Zopiclone and diazepam are not similar medication although both medicines are prescribed to address some sleep disorders or anxiety disorders. They each have different mechanisms of action in the brain and are in different classes of medicines, with different indications, side effects and precautions. This blog will inform you about are zopiclone amd diazepam the same.
Medicine Classes and Mechanisms
Zopiclone is a hypnotic classified as a non-benzodiazepine that is a Z-meds and is used mainly on a short-term basis to control insomnia. It has its action of strengthening GABAergic transmission in the brain which facilitates tranquilization and the onset of sleep.
On the contrary, diazepam, a benzodiazepine and uses to treat anxiety disorders, muscle spasms, seizures and alcohol withdrawal.
Although both of them affect the GABA system to produce calming effects, diazepam has a wider scope of application and longer acting.
Key Differences in Uses
Zopiclone: It uses in the treatment of insomnia. It is useful in managing insomnia as it allows the patients to fall asleep quickly and have fewer nocturnal awakenings. This effect short-lived and hence optimal when administered at night.
Diazepam: This is a medication allows to alleviate anxiety, muscle spasms, and in treatment of some types of seizures.
It commonly uses as an anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant and sedative.
This also helps in the case of alcohol withdrawal and one can take as premedication to the operating room.
Comparison of Duration and Dependence Risk
Diazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine, which implies that its effects last several hours or even one whole day. So you can use in case of a situation when the symptomatic relief occur over time. Comparatively, Zopiclone lasts shorter, the effects of this medicine tend to subside in the morning, preventing drowsiness during the day.
Both medicines have some risk of becoming habit-forming but the risk varies with the benzodiazepine group (such as diazepam), which is known to have severe withdrawal symptoms on a sudden discontinuation, commonly necessitating gradual tapering; zopiclone also has dependency-forming risk but usually is not due to the short-term use recommendation.
Comparative Side Effects
Zopiclone: Zopiclone has the following common side effects; bitter or metallic taste, dry mouth, sedation, daytime drowsiness, and the risk of impaired alertness the following day. There is the possibility of medicine interaction with other CNS depressants, which increases the likelihood of respiratory depression.
Diazepam: Some of the side effects it causes include drowsiness, poor coordination, confusion, muscle weakness. And in few cases severe respiratory depression when combined with other tranquilizers.
Withdrawal and Tapering
Benzodiazepines- such as diazepam- in many cases demand gradual withdrawal in order to reduce the chances of anxiety rebound or convulsions.
As the medicine has a long half-life, diazepam is occasionally uses to assist in the tapering of other benzodiazepines.
As Z-med, zopiclone also needs discontinue progressively after long usage. Yet its withdrawal effects are less critical as compared to benzodiazepines.
Interchangeability in Detoxification.
There is also dose comparison between detox regimens by the clinicians. Regarding hypnotic withdrawal, lorazepam of 500 micrograms is approximated to be comparable to diazepam 5 mg and zopiclone also has its conversion ratios in switching patients between these two.
Clinical Studies:
Differences in EffectsEducational research comparing the effects of EEG reveals that zopiclone and diazepam have different neuronal-based effects in the brain, and therefore, induce dissimilar sleep architecture.
Zopiclone enhances some delta activity (deep sleep brain waves). Whereas diazepam reduces them in certain areas-which demonstrates the point that they do not have similar pharmacodynamic profiles.
Conclusion
Though both zopiclone and diazepam have certain similar sedative and calming effects
These two different types of medicines, which possess distinct chemical properties, approved usage, durability, and safety. Zopiclone is suitable in the case of primary insomnia when the sleep induction should be short-term. The uses of diazepam include anxiety, muscle spasm, convulsion and withdrawal treatment.
thus the utilization of diazepam is much wider but with increased risk when abused or when stopped abruptly. The knowledge of these differences one can use to guarantee safe and proper use of the practice in a clinical setting.
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