Published on 09 February 2023

Can You Take Zopiclone And Alcohol Together?

Zopiclone (Imovane) CAN-YOU-TAKE-ZOPICLONE-AND-ALCOHOL-TOGETHER
Table of Contents

Consumption of alcohol regularly has a harmful impact not only physically but mentally. People suffer from not getting enough sleep a lot. This happens for various reasons, such as stress or tension that doesn't make you sleep peacefully. 

People have a habit of consuming alcohol, which is not a good option, but when you are on medication, it is mostly not allowed by doctors due to various issues. If you are consuming alcohol with a medicine, there are severe risk situations. 

You should know that consuming medicine that has the potential to make you sleep and drinking alcohol might not be a good option; find more in detail.

What Is Zopiclone?

Zopiclone is usually prescribed for people who have trouble falling asleep. The healthcare service providers also recommend Zopiclone for anxiety-related disorders, including daytime sleepiness or rebound insomnia, to the people. 

This pill is sold under the brand Imovane and to buy Zopiclone, you must have a doctor's prescription. The absolute minimum period between a sleep aid and naproxen is Six hours.

How Does Zopiclone Work?

Every medicine has a different working pattern. Suppose the medicine belongs to a particular drug class; all the medications related to that class work the same way. Zopiclone belongs to the nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics. 

Zopiclone calms the brain's chemical, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This helps you peacefully get to sleep, and you won't suffer from getting up between your sleep. 

Zopiclone And Alcohol Together

Mixing alcohol with Zopiclone is dangerous. This combo increases the risk of overdose or fatal issues. Alcohol and Zopiclone are both Central Nervous System depressants. If you mix both, suppressing the central nervous system can result in a slow breath and is sometimes fatal.

Study

Here's a case study about a 31-year-old British woman with an alcohol addiction. Due to this, she had a tough time falling asleep. To address such an addictive issue. She visited a professional expert who put her on Zopiclone 7.5 mg to help her sleep and slowly unwind from the addiction nature.

Some stats about alcohol mixed with Zopiclone.

People between 50 and 59 years old have suffered a high risk of side effects and are taking Zopiclone with alcohol. A study by eHealthme says 34,337 people faced side effects while taking Zopiclone; among 91 people, around 0.27% had alcohol.

How To Identify The Signs Of Mixing Alcohol With Zopiclone?

It is not normal and safe if a person mixes alcohol with Zopiclone. To identify the situation, the following are some signs showing clearly that alcohol has been combined with the drug Zopiclone.

  • Decreased alertness.
  • Impaired coordination.
  • Impaired judgment.
  • Slow or difficulty in breathing.

Other common symptoms can be nausea, vomiting, or a headache. These things happen because the person drinks too much alcohol at once, which causes his blood pressure to drop quickly, whereas mixing it up with medicines may cause a high heart rate, dizziness, confusion, and sleep disturbances.

One can have more signs other than these; if you or your loved one have any other symptoms, consult your doctor. Do not take the characters for granted; you can still make a difference and save a life from danger.

Frequently Asked Questions

It differs according to each person's metabolism, but the average time is 6 hours.
Zopiclone has side effects like headaches, drowsiness, and dizziness, whereas alcohol makes you feel the same. There are also cases reported of sleepwalking because of Zopiclone.
Compared to the zopiclone group, where 67.9% (142/209) of patients were rated at least "moderately improved," zolpidem was at least as effective (90% confidence interval: -1.7, 14.3).

Side Effects Of Mixing Zopiclone With Alcohol

Mixing alcohol can give you some severe side effects. It is recommended not to drink when you are on Zopiclone dose, but in case you drink, you have to intimate doctors about side effects like

  • Deep sleep- alcohol makes you sleepy under any circumstances, and when mixing both drugs may make your dizziness worse.
  • Difficulty walking up due to deep sleep; one can find it difficult to wake up.
  • Impaired memory- people consuming alcohol may not be aware of what they are doing or things around them, which troubles them in recollecting their memory.

Contact your physician if you experience any other side effects besides those mentioned above. Also, please visit your physician to catch up on the complete list of side effects. 

Precautions Of Zopiclone

It is always necessary for you to take the necessary precautions before you consume medicine. This will prevent you from not negatively affecting your health. You should be following a few guidelines, such as:

  • It would be best if you did not use any heavy machinery or work which needs 100% attention
  • Take medicine only when you have 7 to 8 free time. This medicine has the potential to keep you asleep for those many hours.
  • Older people might suffer from confusion and dizziness.
  • It would be best if you did not stop consuming Zopiclone abruptly.
  • Do not take medicine more than recommended; you might get dependent on Zopiclone.

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

We have studied the signs and side effects of mixing alcohol. Medicines have similar chemicals that interact with alcohol amplifying the effects of drowsiness. The prime concept of taking drugs is to help you overcome the sickness you are undergoing.

Whereas alcohol, on the other hand, has components that can make you dependent and harm you in some areas. The mixture of Zopiclone and alcohol can be dangerous, and consumption of alcohol is strictly not recommended.

Please consult your healthcare professional immediately for the best solution for this other crisis.

  • Hajak, G. A Comparative Assessment of the Risks and Benefits of Zopiclone. Drug-Safety 21, 457–469 (1999). From https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-199921060-00003 Obtained on 09/02/2023

  • Gaillot, J., et al. "Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of zopiclone." Pharmacology 27.Suppl. 2 (1983): 76-91. From https://doi.org/10.1159/000137914 Obtained on 09/02/2023
  • Julou, L., et al. "Pharmacological studies on zopiclone." Pharmacology 27.Suppl. 2 (1983): 46-58. From https://doi.org/10.1159/000137911 Obtained on 09/02/2023
  • Vermeeren, Annemiek, et al. "Differential residual effects of zaleplon and zopiclone on actual driving: a comparison with a low dose of alcohol." Sleep 25.2 (2002): 224-231. From https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/25.2.224 Obtained on 09/02/2023
  • Kuitunen, T., M. J. Mattila, and T. Seppala. "Actions and interactions of hypnotics on human performance: single doses of zopiclone, triazolam and alcohol." International clinical psychopharmacology 5 (1990): 115-130. From https://europepmc.org/article/med/2201724 Obtained on 09/02/2023