RESIDUAL SEQUELAE OF ZOPICLONE

The literature concerned with the residual effects of zopiclone has be en reviewed from studies preceding the introduction of the drug to its use in clinical practice today. The overnight ingestion of 5.0 mg zop iclone is free of residual effects the next day, while the overnight i ngestion of 10.0 mg is associated with marked impairment of daytime pe rformance. Performance studies in healthy volunteers suggest that the 7.5 mg dose could lead to residual effects, though the residual effect s found in healthy volunteers have not been clearly established by stu dies in patients. It is considered that difficulties in carrying out w ell controlled performance studies in patients, particularly the elder ly, mitigate against the likelihood of impairment being detected. It i s recommended that the 7.5 mg dose should be avoided by those whose ac tivity the next day involves skilled work and where impairment of perf ormance could be a danger to others. However, in all patients, where c onsiderations of performance the next day may be relevant, the 7.5 mg dose should be used with caution. There is a case for the introduction of a 5.0 mg tablet for patients whose performance the next day is cri tical.