IMOVANE (Zopiclone)

Imovane (Zopiclone) belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants. This medicine is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulty in falling asleep, frequent nocturnal awakenings, and/or early morning awakenings. Imovane helps you get to sleep faster and sleep through the night.

Use:
Adults, 7.5 mg just before retiring for the night. Geriatrics, patients with impaired liver function or chronic respiratory insufficiency: 3.75-7.5 mg at bedtime, depending on acceptability and efficacy.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Precautions:
Not recommended in pregnant or nursing women. Safety-efficacy in patients 18 years of age not established. Use with caution in patients with a history of substance or alcohol abuse, impaired renal or hepatic functions, severe pulmonary insufficiency, a history of seizures j(avoid abrupt zopiclone withdrawal), depression, elderly and/or debilitated patients.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of zopiclone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse (or history of) or


• Drug abuse (or history of)—Dependence on zopiclone may develop

• Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, or other chronic lung disease or


• Mental depression or


• Myasthenia gravis or


• Sleep apnea (temporary stopping of breathing during sleep)—Zopiclone may make these conditions worse

• Kidney disease or


• Liver disease (severe)—Higher blood levels of zopiclone may result, increasing the chance of side effects

Side effects:
Bitter taste. Somnolence, confusion, anterograde amnesia or memory impairment, asthenia, euphoria, depression, bad breath, coated tongue.

Interactions:
Hepatic enzyme-inhibiting agents (e.g. Cimetidine, crythromycin) and other CNS-depressant drugs may enhance zopiclone`s activity.