If sleepless nights are taking a toll on your physical and mental health, and you are wondering whether Zopiclone is the right choice of sedative, you are not alone.Zopiclone can help you fall asleep and reduce midnight wakeups, enabling you to have a productive day and be more focused and attentive.Regardless of its benefits, Zopiclone is not for everyone, and you need to be aware of how Zopiclone works, who can and who should not use it. This guide answers your questions along with requisite information about how Canadians can buy Zopiclone safely and legally, and the things to know if you are considering buying Zopiclone online that you can combine with your health care provider's guidance to make the right decision.
Sleepless nights are a prevalent issue in Canada, with a large percentage of Canadians reporting problems in falling and staying asleep.In a review of Canadian pharmaceuticals, Zopiclone ranked 30th and its brand name Imovane ranked 74th among the 100 brand-name drug products sold in Canada.From 2008 to 2013, Canadian pharmacies dispensed more than 28 million prescriptions of Zopiclone products.Zopiclone is approved for short-term use in Canada for adult patients with insomnia who have difficulty falling and staying asleep and are facing impaired daytime functioning as a result.
Zopiclone, available under the brand names Imovane and Rhovane, is a Z-Drug and a frequently prescribed sedative in Canada, which is considered a safer alternative to traditional sedatives and sleep-inducing drugs.Zopiclone exerts its action on the alpha subunit of the GABA receptors, opening chloride channels that facilitate the influx of chloride ions into neurons. The influx hyperpolarises the neuronal membrane and reduces its overactivity, making it less likely to fire action potentials, exerting a calming effect on the brain and helping us sleep better.
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According to DSM-5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), the primary criteria of insomnia are difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, getting up early in the morning, and being unable to go back to sleep. If you deal with such symptoms or have other issues like sleep difficulty three times a week or inability to sleep despite ample opportunities, then you can consult your provider and buy Zopiclone as per their suggestion and on the basis of your insomnia diagnosis.
Who Should not Buy Zopiclone (Or Proceed With Extreme Caution)
You should avoid buying Zopiclone or proceed with extreme caution in these cases.
● If you are allergic or intolerant to its ingredients
● You have liver issues or kidney complications
● You are dealing with myasthenia gravis, and Zopiclone use can aggravate the condition.
● You are in your third trimester, in which case, Zopiclone use can increase the risk of complications.
One of the chief benefits of Zopiclone is that it induces sleep fast, along with preventing frequent awakenings at night.An evaluation of over 2.5 billion units of Zopiclone accumulated over 30 countries has proven Zopiclone to be effective, well-tolerated, and an excellent alternative to benzodiazepines in the short-term treatment of insomnia.With the exception of its bitter taste, Zopiclone has good tolerability. Clinical trials have not found any evidence for rebound insomnia with its use, along with indicating a low risk of withdrawal reactions with its therapeutic doses.Even then, adverse reactions can occur, ranging from a dry mouth, nausea, and daytime drowsiness to anxiety and difficulty remembering events, especially after taking the medication.For safe use, it is important to start with the lowest strengths and ensure that you are tolerant to its ingredients and sleep-inducing effects before moving on to higher strengths.
In order to buy Zopiclone legally in Canada, the first thing you need is a valid prescription from a Canadian-licensed prescriber. While it does not have a Controlled Status, it is a prescription-only medication and not available over the counter. You will need a prescription from a healthcare practitioner licensed to practice in Canada who can legally prescribe medication within the country.In order to order Zopiclone by mail, you need a CIPA-affiliated online pharmacy that is licensed by a provincial or territorial pharmacy regulator and has a business address and phone number.
Irrespective of whether you select a brick-and-mortar pharmacy or an online portal, there will be standard pharmacist counselling detailing the dos and don'ts associated with Zopiclone use.Additionally, you may need to renew your prescription when the time comes and use the same/different dose under your clinician's guidance.
Remember - Any site offering to sell you Zopiclone without a prescription or with unclear contact details or a license is illegal and a red flag.
If you are thinking of buying Zopiclone online, follow this Canada-specific checklist.
Find the province of the Canadian pharmacy. Real Canadian provinces list their street address and province. In fact, each province has an official public register where you can search for pharmacies and pharmacists. All you need to do is enter the pharmacy's name and licence number, and if legitimate, its location and active licence status will appear in the database.
In accordance with a program run by NABP ( National Association of Boards of Pharmacy ), the pharmacies joining the program use ".pharmacy" instead of ".com", showing that it follows pharmacy and safety standards. All you need to do is look at the concerned pharmacy's address, and if it has .pharmacy, then it is safe, reliable, and compliant.
