Many of us have had trouble sleeping at least once in our lives. If this has become commonplace for you and interferes with your daily life, you can safely say that you have a disorder of the natural physiological process of being in a state with a minimum level of brain activity and a weak response to the outside world. Due to sleep disturbance , not only drowsiness appears, but mental balance and health deteriorate. If you have any problems of this nature, Somnol will come to your aid. Indications for use, a description of the pharmacological action, reviews of doctors and patients, as well as no less effective analogues of the medication are considered in this material.
Dosage form and composition
The drug in the network of pharmacies comes in the form of biconvex white tablets in the shell, on the front side of which there is a risk. They are packaged in blisters of 10 pieces. One Somnola tablet contains 7.5 mg of zopiclone, potato starch, magnesium stearate, anhydrous calcium hydrogen phosphate, sodium glycopath, silicon dioxide, aerosil, as well as povidone and dye.
Pharmacodynamics
The main substance that makes up Somnol is a sleeping pill that belongs to the cyclopyrrolone group. Zopiclone has hypnotic, sedative, anticonvulsant, tranquilizing and muscle relaxant effects. These pharmacological effects are due to the action of the main substance on the receptors of the central nervous system.
When taking the drug, the main substance of which is zopiclone, the time to fall asleep and the frequency of night awakenings decreases, the duration of sleep and its quality increase.
With prolonged treatment, up to 4 months, the drug “Somnol” is not addictive (instructions for use indicate this).
pharmachologic effect
The main difference between Somnol and other sleeping pills is the presence in its composition of a chemical compound called zopiclone. This tool reduces the time of falling asleep, supports sleep after its onset, without disturbing the phase change and its quality. The effect of the drug occurs within half an hour after its adoption and lasts for 6-8 hours, which coincides in time with the length of the normal, natural physiological process of being in a state with minimal brain activity and a reduced reaction to what is happening around.
In contrast to barbiturates and benzodiazepines, a feeling of drowsiness and fatigue practically does not occur when taking Somnol. Instructions for use indicate that the half-life from the body does not exceed 3.5-6 hours, even with prolonged use, the metabolites do not cumulate. Reviews suggest that this remedy eliminates headaches, in people with bronchial asthma, when taking, the frequency of night and morning attacks, as well as their duration and intensity, decreases.
The drug "Somnol": instructions, indications for use
In what cases resort to the use of medication? The drug "Somnol" instruction recommends use in case of:
- Primary sleep disturbances (problems falling asleep, frequent waking up at night, situational and transient forms of insomnia).
- Bronchial asthma, which is characterized by night and morning attacks. It is taken in combination with "Theophylline".
- Secondary sleep disturbances in mental disorders.
Dosage and administration
The drug "Somnol" is taken orally (the instruction indicates this). It is recommended to use the medication for a short time, no more than 4 weeks, taking into account the period of dose reduction. It is possible to increase the duration of therapy only after re-evaluating the patient's condition.
Treatment must begin with a minimum dosage, in no case exceed the maximum permissible dose.
The drug "Somnol" recommends taking the instructions for use mainly before bedtime.
In case of impaired renal function, treatment should be started with half a tablet (3.75 mg), despite the fact that cumulation of zopiclone and metabolites in renal failure is not observed.
For patients up to 65 years of age, the drug Somnol recommends taking the 7.5 mg tablet once a day.
In case of liver dysfunction, treatment begins with 3.75 mg no more than once a day, since the duration of drug withdrawal in such patients is reduced. If necessary, the dosage can be increased to 7.5 mg, while individual sensitivity to the constituent components of the drug must be taken into account.
With respiratory failure, treatment, as well as with impaired liver function, begins with 3.75 mg no more than once a day. This technique is also used for people over 65 years old, if necessary, the dosage can be gradually increased.
Whatever the indications for the use of the drug "Somnol", the daily dose should not be more than 7.5 mg. With transient insomnia, treatment is continued for no more than 5 days, and with situational insomnia, no more than 3 weeks. As for the chronic form, in this situation the course of therapy is determined only by a specialist.
Drug interaction
While taking Somnol with antipsychotics, other sleeping pills, anticonvulsants and sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, opioid analgesics, anesthetics or erythromycin, the inhibitory effect on the central nervous system is enhanced.
When treated with this medication, the concentration of trimipramine in the blood plasma decreases and its effect weakens.
The drug “Somnol” prohibits the use of the drug at the same time as ethanol, since this can cause an increase in the sedative effect of the main substance - zopiclone.
