Thousands of online sleeping pills uk are buying prescription sleeping pills uk online without a prescription, experts have warned. The illegal websites sell zopiclone, a powerful drug which is prescribed in the UK to treat severe insomnia but can become addictive and dangerous if taken for more than a few weeks because of its dependency-forming properties.
The MHRA said the drugs, which are known as the ‘Z’ drugs because they all have generic names beginning with the letter z, were being sold online from the UK to customers in Europe and beyond. They are similar to the benzodiazepines, which can also cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
Online Sleeping Pills in the UK: Navigating Choices, Safety, and Accessibility
In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has advised doctors not to prescribe hypnotics for more than four weeks, because they can be dependency-forming, but in 2014 9.7 million hypnotics were dispensed. This includes 6.3 million z drugs and 2.9 million benzodiazepines. The NICE-recommended app Sleepio has been shown to be an effective alternative to a prescription, and can save the NHS money by reducing dependence on drugs that can cost millions in healthcare costs and GP appointments.