Can I take zopiclone while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about zopiclone.
In short
Pregnancy: Let your doctor know if you're pregnant, or if you become pregnant while taking zopiclone.
Breastfeeding: Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Zopiclone is not usually used in pregnancy, but a doctor may sometimes prescribe it for a short time when sleep problems are severe and other treatments haven't worked.
Breastfeeding
- Short-term use of zopiclone during breastfeeding is possible, but check with your doctor, as small amounts of the medicine can get into breast milk.
- Do not co-sleep (share a bed) with your baby after taking zopiclone or any other medicine that makes you drowsy or sleepy, because this can raise the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
When to get help
- Side effects in breastfed babies from medicines their mother uses are rare, but talk to a healthcare professional or call NHS 111 (in the UK) if anything about your baby worries you.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Zopiclone in pregnancy
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're pregnant, or if you become pregnant while taking zopiclone.
Zopiclone is not usually used in pregnancy, but a doctor may sometimes prescribe it for a short time when sleep problems are severe and other treatments haven't worked.
In our words, from the NHS page Zopiclone (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
More on zopiclone in pregnancy: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet (external site).
Zopiclone while breastfeeding
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding.
Short-term use of zopiclone during breastfeeding is possible, but check with your doctor, as small amounts of the medicine can get into breast milk.
Side effects in breastfed babies from medicines their mother uses are rare, but talk to a healthcare professional or call NHS 111 (in the UK) if anything about your baby worries you.
Do not co-sleep (share a bed) with your baby after taking zopiclone or any other medicine that makes you drowsy or sleepy, because this can raise the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
In our words, from the NHS page Zopiclone (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
Sources
- NHS, Zopiclone (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 22 June 2026. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy), UK Teratology Information Service: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet. Linked, not reproduced.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.