How does it work?
Zimovane contains the active ingredient zopiclone, which is a type of medicine called a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic. It acts in the brain to aid sleep.

Zopiclone works by acting on receptors in the brain called GABA receptors. This causes the release of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the brain.

GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve-calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance, and is involved in inducing sleepiness, reducing anxiety and relaxing muscles.

Zopiclone can be used as a short-term treatment for insomnia. This includes difficulty falling asleep, waking in the night, waking early in the morning, sleeping problems related to psychiatric disorders and sleeping problems that are causing severe distress.

Zopiclone decreases the time taken to fall asleep and night-time awakenings, as well as increasing the total amount of time spent sleeping. However, it is only suitable for short-term treatment of insomnia (up to four weeks), as when used for longer periods it has a potential for dependence.

The medicine should be taken shortly before going to bed for the night.

Use with caution in:
    Elderly people.
    Decreased kidney function.
    Decreased liver function.
    Personality disorders.
    History of alcoholism or drug abuse.

Not to be used in:
    Children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
    Severely decreased liver function.
    Abnormal muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis).
    People whose lungs are not working properly (respiratory failure).
    Syndrome involving short spells when breathing stops during sleep (sleep apnoea syndrome).
    Pregnancy.
    Breastfeeding.

Zimovane contain lactose and are not suitable for people with rare hereditary disorders of galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

    Change in taste, such as a bitter or metallic taste.
    Disturbance of the gut such as nausea and dry mouth.
    Headache.
    Dizziness.
    Drowsiness.
    Irritability.
    Confusion.
    Aggressive behaviour.
    Depressed mood.
    Sleep walking.
    Hallucinations.
    Nightmares.
    Rash or hives.
    Light headedness.
   
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.

The following medicines may increase the amount of zopiclone in your blood and this could increase its sedative effect, as well as increase the risk of its side effects. As a result your doctor may need to prescribe a lower dose of zopiclone if you are taking any of these:

    clarithromycin
    erythromycin
    itraconazole
    ketoconazole
    ritonavir.

The following medicines may decrease the amount of drug in your blood and so could make it less effective. As a result your doctor may need to prescribe you a higher than normal dose of zopiclone if you are taking any of these:

    carbamazepine
    phenobarbital
    phenytoin
    rifampicin
   
If zopiclone is used with strong opioid painkillers, such as morphine, this can result in an increase in the euphoric effect that these painkillers can have. This could lead to an increased risk of psychological dependence on the painkiller.