Summary
Zopiclone is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic intended for short-term insomnia treatment (2-4 weeks maximum). It produces significantly more amnesia and disinhibition than benzodiazepines at comparable doses. A characteristic metallic or bitter taste occurs in many users. At high doses or when sleep is resisted, deliriant-like hallucinations and dangerous sleepwalking behaviors may occur. Risk of blackouts, compulsive redosing, and hazardous activities while amnesic.
Dose Information
| ROA | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 3.5-5mg | 5-7.5mg | 7.5-15mg | 15mg+ |
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | After Effects | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 10-30 min | 30-60 min | 3-4 hrs | 2-4 hrs | 60-0 min | 360-0 min |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops within 1–2 weeks of nightly use; acts on same GABA-A site as benzodiazepines
Reset
1–2 weeks
Cross-tolerance
Effects
Positive
- Muscle relaxation
- Anxiolysis
- Muscle Relaxation
Negative
- Lethargy
- Tiredness
- Respiratory depression
- Respiratory Depression
- Sedation
- Sleep induction
- Can induce heavy sleep
Positive
- Euphoria
- Anxiety suppression
Negative
- Amnesia
- Motor control loss
- Dizziness
- Thought deceleration
- Emotion suppression
- Compulsive redosing
- Delusion
- Delirium
- Information processing suppression
- Shadow people
- Time distortion
- A dreamlike state while awake
Positive
- Tracers
Negative
- Disinhibition
- Acuity Suppression
- Gustatory hallucination
- Visual drifting
- External hallucinations
- Dulled perception
- Metallic Taste
- Visual Drifting
- External Hallucinations