Description
Zopfresh (Zopiclone) 20 mg
Zopfresh 20 mg is identified by the supplied product name as a zopiclone tablet. Zopiclone is a sedative-hypnotic medicine used for short-term treatment of insomnia in adults. The verified strength in the supplied product name is 20 mg, but the core medicine information below is based on zopiclone as the active ingredient.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The active ingredient is zopiclone. It belongs to the non-benzodiazepine hypnotic group, often described as a “Z-drug” or cyclopyrrolone sedative-hypnotic. It acts on the central nervous system to promote sleep.
Established Medical Uses
Zopiclone is established for the short-term treatment of insomnia in adults. Regulatory product information emphasises that treatment should be as brief as possible and regularly reviewed because the risk of dependence increases with longer use.
How It Works
Zopiclone enhances inhibitory signalling in the brain through the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system, producing a sleep-promoting effect. This can shorten the time needed to fall asleep and improve sleep maintenance in some patients.
Important Safety Information
Zopiclone is contraindicated in patients with myasthenia gravis, respiratory failure, severe sleep apnoea syndrome, severe hepatic insufficiency, hypersensitivity to zopiclone, and in people who have previously had complex sleep behaviours with zopiclone. Caution is also important in hepatic or respiratory impairment, depression, older adults, and in anyone with a history of alcohol, substance or drug misuse.
Clinically significant interactions include alcohol, other central nervous system depressants, opioids, and CYP3A4 inhibitors such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole and ritonavir, which may increase sedation or zopiclone exposure. CYP3A4 inducers such as rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin and St John’s wort may reduce its effect.
Zopiclone can impair alertness, coordination and driving ability. Complex sleep behaviours, dependence, withdrawal symptoms and rebound insomnia have been reported.
Possible Side Effects
Commonly reported adverse effects include bitter taste, drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness and next-day psychomotor impairment. More serious reactions can include confusion, hallucinations, abnormal behaviour, amnesia, respiratory depression, dependence, withdrawal symptoms and complex sleep behaviours such as sleepwalking.
Scientific Evidence
Peer-reviewed reviews and comparative studies have found that zopiclone is effective for insomnia, particularly for reducing sleep latency, and is generally comparable to benzodiazepine hypnotics in short-term use. A more recent systematic review in older adults reported benefit for sleep outcomes, but also noted that much of the evidence was of low or unclear quality and that longer-term safety remains less certain.
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 assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- Medicines.org.uk (emc): Zopiclone 3.75mg film-coated tablets – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)
- Noble S, Langtry HD, Lamb HM et al.: Zopiclone. An update of its pharmacology, clinical efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of insomnia. Drugs. 1998.
