How Long?

I was exactly the same as you, I am on my 13th day of cit 20mg the side effects you are getting is completely normal. my GP did not tell me this I have only learnt this from this forum which has been very helpful. Most people seem to say they take at least 4 weeks to take effect, I don.t have any problems falling asleep but wake very early in a panic which is stopping me from working at the moment but people on cit have experienced the same, so hang in there i.m sure they will work for you. You have been suffering for such a long time. Take care.

dear rpx

don't despair it will be ok!

Im thinking zioplcon are sleeping tablets they'll ease things as your on a low does of cits

Im on 20mg and they took about 5weeks to kick in

Keep patient look after yourself

Have lots of you time

Take care

Keep strong

Hi Rpx

I take zopiclone as required but just a half tablet and then not more than two days in a row as it makes me feel rubbish (if i dont have a break) and I need to function for work. I did take for 5 days in a row once while on holiday and had a major panic that I was addicted and would never fall asleep naturally again. Don't worry it all sorted itself out.

I use relaxation tapes before sleep sometimes with following the breath which helps the mind slow down. Try jon kabat zinn mindfulness meditation 30 minutes breath meditation lying on back. Doing one of his relaxation tapes every day is hugely beneficial either during the day or at night or both!. I still do mine a few times a week or most days.

Also another trick i have used for twenty five years is while trying to sleep is to move the minds concentration to a point about an inch out behind the lower back. Probably about opposite the belly button at the back of the body . When your mind starts chattering take your mind back to this point and breathe easy. Good luck. I remember those sinking feelings. Things will get better for you. Keep in contact with your gp

Marbel

Also Rpx

be wary of stimulants at night. I find chocolate, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, green tea, choc desserts after five or six pm all mean I end up having to take a zopiclone about 1 am!

Also Rpx

I went on to 5 mg citalopram for two weeks before boosting up to 10mg for two weeks etc until on 20mg. I found this worked well. I felt yuk for the day but it past quickly. In hind sight i prob should have taken at night so would have slept through the worst effects of the increases.

I remember it taking about 10 -14 days to acclimate to cit. Go back to your GP if you don't start to feel better soon.

I wish you well.

Best - SB

Many thanks all for you posts of encouragement, I will indeed keep going, I wish to get over all of this.

GP has now given me some tablets for the nausea so hope that will help.

Hi rpx

I also remember that I find magnesium helps me when I am stressed and nervy. It is a good tonic for the nervous system. I take one 300mg once a day but you could ask your pharmacist about a good dose for you. Something natural that supports your nervous function. I find camomile tea good at night for sleep.

Thinking of you

Marbel

Thanks for that Marbel,

Feel a bit better in myself now, nausea less, it seems worse in the early part of the day, feeling a bit

restless, shaky and agitated.

But determined to stick with it and trying to carry on daily life as normal.

Another plus is that I have managed to only have 3.75mg instead of 7.5mg Zopiclone for the past 2 nights,

in hopes that I will be able give them up altogether.

Thanks for your interest

Great,

that's a good reduction of zopiclone

By the way it was a psychologist I saw for anxiety that put me on to the mindfulness meditations by jon kabat zinn. And prob my fantastic pharmacist that recommended the magnesium.

14 days now most of the side effects seem to be fading except for a few headaches and some mornings feeling a bit nervy/anxious.

Managed last night to get through with no zopiclone, which is a step forward, just hope I can keep it going

and get of f sleeping tablets for good and enjoy going to bed.

As the day has gone on dont feel to good, anxious feelings a bit spaced out,

not sure if it's the Cit or zopiclone.

Seems that is how it goes a bit up and down .

Hi Rpx

I posted on another forum a natural remedy for sleeping that my pharmacist recommended. It is made out of tart cherries and is a natural source of melatonin. The product in New Zealand is called Tru2u. They have a website. There may be something equivalent in your part of the world.

I hope I'm not overloading you with ideas but wish you to sleep easy.

No overload Marbel, all suggestions welcome, will see what I can find out.

Thanks.

21 days now most of the side effects have gone except some early mornings feeling a bit nervy/anxious, goes off as morning progresses.

Feel much better in myself and have been completely off the Zopiclone for 10 days now.

Pleased with progress this far, see my GP on Monday.