Description
Zopisign (Zopiclone) 7.5 mg
Zopisign is a brand name for zopiclone, a sedative-hypnotic medicine used for short-term relief of insomnia. It belongs to the “Z-drug” group of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and is intended for adults with sleep-onset or sleep-maintenance difficulty.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is zopiclone 7.5 mg. Zopiclone is a cyclopyrrolone hypnotic and a benzodiazepine-related medicine in the hypnotics and sedatives class.
Established Medical Uses
Regulatory product information describes zopiclone as a short-term treatment for insomnia, including difficulty falling asleep, night waking, early waking, transient insomnia, situational insomnia, chronic insomnia, and insomnia associated with psychiatric disturbance when symptoms are severe or distressing. Long-term continuous use is not recommended.
How It Works
Zopiclone acts on the brain’s GABA-A receptor system, enhancing inhibitory nerve signalling and producing a hypnotic effect. Peer-reviewed studies show that it modulates GABA-A receptors at a site different from the classic benzodiazepine site, which helps explain its sedative action.
Important Safety Information
Zopiclone is a central nervous system depressant and can impair alertness and coordination. Important safety concerns include dependence, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, complex sleep behaviours such as sleepwalking, and additive effects with other sedatives. Product information warns about use with alcohol and other CNS depressants, and notes risk of respiratory depression, falls, confusion, amnesia, and abnormal behaviour, especially in older adults or vulnerable patients.
Contraindications and major precautions listed in official prescribing information include hypersensitivity to zopiclone or excipients, severe respiratory failure, severe liver problems, sleep apnoea syndrome, and myasthenia gravis.
Possible Side Effects
Commonly reported adverse effects include bitter taste, dry mouth, daytime drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and fatigue. Less common or serious reactions include confusion, memory impairment, hallucinations, abnormal behaviour, falls, rash, angioedema, anaphylactic reactions, respiratory depression, and dependence or withdrawal symptoms.
Scientific Evidence
Clinical reviews and comparative studies have found zopiclone to be effective for short-term insomnia, with generally improved sleep initiation and sleep continuity. Evidence also suggests that its short-term efficacy is broadly comparable with other hypnotics, while bitter taste and residual sedation are among the main tolerability issues. A recent network meta-analysis found non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, including zopiclone, among the more effective options for shortening sleep-onset latency, but with tolerability trade-offs.
Medical Information Notice
This summary is for educational use 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 health professional.
Medical Sources
- medicines.org.uk — Zopiclone 7.5mg film-coated tablets — Summary of Product Characteristics
- Davies M, et al. — “Characterization of the interaction of zopiclone with gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors” — Mol Pharmacol (2000) — PubMed
