Is zopiclone an antidepressant?
What is Zopiclone: Is it an Antidepressant?
No, zopiclone is not an antidepressant. It belongs to a class of medications known as sedative-hypnotics and is used to treat insomnia. It can help people fall asleep faster and increase their sleep times. Insomnia is a disorder of sleep that causes difficulty in staying asleep. It may be chronic or acute due to various complications such as anxiety, stress, and breathing problems. Zopiclone helps you fall asleep more quickly, and also helps stop you from waking up during the night, and works on chemicals in your brain to make you relaxed and sleepy. It is only used if other non-medication treatments are not working.
How does it work?
Zopiclone works by increasing GABA activity in the brain as a natural nerve-calming agent, thereby inducing sleep.
How to take zopiclone?
Zopiclone pills should be used at the lowest dose only for a short time. Avoid to use every day and for long periods. Swallow the tablet whole and never crush or chew it. Consume zopiclone with a glass of water and never take zopiclone if you wake up from your sleep during the night. You do not need to take zopiclone every night, only use zopiclone if you have to.
Medicinal Benefits
Zopiclone is used in treating short-term falling asleep, waking up at night, or morning, or difficulty sleeping caused by accident or any mental illness that causes tension. It is indicated for the treatment of insomnia. Zopiclone is a benzodiazepine hypnotic that works on the brain and increases GABA activity.
It relaxes the body to produce good sleep and reduces the time taken to fall asleep and increases the length of deep sleep. It relaxing good night's sleep that helps the body strengthen your immune system, restore energy, make new healthy cells, and promote the body's repair.
Precautions or Warnings
You will be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding, any medications you are taking, and any other significant facts about your health, before taking this medication. Avoid taking Zopiclone and contact your doctor right away if you notice a sudden change in sleep behavior or not being fully awake after waking up. It would be best to wait for a minimum of 8 hours after taking medicine before driving any machinery. Never stop taking ZOPICLONE without informing your doctor. Do not combine it with alcohol and avoid combining it with other medications like narcotic pain relievers or other sedatives that cause drowsiness.
How should we avoid overdose?
You should contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately if an overdose is suspected. Symptoms of overdose may include blurred vision, loss of consciousness, slow and shallow breathing, excessive drowsiness, sudden onset of sweating, and pale skin. Store below 30 degrees C away from heat and light but never store in the bathroom. If you miss a dose, never take it near the time for the next dose. Resume your usual dosing schedule and skip the missed dose. Take your dose at or near bedtime and never double up the dose to catch up.