My experience of zopiclone (down the rabbit hole)

First of all, Jaw, thanks for your reply. I'll be interested to know how you go when you start using your Alpha-stim. I'll look into how I can obtain one here in Australia. Thanks for the info about the Silva method & book. I'll be looking for that too. I did find meditation very helpful actually. For fear, increasing GABA, (methods are in the Braverman book. Too many to list here), brings down cortisol levels. Too much cortisol causes adrenalin to pump constantly, so you're always in 'fight or flight' mode. Horrible feeling!

And John, I'd forgotten about the metallic taste from zopiclone. While I didn't have it as bad as you, I do remember that awful taste & how it made my breath really stink! I also remember that I had to make sure to swallow the pill quickly because of the bitter, metallic taste, & always sucked a peppermint afterwards or cleaned my teeth. I don't think my teeth felt strange, but I remember my gums aching. I didn't associate that with the zopiclone at the time, though, as I was more concerned with the other side effects I was suffering from. I hope your teeth get back to normal, as that would be a terrible feeling. I'm amazed that you were able to sleep quite well after 4 days off zopiclone. I had 6 horrific nights, made worse by having the flu and a severe chest infection. I couldn't lay down at all because my chest hurt so bad, right across my shoulders. To lay down was agony. Coughing was agony. I was also having very bad tummy pains due to a bowel prolapse & other bowel problems & waiting for the hospital to book me in for an op to fix these. At the same time, I was also coming off valium cold turkey, my beautiful 17 yo cat was going downhill and we had to get her put down, so I was grieving for her as she was my 'baby'. I found the strength somehow, through prayer, meditation, trying to eat healthy food, though I had no appetite & couldn't eat much anyway because I'd get unbearable tummy pains. Looking back, I now believe a lot of my bowel troubles were yet another side effect of zopiclone, seeing as how you, John, are having trouble in that area with your anal fissures, and because I only began having bowel problems since starting on zopiclone. I wonder! I took herbal remedies I mentioned in my other posts. Vervain & green tea was really good for calming. Magnesium, calcium etc. Anyway, after those 6 sleepless, agonizing nights, I too, began to sleep more peacefully & without waking in the morning with a hangover feeling & terrible anxiety. Since stopping zopiclone & I've never felt better, mentally & physically! I think mental anguish is far worse than the physical problems, as the fear & depression are so crippling & paralyzing. Well, I congratulate you John for being so strong in getting off zopiclone. Wishing you the best with getting your anal fissures fixed. I hope you're being treated for it. And Jaw, I'm looking forward to hearing how you go in the New year with your Alpha-stim & tackling your weaning or stopping this horrible medication.

Just ordered my Alpha-stim so will report,good or bad as soon as I try it

Dean thank you I'd appreciate that. Christine thank you for what sounds like good advice, you have probably just forgotten about the teeth thing, or maybe you had it in the gum area instead?? Ziplocone is gone, I will never be back on that ever again, I must concentrate on other area's for now, Doc's on Wednesday ref Fissures, and it won't be nice...I feel like I'm laying glass when I go to the toilet, the pain is unbearable...I can't eat, in the hope I don't need....well I hope it's cream and pain killers, but I'd like to for once in 2 years...be off medicine altogether...Fed Up ! John

Hi,

New to this thread, I have been trying to search on Google for zoplicone withdrawal and came across this site and have been reading some of the discussion threads which I have found very useful.

Some background information.

I was subscribed zoplicone from my doctor 5 years ago as I was going through a divorce and was having trouble sleeping.

My dose was 7.5mg and I was subscribed this for a number of years. My doctor did however reduce this dosage to 3.5mg 2 years ago and then stopped subscribing me this medication all of a sudden.

As I could not sleep I started ordering the Zopiclone off an internet site and have been doing so ever since.

I have however reduced the dosage to ½ a tablet of 3.75mg, for the past 6-7 months but still have some difficulty staying a sleep during the night.

I am determined to stop taking this drug as soon as possible, however I need some help and guidance as to how I should do this.

As the dosage is small should I taper off the drug and if so how do I do this as I can not cut the tablet any smaller with the correct degree of accuracy.

I have in the past six months been suffering from acid reflux and slight vertigo which by reading the posts on this thread might be due to the zopiclone as the doctors cannot find anything else.

I have approached my doctor’s surgery for some advice and guidance but as my doctor has retired I seem to have a new doctor every time I go and don’t seem to spend more than 5 minutes there. All they say is take them on alternate days and then come off them completely, easier said than done.

I would be very grateful for your comments and suggestions.

Many Thanks

Gurd

Hi Gurd

So happy that you have found this site because it is helpful to be able to dialogue with people that are having some of the same issues we share.

