Zopiclone (CAS 43200-80-2): storage and disposal

Film-coated tablets in blister strips are the usual form, and the packaging gives no hint of any special status to someone tidying a shelf. That is the common mistake with zopiclone: it was added to the controlled drugs schedules later than the benzodiazepines, and older stock may still sit on an open dispensary shelf or in a clinic drawer. Ask the responsible pharmacist to confirm secure storage under the site's medicines procedure and ensure appropriate stock records are maintained. Keep cartons whole, because a broken or crushed tablet can release dust, and the substance is harmful if inhaled and irritates the airways. Oxidisers and acids have no place nearby. Ward returns and discharge bags should be checked for strips as well.

An intact film coat, a clear imprint and a sealed foil are what a sound tablet should show. A coating that has cracked or flaked, dust in the blister cavity, or tablets stuck to the foil all suggest damp or rough handling. Past that, zopiclone gives few visible signs, so an expired strip can look entirely normal and still need removing from use. The bigger risk is identification: cut strips with no batch number or expiry date, and loose tablets in a pot, cannot be confirmed by eye. Record those as unidentified and tell the responsible pharmacist. Do not break tablets to examine them, as the dust is an irritant and the count needs to remain verifiable.

This does not go through our standard collection route. It is arranged by manual enquiry, and never goes down the drain or into general waste.

Removal goes through a manual enquiry, not an online quote, and a general chemical collection does not cover this drug. The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 govern destruction, and the accountable officer or responsible pharmacist makes the decision. Routine Schedule 4 Part 1 stock destruction does not normally need an authorised witness, although local procedures may ask for one. Sites often underestimate how much they hold, because strips are scattered through returns tubs and clinic drawers, so a store assessment is a sensible step. Tell us the strength, how many strips and tablets there are, and whether the packs are sealed. Medicines from human healthcare usually carry 18 01 09. Treating it as a routine expired medicine and dropping it in a bin or a drain is the error to avoid here, so never do that.

Usually held as: tablets.

Tell us the container size and how many you hold. An estimate is enough to start with, and some items cannot be priced until someone has looked at them.