Quick answer: Zopiclone requires particular caution in people with sleep apnoea or impaired breathing.
Sleep apnoea risk
Sedative medicines can worsen airway obstruction and reduce the normal arousal response that helps restore breathing during sleep.
Existing lung disease
Tell the prescriber about COPD, respiratory failure, neuromuscular disease or any history of shallow breathing.
Combining depressants
Alcohol, opioids and other sedatives can compound respiratory depression and should not be combined without explicit clinical advice.
When to call 999
Call 999 if someone who has taken zopiclone is difficult to wake, breathing slowly or has blue lips.