Absorption
Zopiclone is rapidly absorbed. The maximum concentrations in the blood plasma are achieved within 1.5-2 hours and are approximately 30 and 60 ng / ml after ingestion of 3.75 mg and 7.5 mg, respectively. Absorption of the drug does not depend on sex, nor on food intake. The connection with plasma proteins is approximately 45%.
Metabolism
After repeated administration of cumulation zopiclone and its metabolites do not occur. Individual differences are insignificant.
The main metabolites are the N-oxide derivative (pharmacologically active) and the N-desmethyl metabolite(pharmacologically inactive). The half-life is approximately 4.5 and 7.4 hours, respectively.
At recommended doses, the half-life of unchanged zopiclone is approximately 5 hours. With urine zopiclone (approximately 80%), mainly in the form of metabolites, with a caloric mass of about 16%.
Individual groups of patients
In elderly patients, despite a slight decrease in metabolism in the liver and an elongation of the half-life to about 7 hours, the cumulation of the drug in plasma was not detected even after repeated administration.
In patients with renal insufficiency, cumulation of zopiclone or its metabolites was not detected even after prolonged use.
In patients with liver cirrhosis, the zopiclone clearance is reduced by approximately 40% in accordance with the dimethylation process.