Written by:

Lee Spinks

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Mateen Durrani – MBBS, DPM, MSc, BCPsych

Last Updated:

December 2nd, 2024

Zopiclone Addiction

Sleep is a crucial process for keeping us healthy, happy and energised. For people with insomnia and other sleep conditions, zopiclone can be a massive help, allowing them to get a good night’s sleep. While generally considered less dangerous than other sleeping pills, zopiclone addiction is still a potential risk that should be taken seriously. Here is what you need to know:

What is zopiclone?

Zopiclone is a hypnotic sedative medicine that helps people sleep better by calming brain activity. It is often prescribed to people who find it difficult to fall asleep or who wake up regularly throughout the night.

Zopiclone is a common type of “Z-drug” which along with Zolpidem and Zaleplon, all start with the letter “Z”. These medicines have become the preferred form of prescription sleeping pills in the UK because they tend to have fewer side effects and are generally less addictive than older ones.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that zopiclone comes with no risks. Some potential Zopiclone side effects that you may experience include:

• A bitter or metallic taste in the mouth
• Chronic dry mouth
• Daytime drowsiness
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Zopiclone addiction

What is zopiclone addiction?

Some people may be surprised that they can become addicted to zopiclone because it is a prescription medicine and because Z-drugs are generally thought to be safer. However, zopiclone can still be addictive, especially if it is used for a long time or not as prescribed.

There are many definitions of addiction but the easiest way to understand it is being unable to quit taking even though you know it is harming you in some way.

There are a few different ways that someone starts taking zopiclone but all can lead to addiction. The three most common are:

• Genuine prescription use
• Using zopiclone to feel “high” or sedate yourself
• Using zopiclone without a prescription to “self-medicate” for a condition like anxiety

Whatever the reason you first start taking it, zopiclone can be potentially “habit-forming”. This means that taking zopiclone can become part of your daily life without you even realising you are starting to take more and more of it. This increased use can quickly lead to dependence, which can be both physical and psychological.

Physical dependency means your body gets used to having Zopiclone in your system. When you stop taking it, you might experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, sweating, shaking or trouble sleeping (known as rebound insomnia).

Psychological dependency is when you feel like you can’t cope with daily life without taking zopiclone and come to rely on it to handle stress or anxiety or to feel calm.

These two dependencies together make quitting zopiclone very difficult which is what traps people in zopiclone addiction.

How to spot zopiclone addiction symptoms

Noticing the signs of zopiclone addiction early can really make a massive difference in getting the help you need. Sleeping pill addiction can sneak up on you, but here are some common zopiclone addiction symptoms to look out for:

• Noticing that you need more zopiclone than when you first started taking it (commonly known as “tolerance”
• Always thinking about when you can take zopiclone next and how to get more
• Taking more zopiclone than you were prescribed or using it more times a day than you are supposed to
• Not taking care of your responsibilities because you are using so much zopiclone
• Becoming indifferent about hobbies and other things you used to like doing
• Hiding your zopiclone use from friends and family or lying about how much you’re taking
• Spending a lot of money getting more Zopiclone and causing yourself financial issues
• Continuing to use zopiclone even though you are experiencing these problems

Why is zopiclone addictive?

Chemically, zopiclone use can create a dependency because of the way it enhances the action of GABA in the brain. GABA is a chemical that helps to calm your brain activity, making you feel relaxed and sleepy. Over time, your brain can start to rely on zopiclone to produce these calming effects which is what creates physical dependency.

However, not everyone will become addicted to zopiclone, even if they are misusing it. The psychological aspect of addiction is usually driven by certain personal factors that you may not even realise you have. Scientific research has been able to identify some of the most common:

Stress and anxiety

If you are dealing with high levels of stress or anxiety, you might start using zopiclone to help you relax. Over time, you may then start to depend on the zopiclone entirely to manage your stress or anxiety.

Sleep disorders

Zopiclone is usually only prescribed for short-term use. If you have chronic sleep problems and you use zopiclone for a long time, this can eventually cause zopiclone addiction.

History of substance abuse

If you have had problems with substance abuse or addiction before, you may be more prone to developing a zopiclone addiction. This may also be true if your parents or other close family members have had addiction issues, as there may be a genetic factor.

Mental health issues

Conditions like depression or other mental health disorders can make you more likely to misuse zopiclone as a way to cope with their symptoms. This can be a quick fix but often leads to zopiclone addiction and makes the problems worse.

The risks and side effects of zopiclone addiction

Zopiclone addiction can have serious consequences, harming relationships with family and friends, disrupting your career or education and leading to financial problems. The constant need to obtain and use zopiclone can become the centre of your life, pushing away the things and people that matter most to you. In addition to these personal issues, there are significant health risks associated with zopiclone addiction:

• Cognitive problems: Long-term use of zopiclone can affect your memory, concentration and overall cognitive function, making it difficult to perform daily tasks.
• Respiratory issues: Zopiclone can depress your respiratory system, leading to slow or shallow breathing. This can be particularly dangerous if you have underlying respiratory conditions.
• Digestive problems: Chronic zopiclone use can cause digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting and constipation.
• Mental health problems: Zopiclone addiction can worsen existing mental health issues like depression and anxiety or cause new ones to develop.
• Liver damage: Long-term use of zopiclone can strain your liver, leading to potential liver damage or failure.
• Increased risk of accidents: Because zopiclone affects your coordination and reaction times, you may be at a higher risk of accidents at home, work or while driving.
• Weakened immune system: Zopiclone addiction can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and illnesses.

How is zopiclone addiction treated?

Zopiclone addiction treatment needs to effectively address both the physical and psychological dependencies the medicine can create.

Detox is the first stage of all sleeping pill addiction treatment because it allows you to get all of the zopiclone out of your body while medical professionals help you through withdrawal. This is the stage where physical dependency is broken and healing begins.

After that, rehab treatment helps you break through psychological dependency by exploring how you became so reliant on zopiclone in the first place. This stage involves different types of therapy, which will give you knowledge and skills to stop you from going back to zopiclone when you leave rehab.

However, this transition from the safety of rehab back to everyday life is rarely straightforward, and so aftercare and relapse prevention support make up the third crucial stage of treatment.

Get help for zopiclone addiction today

If you need help with zopiclone addiction, Banbury Lodge can arm you with the knowledge and tools you need for a full recovery. We provide all the key stages of treatment in our comfortable, confidential rehab centre with our medical and recovery experts dedicated to your healing and recovery. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help.

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