Zopiclone

Fatal overdose may occur when GABAergic substances are combined with other depressants such as opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, gabapentinoids, thienodiazepines or alcohol.

It is strongly discouraged to combine these substances, particularly in common to heavy doses.

Summary sheet: Zopiclone

Zopiclone
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	Zimovane, Imovane
Substitutive name	Zopiclone
Systematic name	(RS)-6-(5-Chloropyridin-2-yl)-7-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazin-5-yl 4-methylpiperazine-1-carboxylate
Class Membership
Psychoactive class	Depressant / Hallucinogen
Chemical class	Cyclopyrrolone
Routes of Administration
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section. ⇣ Oral Dosage Bioavailability 52 - 59% Threshold 2 mg Light 3.5 - 5 mg Common 5 - 7.5 mg Strong 7.5 - 15 mg Heavy 15 mg + Duration Total 3.5 - 9 hours Onset 10 - 30 minutes Peak 3 - 4 hours DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
Interactions

Zopiclone (also known by the trade names Zimovane and Imovane) is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic substance of the cyclopyrrolone class. It belongs to a family of substances colloquially known as "Z-drugs", which includes zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien and AmbienCR). The mechanism of action is benzodiazepine-like GABA binding activity.

It is primarily used in the treatment of insomnia due to its heavy sedative effects.

While "Z-drugs" were initially thought to have less misuse potential than benzodiazepines, this appraisal has shifted somewhat in the last few years as a number of cases of addiction and habituation have been observed. Zopiclone, like all "Z-drugs", is recommended to be taken on a short-term basis -- usually a week or less. Daily or continuous use of the drug is usually not advised.

It is highly advised to use harm reduction practices if using this substance.

Chemistry

Zopiclone is a hypnotic nonbenzodiazepine drug of the cyclopyrrolone class. Zopiclone and its closely related dextrorotatory S-stereoisomer zopiclone (Lunesta) are the most popular and available cyclopyrrolone drugs. This class of drugs is named for having a pyrrolone core, a five-membered ring with a nitrogen constituent (pyrrole) and a ketone group (-one).

The ketone group found in zopiclone is located at R₅ of the pyrrolone ring. Zopiclone contains four nitrogenous rings including pyrrolone. Fused to the pyrrolone core is a pyrazine ring, a six-membered aromatic ring with two nitrogen substituents. The two rings are fused at R₃ and R₄. This bicylic core is called a pyrollopyrazine. Bound to the nitrogen group of the pyrrolone at R₆ is a substituted pyridine ring. Pyridine is six-membered unsaturated ring with one nitrogen group. The pyridine ring of zopiclone is substituted at R₅ with a chlorine group.

The final ring of zopiclone is a piperazine ring. Piperazine is a six-membered saturated ring with two nitrogen constituents; in this case, it is substituted at R₄ with a methyl group. This piperazine ring is connected to the pyrrolone core of zopiclone at R₇ through a carboxylate group.

Zopiclone may be measured in blood, plasma, or urine by chromatographic methods. Plasma concentrations are typically less than 100 μg/l during therapeutic use, but frequently exceed 100 μg/l in automotive vehicle operators arrested for impaired driving ability and may exceed 1000 μg/l in acutely poisoned patients. Post mortem blood concentrations are usually in a range of 0.4-3.9 mg/l in victims of fatal acute overdose.

Pharmacology

Zopiclone shares an almost identical pharmacological profile to benzodiazepines despite differences in structure. The mechanism of action works by binding to the same site as benzodiazepines and acts as a full agonist, which in turn positively modulates benzodiazepine-sensitive GABA_A receptors and enhances GABA binding at the GABA_A receptors to produce zopiclone's subjective effects.

Since GABA functions as the brain's predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter, this activation of receptors results in the sedative and anxiolytic effects of zopiclone. In addition to zopiclone's benzodiazepine pharmacological properties, it also has some barbiturate-like properties.

Additionally, it (along with desmethylzopiclone) is a noncompetitive antagonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptor . This could be the cause of deliriant like effects.

The metabolite of zopiclone called desmethylzopiclone is also pharmacologically active, although it has predominately anxiolytic properties. One study found some slight selectivity for zopiclone on α1 and α5 subunits, although it is regarded as being unselective in its binding to α1, α2, α3, and α5 GABA_A benzodiazepine receptor complexes.

Desmethylzopiclone has been found to have partial agonist properties, unlike the parent drug zopiclone, which is a full agonist. The mechanism of action of zopiclone is similar to benzodiazepines, with similar effects on locomotor activity and on dopamine and serotonin turnover.

Subjective effects

In comparison to other substances of a similar nature such as benzodiazepines, zopiclone is commonly reported to present significantly more amnesic and disinhibiting effects in a manner similar to alcohol. Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.

It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.

