Does Zopiclone lower blood pressure?

A study conducted at West China Hospital in Sichuan University, Chengdu, China found a link between chronic insomnia and increased high blood pressure. The researchers found that people who suffer from chronic insomnia, those who took longer than 14 minutes to fall asleep, had a 300% higher risk of high blood pressure. The longer the individuals took to fall asleep, the greater their risk of high blood pressure. The study found a link between insomnia and the incidence of high blood pressure but it was not designed to prove that the lack of sleep can actually lead to high blood pressure.

Chronic insomnia is defined as having sleeping difficulties for more than six months. Insomniacs usually complain of tiredness and fatigue during the day because they cannot relax. 

Key Takeaways

Chronic insomnia increases the risk of high blood pressure:

A study found that people with chronic insomnia, especially those taking more than 14 minutes to fall asleep, had a significantly higher risk (300%) of developing high blood pressure. Insomnia's impact on relaxation and sleep quality plays a role in this link.

Zopiclone helps improve sleep, indirectly reducing stress and blood pressure:

While Zopiclone doesn't directly lower blood pressure, it helps people fall asleep faster and stay asleep, reducing stress and fatigue—key contributors to high blood pressure.

Zopiclone should be used short-term due to the risk of dependence:

Zopiclone is a short-term treatment for insomnia, recommended for no longer than four weeks to avoid dependence. Long-term use can lead to addiction, memory problems, and confusion, especially in older adults.

What role does Zopiclone have in lowering blood pressure?

As shown in the Chinese study, bad bouts of insomnia can result in elevated blood pressure. When a person is able to fall asleep normally, there will be a lower risk of having high blood pressure.

Zopiclone is a hypnotic agent that helps people fall asleep. an individual, after taking zopiclone, can fall asleep quickly. The drug also prevents him from waking up during the night and have a restful sleep. With a full night’s sleep, the individual will be able to relax and maintain his normal blood pressure.

While sleep medication like zopiclone does not directly lower blood pressure, getting a full night’s sleep removes a lot of stress from life, eliminating one major cause of high blood pressure.

Zopiclone is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agent that is used in treating insomnia. It is a type of sleeping pill that is usually used in treating bad bouts of insomnia. Zopiclone allows you to fall asleep quickly and helps in preventing you from waking up during the night. Zopiclone should be used short-term only as a normal course of treatment.

Zopiclone is available as a tablet that should be taken by mouth before bedtime or as directed by your doctor. It should not be taken longer than 4 weeks. There is no use taking the drug for more than 4 weeks because the body easily gets used to it. Taking zopiclone for more than four weeks will have very little effect. Long-term use of zopiclone can also lead to dependence.

People who are taking zopiclone should refrain from consuming alcoholic drinks. The combination of zopiclone and alcohol can put a person into a deep sleep and find himself difficult to wake up. The drug is to be taken only by adults who are over the age of 18. Zopiclone may not be suitable for everyone. It is necessary that you consult first your doctor before you start taking this medicine.

Zopiclone is available in two strengths: 3.75 mg and 7.5 tablets. The usual recommended dose is 7.5 mg tablet once daily before bedtime or as recommended by your doctor. The lower dose of 3.75 mg is designed for the elderly who should not be taking the regular strengths. The elderly should be taking the lower strength zopiclone because they are more sensitive to the effects of the drug than younger adults. The accumulation of the drug in the system can cause memory problems and confusion. It may also alter the sense of balance, which could result in more falls and hip fractures, the common causes of hospitalization and death in older people. The use of the drug can also increase the risk of vehicular accidents.

Zopiclone tablets should be taken just before bedtime. If you wake up in the middle of the night, there is no need to take another tablet. 

Zopiclone tablets should be swallowed whole with a full glass of water. It may be taken with or without food. Zopiclone should not be taken on a daily basis, only when you really need it.

What precautions are there about the use of Zopiclone?

Zopiclone should not be used by people with respiratory failure, severe liver problems, severe sleep apnea syndrome, and those who are hypersensitive to the drug. As with other hypnotic drugs, zopiclone should not be used in children.

The dosage for people with liver and kidney problems should be reduced. 

Clinical studies have suggested that zopiclone has a minimal risk of dependence when the duration of the treatment does not go beyond four weeks.  The risk of dependence or abuse increases with the dosage and duration of use or using the drug in combination with alcohol. 

If physical dependence to zopiclone has developed, abrupt stopping of its use will be accompanied by withdrawal symptoms that include headaches, extreme anxiety, muscle pain, confusion, restlessness, and irritability. 

Stopping the use of zopiclone within the four-week treatment period will not have withdrawal effects.