the medication and the patient information that comes with the product package.

If you have doubts or questions about the proper use of the medication, you should ask your doctor or your pharmacist. Zolpidem is to be taken by mouth without food as directed by your doctor. It is usually taken once every night. This drug works quickly, it is necessary that you take it right before going to bed.

Do not take Zolpidem with or after a meal because you cannot expect the medication to work as quickly. Imovane should only be used for short periods e. Continuous long-term use i. If you forget to take the tablet before you go to bed, and you wake up late in the night or very early in the morning, do not take it. You may have trouble waking at your normal time. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Imovane.

If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medicine. If you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine, stop taking it and tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do not take more than the recommended dose unless your doctor tells you to. This can increase the risk of side effects. Do not drink alcohol before or after taking this medicine. Because Imovane will make you sleepy, you should not operate dangerous machinery or drive motor vehicles for 12 hours after you take it.

You should also be careful the next morning when you wake up. Make sure you know how you react to Imovane before you drive a car or operate machinery. This is very important if you are taking other drugs that also make you drowsy. Be careful if you are over 65 and unwell or taking other medicines. You may be more sensitive to some of the side effects of Imovane.

You should not drink alcohol while you are taking Imovane. The effects of alcohol could be made worse while taking Imovane. Sometimes when medicines are stopped suddenly, after being used for a long time, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Symptoms of withdrawal may include abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting, and sweating.

In some cases your insomnia may appear worse for a short time; speak to your doctor if this occurs. If you have any queries about any aspect of your medicine or any questions regarding the information here, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist. Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.

If you take the tablets out of the box or the blister pack they may not keep well. Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom, near a sink or on a windowsill. Do not leave it in the car. Heat and damp can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above ground is a good place to store medicines. If your doctor tells you to stop taking it, or the medicine has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over. Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist. Imovane is a Schedule 4 medicine.

All medicines have some unwanted side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. Your doctor or pharmacist has weighed the risks of using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Imovane. It helps most people with insomnia, but it may have unwanted side effects in some people.

Alcohol can increase the risk of sleepwalking or other behaviours such as driving or eating food whilst asleep. This risk is also increased if you take more than the recommended dose. Some sleep medicines may cause a short-term memory loss. When this occurs, a person may not remember what has happened for several hours after taking the medicine. This is usually not a problem since most people fall asleep after taking the medicine. Sleep medicines should in most cases, be used only for short periods of time.

If your sleep problems continue, consult your doctor. Some medicines can cause dependence, especially when they are used regularly for longer than a few weeks. People who have been dependent on alcohol or other drugs in the past may have a higher chance of becoming addicted to sleep medicines. If you have been addicted to alcohol or drugs in the past, it is important to tell your doctor before starting Imovane.

If any of the following happen, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:. These are very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious allergic reaction to Imovane.

You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare. Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you feel you are becoming depressed, having suicidal thoughts or are experiencing changes in your behaviour. Alcohol and other medications that cause drowsiness: People taking this medication should not combine it with alcohol and avoid combining it with other medications, such as narcotic pain relievers or other sedatives that cause drowsiness.

Doing so can cause additional drowsiness and reduced breathing as well as other side effects, which can be dangerous and possibly life-threatening. Anxiety or restlessness: An increase in daytime anxiety or restlessness has been observed during treatment with zopiclone. Bad taste in mouth: Zopiclone may cause you to have a coated tongue, bad breath, or a bitter taste in your mouth.

These effects often occur when this medication is being used. Behaviour changes: This medication may worsen symptoms of depression, including thoughts of suicide or wanting to harm others.

It may also cause agitated or aggressive behaviour. If you experience these symptoms or any other behaviour change while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Family members or caregivers of people who are taking this medication should contact the person's doctor immediately if they notice unusual behaviour changes. Breathing: Sedatives can suppress breathing. If you have asthma, or other lung disease that increases your risk for breathing difficulties, such as sleep apnea, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Confusion: This medication affects mental efficiency e. The risk of confusion is greater for seniors and those with brain damage. Dependence: Dependence and abuse have occurred with the use of zopiclone. The risk of developing dependence increases with higher doses and the longer that zopiclone is used. People with a history of past or current substance use problems may be at greater risk of developing abuse or addiction while taking this medication.

If this medication is stopped suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, agitation, diarrhea, and hallucinations. If you have been taking this medication for a while, it should be stopped gradually as directed by your doctor. Depression: Sedative medications have been known to cause mood swings and symptoms of depression.

If you have depression or a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of depression such as poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, or notice them in a family member who is taking this medication contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Do not operate heavy machinery or drive after taking this medication. Kidney function: Kidney disease or reduced kidney function may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have kidney problems, you may require lower doses of this medication. Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects.

If you have liver problems, you may require lower doses of this medication. Memory disturbance: Amnesia of varying severity has been reported following normal doses of medications like zopiclone. This effect is rare with zopiclone. Performing activities while not fully awake: People taking zopiclone may perform activities such as sleepwalking, driving, preparing and eating food, and making phone calls while not fully awake and unaware of their actions.

The next morning, they may not remember what happened. This may be more likely to occur if you also use alcohol or other sedative medications. If you discover this has happened to you, contact your doctor immediately.

Withdrawal: Zopiclone can become habit-forming. Withdrawal symptoms similar to those occurring with related substances, including alcohol, have been observed after stopping the medication suddenly after having taken it regularly over a period of time. These symptoms include:. Pregnancy: The safety of using this medication during pregnancy has not been established.

Zopiclone may cause harm to the developing baby if it is taken by the mother during pregnancy.