Studies addressing withdrawal or addiction associated with zopiclone
| STUDY | NO. OF PATIENTS | MG/D | STUDY GROUP | FINDINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mamelak et al,33 1982 | 6 | 7.5 | Insomniac patients | Zopiclone, treated for 3 wk, no carry over effect and no rebound insomnia |
| Dorian et al,34 1983 | 9 | 7.5 | Normal volunteers | Double-blind placebo controlled, treated for 3 wk, increased anxiety and lighter sleep on withdrawal for days shortly after discontinuation |
| Lader and Denney,35 1983 | 10 | 2.5 to 10 | Normal volunteers | Double-blind placebo controlled, dose response curve for residual overnight effects as determined with electroencephalogram and psychological tests |
| Bechelli et al,36 1983 | 40 | 3.75 | Weaned alcoholics | Zopiclone vs triazolam, double-blind randomized crossover, zopiclone use likened to alcohol use, more likely to choose zopiclone over triazolam |
| Boissl et al,37 1983 | 40 | 3.5 | Weaned alcoholics | Zopiclone vs triazolam, double-blind randomized crossover, no difference in replacement potential for alcohol |
| Lader and Frcka,38 1987 | 10 | 3.75 to 7.5 | Normal volunteers | Zopiclone and placebo and temazepam, double-blind comparisons, zopiclone rebound effects minimal, withdrawal of total dose no different than tapering |
| Fleming et al,39 1990 | 48 | 7.5 | Chronic insomniacs | Zopiclone vs triazolam, double-blind, worse psychomotor deterioration after triazolam than zopiclone, 3 of 24 zopiclone patients felt agitated early after withdrawal |
| Ponciano et al,40 1990 | 24 | 7.5 | Chronic insomniacs | Zopiclone and placebo and _urazepam, double-blind randomized, treated for 3 wk, zopiclone has no effect on early morning performance and free of residual sedative activity |
| Ngen and Hassan,41 1990 | 15 | 7.5 | Insomniac patients | Zopiclone and placebo and temazepam, randomized study, treated for 2 wk, no psychomotor performance deterioration |
| Pecknold et al,42 1990 | 11 | 7.5 | Chronic insomniacs | Treated for 7 to 8 wk, return of sleep variables to pretreatment baseline after withdrawal, 1 of 11 patients had marked rebound insomnia and daytime anxiety for the first wk off |
| Begg et al,43 1992 | 88 | 7.5 | General sleep disorder | Zopiclone vs midazolam, treated for 1 wk, more rebound insomnia with zopiclone |
| Lemoine et al,44 1995 | 102 | 7.5 | Chronic insomniacs | Treated for 3 mo, withdrawal effects despite tapering dose |
| Mann et al,45 1996 | 11 | 7.5 | Normal volunteers | Treated for 12 d, rebound insomnia after discontinuation, increased REM sleep after discontinuation, no effect on nocturnal melatonin secretion |
| Sikdar and Ruben,32 1996 | 100 | 90 to 380 | Multidrug abusers | Strong cravings, feeling edgy, rebound insomnia, tolerance to sedative properties |
| Stip et al,46 1999 | 20 | 7.5 | Insomniac patients | Zopiclone and placebo and temazepam, double-blind, treated for 3 wk, no rebound insomnia or anxiety with either |
| Voderholzer et al,47 2001 | 11 | 7.5 | Normal volunteers | Zopiclone and zolpidem and triazolam and placebo, double-blind, treated for 4 wk, minimal rebound effects |
| Tsutsui et al,48 2001 | 248 | 7.5 | Insomniac patients | Zopiclone vs zolpidem, treated for 2 wk, zopiclone group had 15.4% with rebound insomnia |
| Johansson et al,49 2003 | 23
120 | Not reported | Alcoholics
Controls | Alcoholics more often dependent on zopiclone than controls |
| Jaffe et al,50 2004 | 297 | Not reported | Addiction treatment centres | 5.1% claimed to be addicted to zopiclone |