I've been a heavy, relatively long-term zopiclone abuser (zolpidem is ambien, zopiclone is Lunesta/Imovane) What I get is the 7.5mg Imovane tablets and I always swallow them. They're relatively similar.
When I started using them, I'd get nights of amnesia, memory-loss hangovers, and sometimes blackouts. After a short while, you develop a tolerance to the drug, but you develop tolerance to the sedative effects more quickly than the relaxing and hallucinogenic effects. You learn to stay up, and that's when you can take a lot and enjoy the hallucinations without blacking out. They're not amazing, but they're something, and quite unique as well.
However, combine it with DPH (benadryl) and/or Cannabis sativa and it's a world of difference. If you do it right, you can get actual trips (highly sedated, but highly hallucinogenic), but I strongly advise using only two at a time.
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Extra info (note it's for more 'normal' people)
with no tolerance, 1 tablet should get you high for 2 minutes, then it's time to sleep.
With a lowish tolerance, use 2-3 tablets to have a drowsy hallucinogenic stone.
With a medium tolerance, use 3-5 tablets and you'll 'trip' for a good hour, or at least feel seriously messed up.
With a high tolerance, you're almost screwed. Your tolerance catches up with the hallucinogenic effects and by now you're using 5-8 tablets. You won't trip but you'll still get a mildly hallucinogenic high.
With a very high tolerance, you're completely screwed. Now you use 8+ tablets just to feel a stone, but no high, no hallucinations. Just a mild stone from a drug that's lost the little magic it had.
I realize the numbers are really specific... but take it for what it is, a rough approximation.