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I’m addicted to zopiclone and need to come off them!!!

Posted , 7 users are following.

louise52812
louise52812

I have been addicted to zopiclone for about 15 years. Started off at 1 7.5 a night, and gradually over the years I now take 20 a day. I can’t get through the day without taking 3 in the morning, then 3 to 6 when in work, and the rest in the evening. I feel happy, calm and confident. I suffer with anxiety and depression and on citalopram 40mg. But it’s not enough. The zopiclone is the only thing keeping me sane and allowing me to go to work. I’ve come off them before with the doctors using diazepam but I was off work for 4 weeks. I am in a new job and I cannot be off sick that length of time. I’ve already called in sick 3 times cause I’ve run out of tablets and the withdrawal has been too much to bear. I’ve tried my hardest to cut down, believe it or not I would take 30 to 35 a day before. It’s ruining my life. I need some sort of detox plan or something that allows me to go to work. Is there anyone who can help me???

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • carol09801
    carol09801 louise52812

    Posted

    You need an addiction specialist doc, a psychopharmacologist, if possible, who can work with you on a gradual tapering plan. I don't know who your doctors were before when you used diazepam to wean but sounds to me like yours would be a very slow taper and frankly, very long. Have you run out of tablets because you are trying to withdraw or is your doctor no longer prescribing?

    • louise52812
      louise52812 carol09801

      Posted

      I was given them by the Doctors years ago for short term use. But my anxiety stopped me sleeping again. I’ve since been buying them online
  • alexander_gumh
    alexander_gumh louise52812

    Posted

    Hi Louise,

    My name is Alexander I'm Trying to Become to because part of the Mental Health Trust NHS Services I have recently Been Prescribed Zopiclone 3.75MG One to be taken at Night,

    Sorry to hear that You have a Zopiclone Addiction This this with Diazeapm Or Zopiclone after round 9 weeks your brain automatically Becomes Wanting more of the Drug Then it helps Then you Start taking it over again That's why Doctors Prescribe it Short term I will try and help you, so have you been buying it street wise then? I did that With Diazeapm brought it off the internet,

    I here you taking another Mediation for Anxiety Maybe try to Take that more For anxiety or even you could go to your GP and Discuss that with them and maybe have a private Discussion about Zopiclone Benzodiazpine Addiction I'll leave my email below If you need anything contact me

    Alexander,

    • louise52812
      louise52812 alexander_gumh

      Posted

      I’m on my third antidepressant now as I’ve neen a sufferer since I was 16. Triggered by family circumstances. The citalopram helps with my depression and mostly my anxiety. But now I get physical and mental withdrawal if I don’t take zopiclone through the day. I just need to get off them without taking time off work. Or st least come down. My mind is like I know I need to cut down, but I always end up taking more if I set myself a limit. They really are ruining my life 
    • louise52812
      louise52812 alexander_gumh

      Posted

      Sorry for the late reply. I take citalopram 40mg and that’s the highest I can go. I’ve asked if there’s anything else they can do for me but he suggested councilling which I tried in the past but failed. I’ve even now resorted to taking Amitriptyline in the nights to take less zopiclone as I can’t afford to keep my ha it going. I buy these and zopiclone online. I’ve been using the same supplier for years. I just need to come off them, but I’m new to my job, won’t get sick pay and will definitely lose my job. It took me 4 weeks to come off my tablets before. I just can’t do it now. I’m travelling down a very slippery slope and it makes my anxiety worse. So I take more zopiclone. I need some help to be honest but the timing couldn’t be worse for me!! 
  • SeaWhisper1
    SeaWhisper1 louise52812

    Posted

    Hi Louise,

    I know exactly how you feel and my heart goes out to you.  I was addicted to zopiclone (imovaine) for 19 years.  I have chronic fatigue syndrome which comes with sleep impairment.  I am in Canada and, in 2014, after being told that zopiclone was not addictive, our government classified zopiclone as a Schedule IV restricted drug.  It was at that point that I made to decision to get off of this drug.  I went to my doctor, told him I was addicted and wanted to get off of it.  He basically terminated me as his patient and I was left to go through withdrawal on my own.  A sleep specialist advised me to get weaned off of the Zop using diazepam; however, I did not see the sense of getting off of the drug and being hooked on something else.  Subsequently, I did some research and turned to medical marijuana (legal in Canada).  At night, I would ingest (not smoke) some raw buds.  It takes about 2 hours and then I feel sleepy and sleep like a log.  Marijuana only gives a high when it is heated, which releases the THC, so raw MJ only made me go to sleep.  My withdrawal symptoms stopped and I was able to get the Zop out of my system.  I was on MJ for only about 6 weeks.  My specialist asked me if I wanted to stay on medical MJ; however, I was planning to travel and, because medical MJ is illegal in most countries, I chose not to.  Now, 4 years later, I use the occasional 50mg of trazodone for sleep.  

  • nigel45109
    nigel45109 louise52812

    Posted

    Hello, I would definately recommend seeing a pyschiatrist. I've been on citalopram for 13 weeks. After first 3 weeks went onto 40mg. 7 weeks of anxiety hell. Saw a pysciatrist, reduced back down to 30mg, and if that didn't work then would switch to venlafaxine. After 2 weeks on 30mg, had a meltdown, prescribed diazepam, reduced to 20mg cit. After a week mood got so down, started switch over to ven, a low dose of each, before a complete switch to ven. For me, citalopram caused me much too anxiety to be of any benefit. I think you need a combined review of both citalopram and zopiclone. Idea is to get correct anti depressant that works best for you, and use zopiclone to get you through it. I think need a pysciatric review for both, as too many variables for a doctor or go.

    • louise52812
      louise52812 nigel45109

      Posted

      Zopiclone isn’t used in the uk. They will make me use diazepam and I’ve been through this before. They don’t start helping till about 2 weeks in. By then I’ve gone to hell and back. There’s no way I can do that without being sick from work and hiding from my family. I’ve got myself into a right mess
  • dhmc
    dhmc louise52812

    Posted

    Louise I'm in the UK and I've been prescribed zopiclone for 10 years now, I get 56 zopiclone 7.5mg a month

    • louise52812
      louise52812 dhmc

      Posted

      Really??? The last time my doctor weened me off they gave me diazepam. Said they y couldn’t prescribe me zopiclone cause they don’t use it in the uk. 
  • dhmc
    dhmc louise52812

    Posted

    Louise how are you getting on? I'm on 15mg zopiclone been on it 11 years!

    I need to come off too!

    My GP wants me to go down to 7.5mg but I'm finding it hard

    • louise52812
      louise52812 dhmc

      Posted

      Same, still getting through usually about 20 7.5 a day. It’s the only thing which keeps me working. I’m at a loss at what to do!!! 
  • HumptyDumpty43
    HumptyDumpty43 louise52812

    Posted

    Hi Louise,

    I am incredulous as to how you function taking 20 x 7.5mg tablets a day.  I had been on 1 x 7.5mg for about 15 years and about 4 months ago the Dr reduced it to 3.75mg with 25mg of promethazine per night.  This worked so now I have stopped taking the promethazine and just take the 3.75mg zopiclone which is also working.  She has suggested that I take the zopiclone every other night but the thought of this fills me with more anxiety as I know it wouldn't work.  If I have ever run out then I am still awake at 5.30am.  I have to go back for my prescription every two weeks, and although this is a pain, I know I just cannot sleep without zopiclone.  I feel that after 15 years I have done really well over the last few months at the reduced amount so think i should be allowed to carry on with them.

    I really look forward to hearing from you as I have no idea how you are coping.

    All the best.

    Humpty xx

     

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