Safety with Zopiclone Use: Contemporary Issues

Background: The safety of zopiclone and other Z-drug use has been questioned in many regards. Past issues of side effects, tolerance, abuse, addition, and inappropriate uses have all deserved attention. Objective: In this paper, the issue of zopiclone safety is again reviewed for information newly arising over the last decade. Method: Information databases were scanned for ‘zopiclone’, and all relevant literature was reviewed. Results: Zopiclone continues to be a very frequently consumed sedative-hypnotic. It is often found in the blood of those with drug abuse, self-harm, overdose, and road accidents. The drug is flourishing as a medication for the elderly, and numerous adverse consequences, including injury, have been associated with it. Zopiclone impairs driving ability, and methods to determine such impairment among active drivers are needed. Conclusion: We have previously suggested that zopiclone prescription and use should have the same concerns as those for benzodiazepine pharmacotherapy. There is evidently no need to change such a stance.