I had been taking 7 x 7.5mg per day of zopiclone, for 6 ...

I had been taking 7 x 7.5mg per day of zopiclone, for 6 years. I have been off of them now for nearly three weeks. I wanted to highlight what to expect regarding the withdrawal of zopiclone. Bearing in mind the dose I was taking the examples given are reflective of 7 x 7.5 per day, then cessation.

The most apparent is rebound anxiety, and is very severe. Rebound anxiety is experienced along with emotional instability, and crying - (first week). Hot and cold flushes are quite heavy and swing pendulumn fashion in perfect sync with this instability, back and forth, from hot to cold. The emotional instability reflects each personal situation and anyone that may be there to support, or help someone withdraw should be informed I feel of this, beforehand. I am quite a needy person emotionally anyway so I ended up doing this alone and away from closest person to me.

Cochleal fluid in the ear is affected. If in bed for example and one turns their head slightly, it seems the cochleal fluid carries on and ones feels like they are doing a major barrel roll when they are in fact still. Quite an unpleasant feeling. I found opening ones eyes and fixing on a point helps regain a sense of balance. I have only had this whilst in bed, and thankfully, it only lasts a few seconds.

One really, really important thing is that contrary to the classification being that of an equivellent benzodiazepine but more importantly possess the same withdrawal symptoms (false). The withdrawal symptoms are in many, many ways similar but I can happily state here as fact that there are no skin creeping insect feeling, and giant spider hallucinations. This would be one, if not the main reason I would be too scared (terrified in fact) to stop. However, knowing differently makes it possible to do, and in my case alone.

Taking half a tab a week into withdrawal lands one right back at the starting gate. It is no easy ride giving these zops up and takes inner and outer strength. However, I have NO DOUBTS WHATSOEVER of the true strength of anyone here on this forum to quit, if they want, and succeed in doing so.

Best wishes to all.

Steve

[i:eb9d3874f3]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:eb9d3874f3]

0 likes, 3 replies