I've finally done it

Posted , 14 users are following.

After being on zopiclone for five years I found it was starting to keep me awake and if I didn't take them I felt so I'll,so either way I was so tired it was starting to take a toll on my mental health ,anxiety,panic attacks it was awful .I knew things couldn't get much worse so I just stopped ,I didn't hardly sleep for two weeks and when I did the nightmares were something else ,I had the sweats and vomited and felt like hell .then after two weeks things got better within three weeks I was sleeping like a baby having normal dreams for the first time in years I looked forward to bedtime.I'm a happier nicer person and I feel great .I was very lucky because during this time I didn't work as I'm home with a broken leg I'm not sure I could have done this and go to work.so I just wanted people to no this can be done its hard but do able good luck to everyone I'm happy to chat to anyone who could do with some support x

7 likes, 79 replies

79 Replies

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  • Posted

    Hi Mary, well done. My doctor a couple of weeks ago prescribed me with this drug, I have taken one a night (3.75mg) for the first 3 nights then had a few nights off then took one for another 3 nights as I do not want to get addicted them. From reading on here they seem as though the are a bad drug, should I stop these taking them before I rely on them. I am 62 and decided to stop work 2 months ago because of a minor stroke, which I can say I'm fully recovered from but I find that I just can't sleep, do I just persevere and hope that eventually my sleep pattern will return. Thanks.
    • Posted

      Im not a doctor but that does seem a very low dose ,I myself wouldn't ever use zopiclone again ,have you tried anything else to help you sleep,I'm sorry but I just cant bring myself to say to anyone that taking it will be fine ,not after what I've been through to come off them.I no I haven't been much help but if you can do without them then do so ,it will only be a matter of time before they stop being any help .good luck Christine .
    • Posted

      Hi Christie. Everyone is different, but my advice would be, if you can, please don't take this drug, it's not a wholesome solution in the long run, as echoed by so many of us. I really feel for you, and really hope you can find another more natural way to sleep. This drug seems first like a best friend, but later turns into a nasty destructive enemy. Best of wishes,
    • Posted

      Thanks ex. I am going to persevere for a couple of weeks and see how it goes and hopefully I will get my sleep pattern back to some sort of normality (fingers crossed). If not I will go down the h erbal route. Best wishes
  • Posted

    Hi Carmel

    Well done! Almost a week now, that's great. I seem to have a pattern of sleeplessness one night followed by a real good night on the 2nd night. I know this will balance out in time. I listen to the radio every night which helps as it stops the chatter in my head which says 'I won't sleep tonight'. If I don't fall asleep within 90 minutes I get up again. There's nothing worse than endless tossing and turning in fustration. I bet when you visit your grandchildren you will sleep okay and if you don't, listen to the radio. II'm close to 2 weeks now and I am thrilled about that. I'm struggling with ĺack of motivation and irratability. I'm hoping this is just part of the withdrawal process and would appreciate any feedback. Keep going Carmel, that's what II intend to do

    • Posted

      Sheila I think your nearly there ,I recon if you can hang in there another week you will get your first real deep sleep,after that the anxiety etc will get less and less each day, you have done so well keep it up x
  • Posted

    Thanks for the great story Mary it gives me plenty of hope. Have you continued on this whole time? Had sleep reopened to normal? How little sleep did you get in the first week? I want to get free but it will be hard while trying to work the full week....
    • Posted

      Hi matt I'm happy to say things are very good with me now ,I didn't sleep at all the first week ,if I dozed off I would be woken by terrible nightmares,I had anxiety and panic especially through the day ,but by the third week I had the most brilliant longest sleep and things have been good ever since,what I do need to remind myself is that I took zopiclone because I had trouble sleeping,I still have that problem but zopiclone made things a lot worse .good luck matt
  • Posted

    mary great to know i have tried to get off them if i dont take one i dont sleep at all i tried for 2 nights and still didnt sleep not at all.if you can help in any way please do so i live on my own so its harder
  • Posted

    hi mary its so good to hear so pleased for you,
    • Posted

      Hi malcolm,

      16 nights ago I was a hopeless addict to these nasty little pills. I took them for over 10 years, as pprescribed at first then life happened and I started to use them as a coping mechanism. I started buy online and I was heading for trouble. I have related what happened in earlier posts so won't repeat the tale. I am so grateful I found this forum and in particular this thread. You can stop. If i did, anyone can. 16 days ago now. Expect rebound insomnia and relax. I play the radio quietly and tell myself iwant to stay awake to hear a certain programme. Try all the old wives tales exercise through the day, warm bath, wind down routine etc. It works. At present I'm managing a good night's sleep every other night. I'm confident that soon i will experience sleep every night. I feel so good that I'm free of the poisonous memory robbing little pills. Good luck👍

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