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Since  have had much trouble sleeping in the past I was interested in this
subject. I went to the search engine Google and came up with many "hits".
This is a portion of one of them. Sounds like it might be a good sleeping
pill if one is required. I am using Restorill on an occasional basis when I
get hyped up late in the evening, such as when company shows up at 7PM and
there is a lot of talk and noise and social interaction etc....

Lanier Maddux    Chattanooga Tn.

Zopiclone. An update of its pharmacology, clinical efficacy and tolerability
in the treatment of insomnia
by
Noble S, Langtry HD, Lamb HM
Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Drugs 1998 Feb; 55(2):277-302

ABSTRACT
Zopiclone is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic which was first reviewed in Drugs
in 1986. At that time, zopiclone had shown hypnotic efficacy superior to
that of placebo, but had not been extensively compared with benzodiazepine
hypnotics in patients with insomnia. A much larger body of clinical data is
now available, allowing a more detailed evaluation than was previously
possible. Together with results from earlier studies, subsequent clinical
trials have shown that zopiclone is generally at least as effective as the
benzodiazepines (regardless of duration of action) in the treatment of
insomnia, although comparisons between zopiclone and flurazepam have
produced inconsistent results. Tolerance to the effects of zopiclone was not
seen in short term clinical trials (< or = 4 weeks); data from longer term
studies are conflicting and the potential for tolerance during long term
zopiclone treatment is therefore unclear. Zopiclone has a relatively low
propensity to cause residual clinical effects (such as difficulty in waking
or reduced morning concentration). Rebound of insomnia to a level below that
at baseline can occur after withdrawal of zopiclone, but, on the basis of
data from short term studies, does not appear to be common. Data from
prescription-event monitoring suggest that zopiclone does not have a high
dependence potential (at least in those who are not regular drug
abusers/addicts). Zopiclone is well tolerated in both the elderly and
younger patients with insomnia. A bitter aftertaste is usually the most
common adverse event, but is relatively infrequent (3.6% in the largest
available postmarketing study). Thus, zopiclone is now firmly established as
an effective and well tolerated hypnotic agent. Although the available data
on rebound insomnia and dependence liability are encouraging, potential
differences between zopiclone and the benzodiazepines in these respects may
have little clinical relevance in the context of short term intermittent use
of hypnotics, as it currently recommended. A low propensity for rebound
insomnia and dependence might prove valuable during long term hypnotic
therapy (which, although not recommended, is a clinical reality). However,
the risk-benefit profile of zopiclone in this context remains unknown.
Nevertheless, zopiclone is clearly a suitable alternative to the
benzodiazepines for the short term treatment of insomnia.
Insomnia



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