Zopiclone is a nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic drug introduced in the 1980s for the short-term treatment of insomnia, especially difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. It belongs to a group commonly called “Z-drugs” because of their names and their selective action on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain, producing calming and sleep-inducing effects similar to benzodiazepines but with a somewhat different chemical structure. Zopiclone was first developed by the French pharmaceutical company Rhône-Poulenc (later part of Sanofi) during efforts to create safer alternatives to benzodiazepines, which were widely associated with dependence and daytime sedation. After clinical testing demonstrated effectiveness in improving sleep quality and duration, the drug gained approval in several European countries and later in many other parts of the world, becoming one of the most commonly prescribed hypnotic agents for insomnia management.
