Postmarketing surveillance of zopiclone in insomnia: analysis of 20,513 cases.

The subjective response to the prescription drug zopiclone, an hypnotic agent belonging to the cyclopyrrolone family, was assessed under the usual conditions of prescription of an hypnotic in general practice. The study included 20,513 insomniac outpatients with at least two of the following symptoms: sleep onset latency longer than 1 hour, more than two nocturnal awakenings, early morning awakening 1 hour or more before scheduled time, total sleep time of less than 6 hours, complaint of tiredness on awakening. Insomniac patients were treated with zopiclone and followed for 21 consecutive days within the context of a follow-up surveillance study. The population was predominantly female (62.6%), and the mean age was 52.3 years. The dosage of zopiclone prescribed at the inclusion visit was 7.5 mg per day in 87.5% of the cases and 3.75 mg per day in 10.5%. A total of 93.8% of the patients completed the survey. Spiegel questionnaire improved during the 21-day survey, and 9.2% of the patients reported at least one adverse event that led to treatment discontinuation in only 2.8% of the population. No serious or unexpected adverse events were reported.