I have been able to cut my zops in quarters and am now taking 3/4 everynite since Dec 1 , with the intention of doing this for a total of 3 weeks, then I will take 1/2 for another 3 weeks , then down to 1/4 for 3 weeks and be done with zoplicone forever! I have the 7.5 mg. I am doing this for better long term health . I was noticing that my short term memory was really bad and I just can't remember my words which is really embarrassing at times so I have become a social recluse. Plus some say that zops are really bad for your immune system thus causing cancer and many people have had motor vehicle accidents etc ( I had an accident in 2007 ) wondering if it had something to do with the zoplicone.

Plus as we can read in the above blogs there are many more side effects. Everybody is different.

So I personally think that you are right in that you can't reduce your dosage any more . Make yourself a plan. Perhaps you could take melatonin at bedtime, drink a couple cups of Valerian tea, no TV or internet past 8pm ,no caffeine after noon, find yourself a book on relaxation and sleeping ( some have cd's to help you go to sleep) etc and just throw the zops out , no more, done.....

Perhaps the biggest issue we all have is that we don't like the idea of not sleeping and being tired the next day but I do think the body will take care of itself if we give it a chance..After 3 or 4 nites of not sleeping , and if we try to do the right things , sleep will come and we will survive!!

Love getting emails from you guys , so let me know how you are doing and John how are you doing?

Many thanks as you are all helping me get off this poison that I have been on for the past 10 yrs. I'm 59 and hoping to make it to 89!! My mom is 86 and still going strong!!

Colete

Hi Colette

Thank you for reply

I will be trying your suggestions as soon as I can

Do you think I should taper from 1/2 tablet of 3.75mg

As I am taking now or just stop them completely

Many thanks

Hi Collette! Good progress cutting down and good plan. i agree, once you are ready, you just focus on the goal and you're committed and you do it, and you are free. My mom is 95 and doing good, though in her late 80s she got dementia, but she is happy, probably happier than most people, just her nature and outlook. Z drugs gives me dementia, not like my mom, not disabling, but i know life is better when my brain is more clear and able to remember stuff. Although those of us who are habituated to meds for sleep have an unfortunate conditions, i feel lucky to know that if i get off the meds, my brain will get better. A lot to look forward to. Please stay in touch about how it's all going.

Gurd--you have made great progress, being down to less than 2 mg after being on it for 10 years! Some people just stop and deal with the symptoms of withdrawal, which is generally mostly difficulty with sleep, and in time, the symptoms of withdrawal subside, and in my experience going off 20 years of diazepam, the symptoms of being on the drug subside really fast, and while i did not sleep as much as i would like for a really long time, i was always glad to be off the medication had been dependent on. But because of wanting more sleep, that's how i got onto the Z drugs, zoplidem and zopiclone, very gradually, only occasionally at first, but stressful life conditions led to more frequent use and voila--habituated big time.

Still, i know i can get off. I just need to accept not sleeping as much as i would like, as Colete was saying, and i haven't accepted it yet, need to be ready, where the value of getting free of the meds is stronger than the value of enjoying the sleep. I am hoping for after the holidays and the house guests.

Where you're at now, if you can't cut the pills anymore, it sounds like your only choices are to continue taking the medication or to stop and go through the process. If you want to keep cutting down, have you tried asking your surgery if they can prescribe it in liquid form, you can go to a compounding pharmacy and get liquid meds and reduce them more gradually, there are people who do that, they buy stuff to measure it with and do what they need to do. it's too tedious for me, i think. I've never been great with numbers and measuring precisely, and tend to be impatient, so i imagine i will try cutting the zolpiclone 7.5 into quarters and taking 3/4 and going down weekly by a quarter, and then when i'm off of it, i will just be on zolpidem and i will come up with a plan when i see what that's like. If i'm still sleeping ok, i will probably stabilize until i can get psyched up for phase 2, but if i'm not sleeping after getting off the zopiclone, i might just cut the zolpidem down fast or cold turkey and see what happens.

It's not easy at any dosage or we wouldn't be taking it. good luck, you have done so well so far, no one can take that away.

Hi Gurd.

Personally ,I would reduce the dose gradually even on 3.75mg.

I know that is what I should be doing,although I have not managed to stick to it so far.

My New Year's Resoloution will be to be free of Zopiclone.

Lots of luck.

This site is so wonderful ! Gurd - If you can cut the half of the 3.75 , then you could do that till after New Years and continue this regime for another 3 weeks. In the mean time you could be starting alternative type things like melatonin etc. so that when you do go off the zop altogether , you will have a healthier system in place.

Jaw444 has another idea and that would be to try a compounding pharmacy that could reduce the dose of the drug ever so slightly . I don't have access to one of those pharmacies in my city so I chose just to cut mine.

So taper off for 3 weeks, have positive attitude, know that you are doing this for a better, healthier you ! Because what happens with any drug is that they lose their potency and you eventually end up taking more and more of it. Not good!! Hope this all helps?!

Good luck Jaw & Wendi. Keep us updated! And hopefully we will all be zoplicone free in the New Year!