Physical effects

• • Sedation - zopiclone is extremely sedating and can put the user into an overwhelmingly lethargic state. At higher levels, this causes users to suddenly feel as if they are extremely sleep deprived and have not slept for days, forcing them to sit or lay down and feel as if they are constantly on the verge of passing out. This sense of sleep deprivation increases proportional to dosage and can eventually become powerful enough to force a person into complete unconsciousness regardless of where they are or what they are doing at that moment.
  • Respiratory depression
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Dizziness
  • Motor control loss - This effect is pronounced and comparable to the motor control loss experienced on a heavy dose of alcohol. This typically results in users stumbling and an inability to walk in a straight line. As this may easily result in injury, one should avoid walking and using stairs while on zopiclone.
  • Gustatory hallucination - Zopiclone is sometimes reported to leave a metallic taste in one's mouth.

Visual effects

• • Shadow people
  • Acuity suppression
  • Drifting (melting, breathing, morphing and flowing) - Visual drifting effects are the most prominent visual effects of this substance. They typically occur at strong doses, or when the user resists the urge to sleep.. They are similar to the distortions produced zolpidem and are usually less pronounced than those of deliriants. Like deliriant visuals, they are most prominent in low lighting. Depending on dose and lighting, they can be described as slow or fast in speed, static in permanence, smooth in motion, realistic in appearance, and simplistic or intricate.
  • External hallucinations - At very high doses, zopiclone can produce external hallucinations that are similar to, but less pronounced than those of deliriants.
  • Tracers - This effect is mild and typically only experienced at high doses.

Cognitive effects

• The cognitive effects of zopiclone can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. The general head space of zopiclone is described by many as one of intense sedation, decreased inhibition and severe amnesia. It produces a large number of cognitive effects typical of most GABA-ergic depressants.
  • Amnesia - Compared to benzodiazepines, zopiclone can produce amnesia at much lower doses. One may potentially not remember exactly what happened while under the influence of a common dose. This is usually less intense than the amnesia produced by zolpidem.
  • Anxiety suppression
  • Thought deceleration
  • Disinhibition
  • Delusion
  • Delirium
  • Analysis suppression
  • Euphoria - Some users report euphoria from zopiclone, although this is short lived and usually exclusive to the onset of the experience and often followed by emotion suppression.
  • Emotion suppression - While zopiclone primarily suppresses anxiety, it also suppresses other emotions in a similar but less intense fashion to antipsychotics.
  • Time compression - This effect is mostly noticeable while under the influence of a high dose.
  • Irritability - Combined with the strong disinhibiting effects of zopiclone, this effect can cause people under the influence of zopiclone to have violent behavior towards others and sometimes themselves.
  • Increased music appreciation
  • Compulsive redosing

Auditory effects

• • Auditory hallucinations - The auditory hallucinations of Zopiclone are mostly voices, and appear at higher doses. Sleep deprivation magnifies this effect.

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index include:

• Experience:Zopiclone (30mg, oral) - DANGER
• Experience:Zopiclone (7.5 mg) + Mirtazapine (7.5 mg) + Cannabis
• Experience:Zopiclone hppd?

Additional experience reports can be found here:

• Erowid Experience Vaults: Zopiclone

Toxicity and harm potential

This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub. As a result, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information! You can help by expanding upon or correcting it. Note: Always conduct independent research and use harm reduction practices if using this substance.

Further information: Responsible use § Hallucinogens

Zopiclone is generally thought to have a low toxicity relative to dose. However, it is potentially lethal when mixed with depressants like benzodiazepines, alcohol or opioids. When combined with one or several of these substances the already existing chance of a having a "black-out" is significantly increased, leaving the user with very little to no memory of the events that occurred whilst under the influence of zopiclone alone or combined with most other CNS depressants.

Some users have reported taking zopiclone in combination with alcohol in an attempt to treat hangovers with varying degrees of success.

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Dependence and abuse potential

Zopiclone is extremely physically and psychologically addictive. This compound may have an even greater addictive potential than benzodiazepines. Tolerance will develop to the sedative-hypnotic effects within a couple of weeks of daily use. After cessation, the tolerance returns to baseline in 7 - 14 days. Withdrawal symptoms or rebound symptoms may occur after ceasing usage abruptly following a few weeks or longer of steady dosing, and may necessitate a gradual dose reduction.

Zopiclone presents cross-tolerance with all benzodiazepines, meaning that after its consumption benzodiazepines and most other GABAgenic depressants will have a reduced effect.

Dangerous interactions

Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).

Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.

• Depressants (1,4-Butanediol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, alcohol, barbiturates, GHB/GBL, methaqualone, opioids) - This combination can result in dangerous or even fatal levels of respiratory depression. These substances potentiate the muscle relaxation, sedation and amnesia caused by one another and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. There is also an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the recovery position or have a friend move them into it.
• Dissociatives - This combination can result in an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the recovery position or have a friend move them into it.

Legal status

This legality section is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.

• Canada: Zopiclone is available by prescription only in Canada.
• Germany: Zopiclone is a prescription medicine, according to Anlage 1 AMVV
• Norway: Zopiclone is available by prescription in Norway.
• Switzerland: Zopiclone is listed as a "Abgabekategorie B" pharmaceutical, which generally requires a prescription.

See also

• Responsible use
• Depressants
• Z-drugs
• Benzodiazepines

External links

• Zopiclone (Wikipedia)
• Zopiclone (Erowid Vault)
• Zopiclone (Isomer Design)