Zopiclone belongs to a group of drugs called non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (or ‘Z’ drugs). These medicines were developed to overcome some of the disadvantages of benzodiazepines.
Although it is a very effective sleep aid, some people become dependent on zopiclone and have problems stopping the drug. You can reduce the risk of developing dependence if you take it on only 2 or 3 nights each week, rather than every night.