Side effects
According to the opinions of specialists and patients, treatment with Somnomol may be accompanied by the following undesirable effects:
- Nervous system - drowsiness, a feeling of weakness after sleep, headache, dizziness, depressed mood, loss of ability to remember events that occur. As a result, the use of this sleeping pill is in some cases paradoxical reactions: increased irritability, which can develop into aggressiveness, impaired coordination of movements, memory concentration, decreases the speed of mental reactions, consciousness becomes confused, depression appears. After the patient stops taking the drug “Somnol” (instructions, indications for use are given in this material), he may experience transient sleep disturbance.
- Digestive tract - the normal activity of the stomach is disrupted, a metallic or bitter taste in the mouth appears.
- Laboratory indicators - in the blood serum, hepatic transaminases and alkaline phosphatase are elevated .
- Immune system - allergic reactions appear in the form of urticaria, skin itching, in rare cases, angioedema.
Contraindications
Use the drug "Somnol" instruction does not allow:
- With hypersensitivity to constituent components.
- Night stop respiratory movements.
- Moderate or severe autoimmune neuromuscular disease.
- Respiratory, renal, or liver failure.
- Pregnancy
- During lactation.
In addition, this sleeping pill is contraindicated in children under the age of 18.
Do not forget that taking the medicine can cause dependence, the development of withdrawal syndrome is also noted, therefore it is strictly forbidden to increase the dose and duration of treatment without consulting an experienced specialist.
Overdose
Symptoms of exceeding the recommended doses depend on how depressed the central nervous system is. Most often drowsiness appears, less often a person falls into a coma. For first aid, it is necessary for the patient to rinse the stomach, take activated charcoal, and if necessary, use symptomatic therapy in an inpatient setting. Hemodialysis in case of an overdose of Somolom has an ineffective effect. As an antidote, you can use the drug from the group of detoxifying drugs - “Flumazenil”.
special instructions
The drug "Somnol" (instructions for use, reviews are described in detail in this material) should be especially careful with patients with kidney and liver diseases and elderly people. During the period of treatment, the use of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Under the influence of alcohol, the sedative effect of sleeping pills is enhanced. The combined use of these funds causes drowsiness after waking up, which negatively affects the ability to drive a vehicle.
Reception "Somnola" can lead to the development of mental and physical dependence. Such cases are extremely rare when the course of treatment does not exceed one month. If the dose and duration of the drug were independently increased, the likelihood of developing an addiction increases.
The risk is increased when prescribing sleeping pills for people with personality changes and if there is a history of records of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and dependence on certain medications. The sudden cessation of sleeping pills in addicted patients can cause withdrawal syndrome, which is characterized by the appearance of a feeling of fear, headaches and muscle pain, confusion, and internal tension. In rare cases, personality changes are observed, limbs become less sensitive, convulsions and hallucinations appear.
After discontinuation of treatment, it is possible to resume transient insomnia, accompanied by one of the symptoms of withdrawal. Therefore, therapy should be completed gradually.
If after treatment with Somnomol there are still problems with falling asleep or are worried about waking up at night to avoid the appearance of anterograde amnesia, it is recommended to take sleeping pills immediately before going to bed.
Use during pregnancy
The lack of clinical data is a significant reason to refuse to take Somol in the first trimester of pregnancy. If necessary, it is permissible to use the drug in the last months of bearing a child, but only in minimal doses.
Zopiclone, which is part of Somnol, in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy can cause symptoms of hypothermia and hypotension in the fetus, it should also be noted the likelihood of respiratory depression and excessive drowsiness. And in a newborn in the first days of life, a manifestation of withdrawal syndrome is possible .
If the drug is prescribed for women of childbearing age, they should be aware of the need to seek the advice of a specialist in order to make a decision on discontinuing treatment in case of pregnancy planning.
Since the active substance "Somnola" is excreted in breast milk, taking the drug during breastfeeding can cause weakness and decreased tone in the newborn.
Rules of storage and leave in pharmacies
You need to store sleeping pills in dry places not accessible to children, where direct sunlight does not fall and where the air temperature does not exceed 25 degrees.
You can buy medicine on average for 200 rubles and only if you have a doctor’s prescription, it is not intended for independent use.
The drug "Somnol": instructions for use, analogues
Reviews about sleeping pills are controversial. Some note that when taking the medicine they were able to get rid of insomnia, headaches and frequent nightly awakenings. Other patients believe that the drug did not save them from existing problems.
In any case, if the medicine is taken on the recommendation of a doctor, clearly following the instructions, the drug “Somnol” copes well with insomnia. Analogs, the indications for use of which may vary slightly, have an equally effective effect. The most famous drugs of identical action include:
- "Sonovan";
- Imovan
- "Andante";
- "Selofen";
- "Zopiclone";
- Adorma;
- "Normason";
- "Sonata";
- Donormil;
- "Piklon."