Side effects
Not everyone will experience side effects with zopiclone.
If you are experiencing a problem that might be a side effect, but that is not listed here, please take a look at the patient information leaflet that was in the medicine packet or speak to your pharmacist or doctor.
Some side effects that appear should get better after a few days. If you think you have a side effect that has not got better within a few days go back to your doctor.
Regular blood tests are not needed while you are taking zopiclone.
Very rarely zopiclone can affect your liver. If your liver is not working as well as usual, this would show up on a blood test as a change in your liver enzyme levels. You should tell your doctor that you are taking zopiclone if you are having a blood test.
Body
Your weight should not be affected by zopiclone.
Sleep
Zopiclone can affect your recent memory, especially if you do not go to bed just after taking it, or if your sleep gets interrupted.
Make sure that you can get seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep if you are going to take zopiclone.
Some people have reported doing things like walking, preparing food, making phone calls, having sex and even driving while they were not fully awake. They do not remember doing these things after they wake.
If you take zopiclone with alcohol, or with other medicines for mental health conditions like antidepressants, this is more likely to happen.
If this happens to you, go back to your doctor to try another medicine.
Sex and fertility
Sex
Zopiclone can have side effects that might affect your sex life, including:
- not feeling like you want to have sex
- having a headache or a dry mouth
These effects should pass after the first couple of weeks. If they do not, and this is a problem for you, go back to the doctor and see what else you could try.
If it works for you, zopiclone may have a positive effect on your sex life as your symptoms settle, and you can concentrate on your relationships.
Fertility
There is no evidence that zopiclone affects fertility.
If you and your partner are trying to have a baby, you should go back to the doctor to talk through the options (see below for further information). Promethazine is usually the first choice.
Pregnancy, post-natal and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
When deciding whether or not to take zopiclone during pregnancy it is important to weigh up how necessary zopiclone is to your health against the possible risks to you or your baby, some of which will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are.
There does not seem to be a higher risk of malformations or miscarriage when the usual doses of zopiclone have been taken.
Post-natal
If you take zopiclone every day in the weeks before delivery your baby is likely to be checked for any breathing difficulties, muscle weakness and low blood sugar. Such problems have been reported with similar drugs.
Breastfeeding
Zopiclone is passed to the baby through breast milk. Amounts are small but higher than those of zolpidem.
You should discuss the risks and benefits of breastfeeding with your midwife or doctor.
Remember that it is important for you to remain well while you are bonding with and looking after your baby. For this reason, it may be best to take medicine for your mental health when breastfeeding.
Make sure that your doctor, nurse, or health visitor checks your baby for any side effects.
If your baby was premature or has health problems, then you will need to be extra careful about taking medicines while breastfeeding.
Driving and transport
Do not drive a car or ride a bike just after you start taking zopiclone.
Taking zopiclone may make you feel tired or confused, and may give you double vision when you start taking it, even on the following day
These effects are made much worse if you take zopiclone with alcohol.
This could affect you if you drive a car, ride a bike, or do anything else that needs a lot of focus. It might be best to stop doing these things for the first few days, until you know how it affects you.
Do not worry - most people drive as normal while taking zopiclone.
School and exams
Try not to start or stop zopiclone just before your exams.
Zopiclone can make you feel tired or confused and may give you double vision when you first start taking it, even on the following day.
You should talk to your doctor about any future exams if you are starting zopiclone. You might decide together to delay starting it until you have done them.
If they are more than a month away, however, you might find that it is better to start zopiclone to improve your motivation to study.
Do not worry - most people take exams as normal while taking zopiclone.
Friends and family
You may want to let your family and friends know you are taking zopiclone so they can support you and help you look out for side effects.
For guidance on this, check out our page on getting support with your medication.
Sport
Zopiclone is not a banned substance in sport.
Zopiclone can cause side effects, however, that might make you less able to take part in sports that need a lot of focus.
These side effects include feeling sleepy, confused and having double vision.
The good effects of zopiclone may have a positive impact on your sporting performance as you sleep better.
Alcohol and street drugs
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking zopiclone, as combining the two might make you go into a deep sleep where you find it difficult to wake up.
If you need to drive a car or ride a bike, or use machines at work, taking alcohol and zopiclone together could be dangerous to yourself and other people.
Street drugs
It is very easy, and serious, to overdose with any combination of zopiclone and drugs.
Using cannabis with zopiclone could make you feel sleepier. You could go into a deep sleep and find it is harder to wake up.
Cannabis and other drugs may have their own side effects on your mental health, like anxiety or psychosis. For more information, have a look at our drugs and alcohol page.
Using heroin or methadone with zopiclone may make you feel sleepier. You could go into a deep sleep and find it harder to wake up.
Prescription medicines
The effects of some other medicines can be changed when you take them together with zopiclone.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines.
Other interactions
Try not to drink caffeine drinks while you are taking zopiclone.
Caffeine has the opposite effect of zopiclone in your body and could stop it from working so well.
Caffeine can cause anxiety and sleep loss - stopping these drinks might help to improve your symptoms.
References and further reading
For more helpful links and information, have a look at our references and further reading page.