Hi

Thank you for all your replies they have been a great

Help

It's wonderful to know that there are people out there who are

Willing to help and listen

Thank you

I'm just slightly scared of how long the withdrawal symptoms

Might take to subside would anyone have any idea

Also if I'm tapering from 3.75mg how long should I take to taper

I. E 3 weeks or longer

Thanks once again

Hi Gurd, As you can't cut the tablets any smaller, I would just stop cold turkey. Yes, you may have a few sleepless nights, anxiety & other withdrawals feelings, but then your body adjusts, your brain re-balances it's neurotransmitters and you'll find you will sleep naturally. I'd bite the bullet and quit taking this poison. Expect no sleep and some withdrawals feelings such as anxiety, sweating and all that comes when withdrawing a medication, for a few nights. This will only last a week at the most, maybe less. I was prescribed 2, 7.5mg per night. I ended up needing to take it in the daytime because of anxiety. That's when I decided I had to get off this poison, as I suspected it was causing me these horrible anxiety & depression symptoms and some physical symptoms as well. I had gotten up to taking 3, 7.5mg a day, and knew this had to stop. I was beginning to crave even more, for relief. I cut down to 2 for 2 days, then 1 & 1//2 for 2 days, then to 1 for another 2 days, then just got fed up with the prolonged withdrawal feelings, so decided to just stop cold turkey., I was determined to get off this zopiclone because it was destroying me, mentally & physically. Sleep was unrefreshing and I always felt hungover and very anxious the next morning. I just stopped taking it because the desire to be free, healthy and back to my old self, was stronger than wanting to sleep all night. While on zopiclone, I hardly ever slept straight through the night anyway, always waking a few times. When I stopped, I had 6 horrible sleepless nights, but after that, I began sleeping normally. My head cleared, I was no longer irritable and most important to me was, I no longer had horrific anxiety. I knew I'd feel better when I got off this medication but I didn't realize just how good I'd feel. It's amazing! I feel great, happy, calm and sleeping normally and very well.. It's worth a few sleepless nights and days of withdrawal symptoms, to finally be free! I kept the end & the freedom in sight, which helped me be strong and not give in to taking zopiclone when symptoms were the worst. I'm very proud of myself. My family is too. Be strong, even though that's so very hard to be when you're exhausted from losing sleep for a few nights and experiencing horrific withdrawals..They won't last forever. They will soon be over. Take the advice recommended above by myself & other sufferers of this horrible drug. I did extensive research and can honestly report that the methods I used worked! Be prepared to feel great!

Wish there was a " like " button cause I would be all over it !! Thanks Christine !

here here, what colette said.

Z drugs have really short half-lives. Zopliclone is about 6 hours, so in two or three days, it's gone, it's out of your body. then your system just needs to re-adapt to life without it. That's the part that can take several days, possibly more, everyone is different, but it's not forever. Progress is continuous. When i went off the Valium, the first two days weren't bad, i was thinking "This isn't so bad." I did not get much sleep, but otherwise, no big deal, i functioned during the day ok, fortunately on vacation from work but i was a single mom, my daughter was 9, i was functioning, cooking, tidying up, shopping etc. Then, on the third day, it got more intense, i think the sleep might have actually been a little better, but other symptoms, sweating was one, off and on, and feeling kind of shaky, having occasional arm or muscle twitches, seeing things that weren't there out of the corners of my eyes, and most of all, just tension, and irritability, got pretty intense, and on the 4th day, same thing, and i was starting to think, when is this going to stop?? But then, it did stop, later on the 4th day, really noticeable, it died down and it lingered over the next days, but way better and not a big thing. Valium has a really long half life, something like 30 days, at least, and that was not bad as far as how long it lasted. I used it for 20 years before stopping and was up to 3X the recommended dose in the final month (tolerance). I am hoping the two Z drugs i'm taking will be easier to go off than Valium, and it was not that bad except for a couple of days, and still far fro the worst thing i've ever gone through. My main complication right now is that i'm taking two different medications, that is confusing for me, but it's still Z drugs, not benzos. Z drugs are less complicated, they affect fewer neuro receptors. So i'm hopeful about that.

i think that the lower your dose that you're on, the smoother it's probably going to go and the shorter the re-adustment period will be.

Thank you for your advice and assistance

I have 2 weeks off in the new year so will be

Stopping in the new year and having the 2 weeks

Hopefully recover

Will be never touching these again ever

Thanks once again

Gurd

Just completed the first three nights with the alpha-stim,so far so good.I havnt taken a zopiclone at all but have had a 15mg mirtazepine. Please bear in mind that with this tablet alone i could not get to sleep before using the alpha-stim.My sleep has not been as badly disturbed as it was before,i've still woken a couple of times,but i've had no trouble getting back off to sleep.I went to bed last night at about 1am(i've not had to get up for work this morning) and I got up at 10am,this hasnt happened for years.

I'll keep everyone posted on the progress and whether or not its just a fluke,but as of now the device seems to be doing its job.I'll give it a week then i'll start halving the mirtazapine.