[Apologies for the length. Blame profs and editors more interested in word count than anything else. There is something resembling a summary further down, in [these] square brackets.] I've taken Imovane [aka zopiclone] off and on for about ten years.
Zopiclone
Well-documented
Well-documented
Multiple authoritative sources agree on dosing and effects.
- 4 corroborating sources
- 1 ROA with full dose ladder
- duration data present
- 17 combo interactions documented
- PubChem toxicity data
Well-documented
Multiple authoritative sources agree on dosing and effects.
- 4 corroborating sources
- 1 ROA with full dose ladder
- duration data present
- 17 combo interactions documented
- PubChem toxicity data
Aliases: Imovane, Zimovane
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.
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 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 10-30 min | 30-60 min | 3-4 hrs | 2-4 hrs | 6-9 hrs |
Effect Profile
44 reportsScores (1–10) curated from multiple sources:
- Effect keyword matching from PsychonautWiki catalog
- Validated against 44 Erowid trip reports
- Weighted by importance: core (×3), major (×2), minor (×1)
Benzodiazepine
8.6
Intense+
9/10
Strong anxiolysis, sedation, cognitive impairment, and euphoria
Anxiolysis
×3
10
anxiolysis
anxiety suppression
muscle relaxation
emotion suppression
Sedation / Relaxation
×2
10
sedation
lethargy
tiredness
muscle relaxation
Motor / Cognitive Impairment
×1
10
motor control loss
amnesia
Euphoria / Mood Lift
×1
10
euphoria
disinhibition
Based on reports from:
Tolerance
Build-up
develops within 1–2 weeks of nightly use; acts on same GABA-A site as benzodiazepines
Reset
1–2 weeks
Tolerance Decay
Full tolerance
14d
Half tolerance
14d
Baseline
~28d
Acute tolerance: develops within a single session — the reset numbers above apply after sustained heavy use, not after one binge. Within-session tachyphylaxis usually resets largely overnight.
Hypnotic tolerance to sleep‑inducing effects can develop within days to weeks of daily use; functional tolerance to impairment is incomplete (driving deficits persist despite regular use). Return toward baseline generally occurs over 2–4+ weeks of abstinence but varies widely. Data are a synthesis of clinical guidance for benzodiazepine‑site agonists and limited zopiclone‑specific studies; confidence moderate to low.
Cross-Tolerances
Effects
Aggregated from 44 Erowid experience reports
Positive Effects 9
Sedation
50.0%
70%
Stimulation
47.7%
70%
Anxiety Suppression
38.6%
70%
Euphoria
31.8%
70%
Tactile Enhancement
20.5%
70%
Color Enhancement
18.2%
70%
Empathy
11.4%
70%
Music Enhancement
11.4%
70%
Focus Enhancement
9.1%
70%
Adverse Effects 7
Memory Suppression
34.1%
70%
Motor Impairment
25.0%
70%
Confusion
15.9%
70%
Nausea
15.9%
70%
Muscle Tension
6.8%
70%
Headache
6.8%
70%
Psychosis
6.8%
70%
Combinations
Cross-Check Zopiclone with another substanceCommunity Trip Reports
Anecdotal first-person accounts from Reddit, Erowid, and Bluelight. Click a source to expand. Reports are harm-reduction context, not medical guidance.
Erowid 8 reports 7 neutral 1 cautionary visit
PERSONAL INFO: I am an 18 year old female who weighs 140lbs. My boyfriend is 17 years old and also weighs 140lbs. Neither of us are experienced in taking prescription medication - the only substances we have taken are cannabis and alcohol.
I am a 34yo male, reformed alcoholic/drug user, however have the occasional play around with pills etc. I have not consumed alcohol for 4 years and have been away from street drugs + pot for even longer. I had a rather large cache of these pills (Zopiclone aka Imovane) and experimented over a couple of months.
I was prescribed this recently to help me sleep, my psychiatrist has me on it for a long-term prescription since weaker sleep aids didn't work for me, although I've heard this shouldn't be prescribed long-term.
I have a history of drug abuse, I had the most trouble with benzos and opiates. I've used everything from weed to heroin to strange RC dissociates that 99% of normal people have never heard of. Before this experience I had a recent 2 years of sobriety.
I was prescribed the sleeping aid Zopiclone a few weeks ago. I'd been mentioning problems sleeping to my doctor for a few months and while mostly truthful, I must admit I had the intent to try whatever was given to me recreationally.
Creativity on Zopiclone I was prescribed Zopiclone by my psychiatrist to help with my sleep. I have had a number of mental health issues in the past few years, and have been on quite a few drugs (anti psychotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds ).
I should be dead. If things happened the way I think they did, I should be dead. But one of the effects of Imovane is loss of memory, so I am piecing together my story after the fact. I am a chronic insomniac. I can never get to sleep without the aid of some medication.
Bluelight 3 threads 3 neutral visit
zopiclone 15mg - highly experienced - trippy hypnosis Taken 20:40-45 T15 effects . anxiety not just gone, it's not even a concept that makes sense to me. Talking manically to my mother about the nature of psychedelics, DMT, aliens after we all saw some weird lights outside our house. Definatley not baseline.
So there was no innate decision to trip on this faithful night, in fact, I had just received my 3 month script off zoppys (15mg per night), and after acquiring said tablets ventured home (the short way) to immerse myself in some gaba-loving.
This summer, i was visiting a good friend whom i've known since we both were 7. While i have been experimenting with various psychoactive substances since i was 17, he had only smoked weed 3 times and not done any other substance besides alcohol.
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