I've been given 2weeks worth of Zopiclone but it doesn't say how long before going to bed it should be taken! Can anyone help? Thanks
Zopiclone : I've been given 2weeks worth of... - Thyroid UK
Zopiclone
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helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK
Obviously I do not know which make you have, nor where in the world you are, but...
In the UK, the Patient Infromation Leaflet for the Sanofi products Zimovane 7.5mg & Zimovane LS 3.75mg film-coated tablets says:
3. How to take Zimovane
Treatment should be as short as possible and should not exceed four weeks including period of tapering off
Your doctor will give you the lowest effective dose.
Always take Zimovane exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
• Take this medicine by mouth
• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water
• Do not crush or chew your tablets
• Take just before bedtime in a single intake and do not take again during the same night
• The usual length of treatment is 2 days to 3 weeks
medicines.org.uk/emc/medici...
in reply to helvella
Thanks. I really appreciate your help.
in reply to
Should have said I'm in Cornwall, in the UK.
MiniMum97 in reply to
I take Zoplicone. I take it about 30 mins before bed and that seems to be about right for getting to sleep in a normal amount of time.
in reply to helvella
that's interesting I've been on zopiclone for 15 years
Could we not add location to our names - eg I am Fairyfeet GB (emphasis on G) ?
We could add our country to our profiles! That is where we expect to see people having identified their country - if they wish.
Have a look at yours:
SeasideSusieRemembering
Hidden Is there no Patient Information Leaflet? The PIL online says
". How to take Zopiclone tablets
Always take Zopiclone tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist when you are not sure.
The tablet should be taken together with liquid immediately before going to bed."
in reply to SeasideSusie
Thanks for your help, it's really appreciated. There was no information leaflet and chemist had closed before I realised. Thanks again.
Jeez, I can't believe they've dispensed *any* medication without a PIL, that's really negligent considering how careful one has to be with most medication.
Completely agree.
I believe it is mandatory for them to supply one if you ask. Trouble is, you have to know you will need to ask!
From our point of view, we really should make an effort to read them! It is so easy to assume they never change - but they do. Sometimes there are changes you'd never notice from a cursory scan read.
Two or three years ago my daughter was prescribed treatment for a stomach complaint. No leaflet in the already opened packet but we were going by the pharmacist's label 'take one before meals'. I rang to ask how many meals per day was that meant for. Stunned silence before replying, nervously......... one.
Check, check and double check.
helvella
I was shocked to discover none of my family bar me read those leaflets 😳 They said if they read it they'd never take them especially the contra indications bit - that is my favourite part of the read 😂😂😂 I then wondered if most people don't bother reading them.
Your edit post tip to get the @ to work worked
The contraindications seem vital - to me!
The side effects can look over the top at times, but recognising some of them is sometimes absolutely vital.
I don't pretend to read every single one, on every occasion, but I do generally read them. A darned good reminder on occasion.
I have had these in the past. Took one about half hour before bed as they made me very sleepy after about 20 mins. Worked a treat tho 
Same here when I took them some time ago when going through a very bad patch. 20 minutes after turning in for the night I would feel the shutters start coming down if I had a little read 
Sometimes other half would have to take off my glasses and put my book away!
I take mine about half an hour before I go to bed. Sometimes I take it with milk which can
absorb toxins in meds. I have been taking it for five years, and have a better sleep pattern.
I had a sleep disorder, and still have one, because without the drug, I lay awake.
It has helped my over all health, but I find if I take it too early going to bed at 9pm, I will be up at
3am. So I go to bed by 11pm, and will sleep through till 6am.
Hope you get some kip!
found they worked well.depending on the dose you have 7.5mg or 4.
if its the 7.5mg and they leave you really groggy the next morning you can split in half and see if that helps and is enough.
The precise make I posted details for is a film-coated tablet. In general, you should not split coated tablets. Sometimes the coating is absolutely essential to getting the active ingredient through your stomach.
ok Helvella I have never come across film coated Zopiclone. Ihave encountered film coated zopidem but things can change,
Pure chance the PIL I looked at was film-coated!
Thanks for all the responses, I really do appreciate it. I think the reason there was no pil may have been because they were not in the original box, they were put in a plain white box with only the pharmacists label on the front! I will be going into the chemist tomorrow to let them know! Thanks again to each of you.
In my view, that was very sloppy. For goodness sake, there is a document in every pack of paracetamol from the supermarket!
Further, by supplying like that you do not know the batch number or expiry date, should you need them for any reason. Nor even the manufacturer!
For the future, and for anyone else reading, the PILs for most UK medicines are available here:
(My rant over for now. )
Thanks for the website address, that's very helpful.
I'd get in the bed before taking any! My dad had some, he took it and it started taking effect almost immediately and I had to help him to bed fast and even had to get him undressed and help him get in, it acted so rapidly he was virtually insensible in less than 5 minutes! I made him promise to only ever take them if he was tucked up in bed. It was a bit scary to be honest. I had to get him up the stairs which was pretty hazardous with him in that condition.
my husband takes them and starts to feel sleepy about 15/20 mins after
one hour
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK
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