CIPA ( Canadian International Pharmacy Association ) lists sites that commit to selling Health Canada-approved medication with a valid prescription from a licensed practitioner. Opt for a CIPA-listed website that signals it follows CIPA's safety guidelines, indicating transparent and reliable pricing and other services.
Zopiclone is a listed, regulated drug that is listed in Canada's DPD (Drug Product Database). Because it is a popular hypnotic, most provinces/territories include it in their list, but the way you pay for it depends on your age, province, and income.For example, if you are under 65, you usually don't get automatic drug coverage unless you are on social assistance or enrolled in a special program.If you are above 65, the cost of Zopiclone will be covered, but in a different way in different provinces.If you are covered by a provincial drug plan or private insurance, your out-of-pocket cost may be low. Your plans, formulary, and practitioners' fees will influence the final price. In case you plan on mail-ordering/ordering Zopiclone online, licensed mail-order pharmacies offer competitive prices and delivery. Take care to choose a reputable site and order Zopiclone only from licensed Canadian providers to avoid counterfeit Zopiclone.
When you and your healthcare provider have finally zoned in on Zopiclone, do it as per this plan :
Lifestyle changes and Zopiclone are both approaches to managing insomnia. While Zopiclone comes with dependence and abuse potential, lifestyle changes focusing on modifying the environment and sleep changes are a safer alternative. Clinical trials comparing CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) versus Zopiclone for treatment of insomnia in older adults have observed CBT to be a better option in terms of increasing slow wave sleep stages and improving sleep efficiency.
Other studies have reported Clonidine to be better than Zopiclone for insomnia treatment in chronic pain patients.Investigative studies have even shown equivalent results in Zopiclone and Melatonin in facilitating circadian sleep.Even then, it is your prescriber who will take the final decision for your Zopiclone use based on the severity of symptoms, age, and other comorbidities.
In Canada, a pharmacist can hand you out Zopiclone refills if you have a valid prescription, but only a doctor can start you on Zopiclone. Even then, provincial differences exist. For example, pharmacists in Ontario can renew Zopiclone prescriptions six months after the original prescription's expiry. Pharmacists in Quebec have different time regulations.
Is Zopiclone A Controlled Substance Like Opioids
Unlike opioids, Zopiclone is not scheduled as a Controlled Substance under the CDSA in Canada. It is a prescription-only medication, meaning you still need a prescription to obtain Zopiclone, but the rules are less strict. Depending on the province, the pharmacist can even renew the prescription, something that they cannot do with opioids.
Can I Travel With Zopiclone?
While you can travel with Zopiclone, there are certain rules that you need to follow. You can carry your Zopiclone anywhere in Canada while keeping it in the original pharmacy container with your name and prescription label. If you are travelling out of Canada, you need to check with the embassy or health authority website of your destination country.
Step-1 - Consult a Canadian health care practitioner either in person or via a legitimate virtual-care service and get a prescription ( either direct or e-prescription )
Step 2 - Choose a Canadian-licensed pharmacy that is CIPA certified and that lists a physical address and phone number.
Step 3 - If possible, verify it through NAPRA ( National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities ), which will help confirm if the pharmacy is licensed and in good standing.
Step 4 - Submit your prescription. Before dispensing, the pharmacy will review your prescription and, if required, contact you for further information.
Step 5 - You can pay out of pocket or through a provincial drug plan covering Zopiclone.
Step 6 - The pharmacy will ship your Zopiclone directly to your Canadian address in a temperature-proof package with your name, address, DIN, and other details. Check it all on delivery. If anything looks off, call the pharmacy immediately.
If you are an adult with short-term insomnia and are dealing with sleep fragmentation that is impacting your day-to-day activities, and you have consulted your health care provider who has deemed you suitable for Zopiclone use, then you can buy Zopiclone on a time-limited trial in the strength best suited for your sleep habits. It is important to remember that Zopiclone is not a cure for insomnia, but just a temporary option, or rather a useful bridge till you restructure your sleep schedule with non-drug therapies.You can either buy Zopiclone from licensed Canadian Pharmacies or order Zopiclone online through NAPRA-verified online websites.Most importantly, use Zopiclone responsibly and under the guidance of your prescriber for safe sleep.
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Dr. Sarah Bennett brings a fresh voice to our pharmacy’s blog. With a strong background in clinical medicine and public health, she is committed to translating trusted medical knowledge into clear, useful information for everyday readers.
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