I’m taking 4 x 7.5 Zopiclone a night.., help

Hi Bianca, it is very easy to get into this kind of a mess with these drugs - though I haven't ever been on such high doses I was on one kind of benzo or another for nearly 40 years. I can understand that you are scared but please know that millions of people have gone through withdrawal successfully and you can also - the only big mistake that you can make is the stay on the Zopiclone because things will just continue to get worse. There is no easy way to go through withdrawal but the general rule of thumb is to taper slowly, no more than between 5-10% of your dose every 10-14 days. You should listen to your body as you go through the taper - I always waited until my body had stabilized a tiny bit before I made my next cut.

If you can't sleep at night you can download eBooks or listen to meditations. What you need to do is relax as much as you can so that you can still rest. I know quite a few people who went to work in quite demanding jobs while tapering so it can be done.

Here are some resources to help you. The Ashton Manual is a resource that I used when I was a member and moderator on TRAP, a forum that has since closed down. The Ashton Manual will teach you exactly what is going on in your body and it even has advice for doctors in it. Please read it because you need to educate yourself.

All the best on your tapering journey.

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Have u asked your dr for his opinion and advice? I detest these drugs with a vengeance they are known to be addictive to damage us. The ashton manual written by a prof of Pharmocology lays down slow and safe tapering regimes.

Hi well you recognise you have a problem which is a massive start to taking postive action to get off this soul destroying, relationship and life wrecking group of drugs aka benzodiazepines. It has to be done slowly in order to be safe. Opiates can be ct without danger BUT this is NOT the case with the benzos.

Hi Bianca,

I was taking the exact same dose of Zop as yourself - for at least a couple of years. Ordering them on the internet etc. It became such an addiction for me. I would absolutely panic like mad if my stocks were low. I was so dependent on them for sleep.

Unfortunately, i went cold turkey as i had read about tapering but did not fully understand the affects that sudden withdrawal can have on the brain. After 24 hrs of not taking them i had 3 seizures! Ended up in A& E. For someone who is sensible and hard working with two young children i was mortified that i had been so stupid. All i wanted in life was a good night sleep but the pills got a hold on me.

Anyway, the reason im telling you this is.... no matter how bad the withdrawal symptoms are... and if you listen to what people say and taper slowly...it cannot be as bad and stupid as what i did. I even lost my driving licence for 6 months as i had to have tests to make sure i was not suffering from epilepsy.

Anyway, all is good for me now. I hope you get on ok.

N XX

Hi Binca. Im so sorry you are going thru this. I take Zopiclone myself, 1.6 tablet (about 12 mg) and having a hard time withdrawal. Have you noticed that you feel better if you increase the dose a bit? I also dont know if you have interdose withdrawal? Anxeity, depression, dizzy etc during the day. I think Ive come to that point that I dont feel well taking them.

Hi Bianca, how are you doing now? I know how utterly frustrating not sleeping is. It is torturous both mentally and physically. But cannot imagine taking 4 7.5mg zops all at once. After half an hour of taking just one makes me lose my balance and I'm a 6ft tall guy. Think I'd be in a coma after 4. But can understand that tolerance builds. Due to using alcohol to sleep and I wanted to quit I was given two weeks worth of zop on the condition I only took one every other night (so really to last a month), on the nights I didn't take one it was a struggle partly due to alcohol withdrawal and not taking a zop, took hours to fall asleep or none at all.

But I looked forward to the next night as they would just fizzle any anxiety away 20 mins after taking it. I thought to myself one bad night won't harm me. Also have you tried zolpidem? Some people find that they have less withdrawals from that compared to zopiclone. Apparently zolpidem doesn't target as many benzodiazepines in the brain compared to zopiclone. Zolpidem only targets the sedative one in the brain, zopiclone is very similar to Diazepam but shorter acting. So you get less withdrawal with zolpidem. I know it's yet another drug but maybe worth discussing with doctor if you've not tried it. Good luck like I say not sleeping is awful. People who haven't experienced bad insomnia are not sympathetic. They are lucky to sleep well.