Description
Sleepirest (zopiclone) 10 mg
Sleepirest contains zopiclone, a sedative-hypnotic medicine used for short-term treatment of insomnia. It is one of the so-called “Z-drugs” and is intended to help with sleep initiation and sleep maintenance in appropriate clinical use.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is zopiclone. It is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic with central nervous system depressant effects, acting on the GABA-A receptor complex in a manner similar to other sedative-hypnotic medicines.
Established Medical Uses
Regulatory product information for zopiclone describes its use for the short-term treatment of insomnia, including difficulty falling asleep and disturbed sleep. The medicine is not positioned as a long-term solution, and official guidance warns about dependence and withdrawal with prolonged use.
How It Works
Zopiclone enhances inhibitory signalling in the brain through the GABA system, which reduces central nervous system activity and promotes sleep. This pharmacological action explains its hypnotic effect as well as its sedative and psychomotor-impairing potential.
Important Safety Information
Zopiclone is contraindicated in people with hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients, and official SmPCs also warn against use in patients with a history of complex sleep behaviours. Important precautions include the risk of dependence, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, rebound insomnia, next-day impairment, and abnormal behaviours during sleep. Alcohol and other central nervous system depressants, including opioids, can increase sedation and the risk of respiratory depression and related harm.
Possible Side Effects
Commonly reported adverse effects include a bitter or metallic taste, dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, and headache. More serious reactions can include confusion, hallucinations, abnormal behaviour, impaired coordination, falls, allergic reactions, complex sleep behaviours, and withdrawal symptoms after stopping treatment. A recent network meta-analysis found increased risks of somnolence, dizziness, and dysgeusia with zopiclone versus placebo.
Scientific Evidence
Peer-reviewed reviews and meta-analyses indicate that zopiclone can improve sleep onset and sleep continuity in adults with insomnia, with benefits similar to other hypnotics in some studies. However, evidence also shows clinically relevant adverse effects and uncertainty about longer-term safety, which supports restricting use to short-term treatment.
Medical Information Notice
This summary is for educational purposes only and is based on sources available at the time of review. It does not replace the official patient leaflet, prescribing information, or individual assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) / emc — Zopiclone 7.5 mg film-coated tablets, Summary of Product Characteristics: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/10590/smpc
- Leone R, et al. — “Zopiclone to treat insomnia in older adults: A systematic review.” PubMed, 2021: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34023645/
