I have not be able to sleep in years. Mind races when I lay down!

Hi Lynn I know what you're going through, been there, am there. Tonight will be my 3rd week off zopiclone and I'm hardly sleeping, maybe a few hours per night, but I'm not giving up. Go check out sleep deprivation therapy on the Internet, I will start tonight and maybe this way I can start sleeping a little bit. It's hard but I need to reset my mind (clock) to start sleeping again. It says it can take weeks to get some sleep but I've been without for 3weeks now so I have to try something else, just laying in bed tossing and turning doesn't cut it for me anymore, I need sleep so bad, I'm scared of getting sick. I really need to do this because I don't want to go back on sleeping pills. So Lynn hang in there because you're not alone. Take care and good luck!

Lynn, I'm sorry you are having such a bad time, it sounds as if you have tried all the meds.  You say your mind races, mine did too, I read a book by Joyce Meyer called Battlefield of the Mind and it really helped.  As you have seemed to have tried everything else, I  would go to the library and just try reading this, you are up all night anyway.  I wish you luck and some relief.  Patty c

This is for everyone on zopiclone, sounds to me everybody was getting too high a dosage, causing addiction. I've been on 5mg every night for 4 weeks now and have no side effects,sleep like a baby.Zopiclone is not bad for eveyone or they wouldn't be selling it. Good luck to everybody to stop the addiction, I personally know what it's like to withdraw from a drug, wouln't wish it on my worst enemy!!

Hi Lynn I'm in the same boat you are. I've been off zopiclone now for 3 weeks and slept only 3 hours last night. I am exhausted but am hanging in there. I know what you mean about not being able to shut your mind off, I wish I had a magic potion for that. Actually during the night I was thinking about that, that someone could find a natural solution that you could just put a few drops on your tongue and fall into a blissful sleep for 7 to 8 hours. That would be total heaven. But there is no magical solution. Think I'll have to try the sleep deprivation therapy method although I dread it I need to sleep more than 3 hours. I feel a pressure behind my eyes and get up with a headache all the time. Well good luck Lynn and if you find out about something natural that works let me know ok, would appreciate it.

Hi Lynne and others

Right - I took 7.5mg Zopiclone for 5 days then half a tablet for 3 days. Saw the doctor and he enouraged me to reduce by quartering the 3.75mg tablets. I have been on 0.9mg for 2 weeks. This is the thing.....at that low level I cant sleep without it becuase my body sees it as a part of getting to sleep even though it is placebo and has a very limited affect. However, I am now completely free of Zopiclone. Here is how - 

You can take herbal based products which contain hops, strobile and especially valerian root. I use Natrasleep - I like it becuase you can take 3 tablets per night. These induce a natural sleep and slowly your mind  is tricked into thinking its a sleeping tablet. Ii then cut the 1/4 zopilclone into 1/8. 

Second thing to do (and this might make you laugh) is to eat a doner kebab or pizza at 11pm before sleeping. Eat a healthy meal at 6pm. This is short term but what I found is that of course the blood focuses on your stoach trying to digest the kebab and makes you sleepy.

So try the abovw lynne

Jon