Are stuck between two medicines to manage your sleep issues and can’t decide which one to use. Don’t worry we are here to help with an expert point of view. For many people in the UK, prescription sleeping pills offer the best relief when nothing else works for them. If your doctor has advised you to buy Zolpidem 5mg in the UK or some of your friends recommended you to buy Zopisign Zopiclone 10mg, you might be wondering if they are any different and which one is right for you.
While both tablets are known for effectively managing sleep issues, still there are some important differences you should know before making a choice. This simple guide here will help you understand what each medicine does, their side effects and identify if they are for short-term or long-term use.
What Kind of Medicines Are They?
Both medicines are for individuals who face trouble falling asleep or experience sudden awakening during the night. They are both from the group of drugs known as sedative-hypnotics and they work by calming down the brain activity so the user can fall asleep quickly and for a long time.
- Zolpidem is especially for managing the short-term insomnia symptoms.
- Zopisign is a brand name and the tablets have the main ingredient as zopiclone and it is also prescribed for managing insomnia symptoms (recommended for short-term use only)
Basic Difference Between Zolpidem and Zopisign
For a better understanding of both we have provided a table below that shows the most prominent difference of both medicines:
|
Feature |
Zolpidem | Zopisign (Zopiclone) |
|
Main Use |
Short-term insomnia relief | Short-term relief from sleep issues |
|
How Fast It Works |
within 30 minutes | within 1 hour |
| How Long It Lasts | 6 to 8 hours |
6 to 8 hours |
| Common Strength | Usually, 5mg or 10mg tablets |
Available from 3.75mg to 10mg tablets |
| Best For | Falling asleep quickly |
Improving overall sleep quality |
| Risk of Addiction | Yes, if used for too long |
Yes, if used for more than two weeks |
How Do They Work and Help?
Both of them are not easily available for everyone in the UK, both are prescription medicines and are prescribed only when other options don’t work. Both actually work by affecting a chemical in the brain called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
This chemical is responsible for relaxing your mind and the medicine increases the level of this chemical to slow down brain activity and make it easier for your body to relax. When you take any of these sleeping pills before bedtime, they make you feel drowsy and reduce the time it takes you to fall asleep. They also improve the quality of your rest by helping you stay asleep for longer periods.
Are They for Short-Term or Long-Term Use?
Doctors in the UK often recommend Zolpidem tablets for short-term use only, not more than 2 weeks. It is very effective medication to manage insomnia but if you use it in higher strength for long-term it can lead you to dependency.
On the other hand, Zopisign pills are also an effective solution for sleep issues but they may be used for a slightly longer period from 2 to 4 weeks but under medical supervision. It is still not meant for daily use. Users can use it when they find themselves overthinking or staring at the ceiling at night. Your doctor will usually review your treatment regularly to prevent medicine tolerance or addiction.
Besides insomnia medicines, if you also want information regarding Anxiety Medicines, you can get your doubt cleared from our blog; What to Expect When You Take Anti-Anxiety Meds for the First Time?
How Many Pills Should You Take?
The correct dosage of these medicines are dependent on the overall health, age and other medicine sensitivity factors. Your doctor will determine and prescribe the best strength for you according to the severity of your sleep issues:
- Zolpidem: Usually, a single 5mg tablet is prescribed for first time adult users to take before bedtime. Some people may take 10mg if they have used the lower doses and require a stronger effect.
- Zopisign: Doctors usually start from the lowest dose; a 3.75mg tablet for adults before bedtime. Sometimes this lowest dose is also used by older adults because of the medicine sensitivity. You can buy Zopiclone 7.5mg online in the UK for stronger effect.
And also, an important thing to notice here is that you should only take any of these pills if you have enough time to get a full night’s sleep (at least 7 to 8 hours).
Do They Have a Risk of Side Effects?
Both medicines have similar effects and that’s why their side effects are also somewhat similar. Both of them are considered safe to use and not everyone will get the side effects but if they do, don’t panic most of them are mild and go away with time. Common side effects include:
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness the next day
- Nausea
- Stomach problems (sometimes)
- Dizziness
- Slight Backpain
- Headache
- Bitter or metallic taste (more common with Zopisign)
Severe side effects of these medicines are very rare but if they appear don’t wait and immediately visit your doctor. These serious side effects can include memory problems, skin rashes, blurred vision, hallucinations and unusual behavior too.
Precautions Before Taking These Medicines
Here are some beneficial and important precautions that the users of these medicines should always follow:
- Do not take any of these pills with alcohol or drink alcoholic beverages after sometime taking the pill. It increases the risk of extreme drowsiness and can lead to life-threatening conditions.
- Coffee, tea, energy drinks and even sodas are not allowed with these tablets because they can reduce or change the effects of the medicines.
- The most important one; Do not drive or operate machinery after taking the pill or next morning if you are feeling drowsy.
- You should inform your doctor in advance if you have liver or kidney related problems, breathing difficulties or a history of addiction.
- Also inform your doctor if you are already using any kind of medicine. And do not mix these pills with other sedatives or hypnotics.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women can talk to their doctor before using any sleeping pill.
Are They Addictive?
Yes, both of these effective and strong sleep medications come with the risk of addiction or dependency. If you use any of them for a long time and in high doses your body can become dependent on them and you may find it difficult to sleep without them. That’s why they are only prescribed for short-term.
Also take care of one thing to not to stop taking suddenly if you have used medicine for a long time. Because if you do, you might have to face withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness or may face trouble sleeping again. Discuss it with your doctor and reduce the dose gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Buy These Sleep Medicines Online in the UK
Many people choose to buy over the counter sleeping pills in the UK to manage their insomnia symptoms. But if you want to save your time and long queues at the pharmacy stores then go for the online option! And to do so it is important to find a trusted website to buy sleeping pills online in the UK safely.
At ProMeds UK, we are offering original medicines, excellent customer support and quick, discreet delivery. You can buy Zolpidem 10mg online in the UK or any mg dose of Zopiclone at an affordable price from us. Order from ProMeds UK for quick delivery all across the UK and peace of mind that you are buying genuine medicines. Also, you can get solutions to your other medical conditions such as painkillers, anxiety pills and nootropics etc.