FOR MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DRUGS, PLEASE SEE THIS PAGE: ZOPICLONE (IMOVANE)
The document (Excel) was sent to Dr. Daniel Fierer, by United Heahttps://web.archive.org/web/20170324172116/https://freeida.com/drug-zopiclone-imovane/lthCare. There is a clear entry for not using this drug for longer than 90 days. Zopiclone itself is the “parent” drug of eszopliclone and is not available in the United States so there are not American documents on that drug, but they are similar and if anything, eszopiclone would be a safer drug than the zopiclone that Ida is being perpetually given.
You may download the entire document here: PATH_High Risk Medication Crosswalk
You’ll find the specific item on the 2nd tab of the Excel document. Here is a cut and paste of the key details:
| Therapeutic Category:
Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics |
High-Risk
Medications: Included when cumulative day supply is >90 days. •Eszopiclone • Zolpidem • Zaleplon |
Medication Risk:
Benzodiazepine-receptor agonists that have adverse events similar to those of benzodiazepines in older adults (e.g., delirium, falls, fractures); minimal improvement in sleep latency and duration. |
Alternatives:
Insomnia, recommend: • Low-dose trazodone • Ramelteon (Rozerem) |
Formulary Notes:
Trazodone is covered across all UnitedHealthcare Medicare formularies. Please refer to specific formulary for coverage/copay details for Rozerem. |
As further example that this isn’t just a few doctors that Calle
has talked to, the Australian gov’t (amongst others) also agrees
that Zopiclone/imovane should not be given to stroke patients:
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcmed.nsf/pages/swcimova/$File/swcimova.pdf
And furthermore, as Calle notes, not to the elderly and certainly not for that long.
PLEASE SEE THIS PAGE: ZOPICLONE (IMOVANE)