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Newbie with questions

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ruth93165
ruth93165

I'm from Canada. There seems to be little to nothing available on zoplicone dependence/abuse/withdrawl in North America. I abused zoplicone on and off for ten years, about two months ago came clean to my psychiatrist, he prescribed me a weekly dose at first, but the pharmacy technician finally screwed up and gave me two months worth. Took a bunch of the pills and landed in the hospital, where my dose was reduced and eventually discontinued. Some days I feel fine but I notice I get these sweats during the day usually, and can get extremely agoraphobic and anxious. I joined Narcotics Anonymous for support and that helps, but I haven't met anyone there yet who abused pills, let alone tranquilizers. In Canada pain killer abuse seems more common.

I was wondering if anyone has taken any supplements like GABA to help with withdrawl? Today I feel rather awful since my husband just told me he is going out of town for work tomorrow, for a couple of days. I wish he could just stay in town right now but he has to go. Stories/encouragement/advice for early withdrawl would be appreciated. 

2 likes, 25 replies

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  • SeaWhisper1
    SeaWhisper1 ruth93165

    Posted

    Hi Ruth,

    I agree that there is little press about zop in Canada; however, I was recently in one clinic that said they would refuse to prescribe it because it is now labelled as a controlled substance.  I think they will start clamping down very soon.  They seem to be concentrating on painkillers (oxycontin).  I live just north of Orillia, ON

    I understand everything you are going thru. I was put on zop in 1995 after a sleep study.  I was told it was not addictive.  Over time, I have ran out of pills and gone into withdrawal, which is hell...but, I needed to sleep.  I built up an immunity to imovane (zop), and instead of my dr. looking more closely at this he added cocktails of other meds to augment the zop.  This screwed up my circadiam rhythmn and my life....sleeping all day and up all night

    I finally decided to get off of imovane and told my family doctor this.  I WAS FED UP WITH  the pill counting and fear of withdrawal and went to the sleep clinic in Parry Sound, ON with the program to cross me over to diazepam and them wean me off of this.  Shortly after I started on this program my family doctor, who prescribed my meds stopped prescribing my zop.  I am getting the feeling that he is getting nervous because he is aware that he should not have kept me on zop for 19 years.

    On the bright side, with the help of the wonderful team at the Parry Sound Sleep Clinic I am now off of zop (with no withdrawal, due to the diazepam).  They have now put me on clonazepam and slowly tapering me off of this on a weekly basis.  I am thrilled to be off of zop, but know that it will be difficult to get completely off of clonozepam.

    Oh, yeah, at the sleep clinic I had a sleep study which identified my present sleep issues of fragmented sleep disorder, apnea as well as other problems.  They feel that, after I get off of the clonazepam I still may need a low dosage antidepressant to help me sleep (but far safer than zop, and not a 'controlled substance)

    I had to request a sleep study from my family doctor.  Have you considered a sleep study and ask for their help to go off of zop.  I have tried to taper off of zop, without success,  I needed to go on the cross-over program to diaz. from imovane.  I had NO withdrawal!  At the sleep clinic they were no judgement when I told them that I was a zop addict.  They were wonderful and supportive.

    I am disgusted with my family doctor and now released him as my doctor....so, I am doctorless at this point and need to rely on medical clinics for care....which I did this week.   I discovered a large large mass on my breast and on monday going in for an emergency ultrasound and mammogam.

    If you want to get off of zop I would suggest going to a sleep clinic and go on-line and find out more about this cross-over plan (I believe developed in the UK).Please let me know how you do, or you can message me.

    I wish you husband was there to help with any withdrawal....do you have a friend to help?

    Off to bed now...I still have a bit of difficulty getting off to sleep, but feel 100% better than being on zop.

    Rina

  • caron42642
    caron42642 ruth93165

    Posted

    hi ruth i have been taking zopiclone for bout 17 years or so i am addicted to them and are trying to come off them i am now taking 2     7.5mgs at night now i was taking 37.5 i have just been coming down off them since tuesday but i feel really ill sweating shaking carnt keep still and feeling really sick i feel am going to have heart attack with chest pain i am so scared . i am going to see a drug abuse addiction place on tuesday my depression is so bad as well wish i knew then what i no now about zopiclone and i would never of started them but as i had a nervous breakdown 17 years ago i was put in to hospital having ect and put on zopiclone i am really strugling to get through i feel i carnt cope i would tell any body to be very carful on zopiclone or even dont even start them as i am in a right state and feel i carnt get through this i dont think 2 zopiclone a night is enough for the withdrawl symptoms .cry
  • SeaWhisper1
    SeaWhisper1 ruth93165

    Posted

    Hi Ruth and Caron,

    I feel for both of you.  Wow, Caron, you have been on this stuff about as long as me.  I fell, hurt my back a few months ago and used zop for pain and went up to 37mg, same as you...when I tried to decrease, l was still going thru withdrawal at 15 mg. That is when I made the decision that I needed rehab.   I agree Caron to go to a rehab centre...I know there can be a waiting list in Canada and this is why I went to the sleep clinic to help with my addiction.  I couldn't wait,  I had to STOP taking zop that day.

    I am spreading to word to everyone about this drug and even bared my soul on facebook about this (which is something I don't normally do).

    Do you live in Canada Caron?

     

    • caron42642
      caron42642 SeaWhisper1

      Posted

      hi seawhisper1 are its so nice to talk to some one that has gone through same thing thank you yes a have to go to rehab i just carnt do it on my own need some support . are that is nice of you spread the word to every body good as these tablets are so so addictive and its really hard to get off them i carnt even think straight crying all the time as well i would say to any one that is thinking of taking zopiclone just dont take them try some thing else to help with sleep please believe me i have never felt so ill and scared no seawhisper1 i live in england oo thats a lovley place to live i was going to go to canada for a holiday a couple of years ago but i dont like flying and the flight was to long am a scary cat when it comes to having to get on a plane .lol
    • caron42642
      caron42642

      Posted

      dont no what time it is now at canada but its 6. 55 in the morning hear i have been up half the night just carnt sleep .rolleyes
    • caron42642
      caron42642 SeaWhisper1

      Posted

      are i hope your back is getting better i have just been for a mri scan on my spine couple of weeks ago as i am also in bad pain in my back and legs sounds like going through same kind of things .
  • christine98681
    christine98681 ruth93165

    Posted

    hi ruth

    ive been on zopiclone 27 yrs 2 at night 7.5 mrg if i can get away with one i do most of the time i do take this dose what i would suggest is if you are on this dose break one in half i would rather have less sleep than try coming of them all to gether see how you go it is a terrible drug to get of on our instutions it tells you the bad side effects and the danger it causes so you not on your own im not dreading if my dr takes me of them as i will try cutting myself down as i am now i dont have any side effects up to press ive wanted to come of them myself for a while so this is how im doing it i must admit ive gone 2 or 3 days without any way but i would cut them down yourself also im on diasapam been on them 40 yrs that was the worst experience of my life my dr took me of them without slowley doing it i nearly went out of my head with pain i lost my speech lucky i asked to see a phycitrist as i was back wards and forwads to the hospital trying to find out why i was in so much pain i had no idea this was side effects from the dr doing this the phyciatrist hit the roof put me strait back on it ive never looked backed since they cannot never take me of it or cut me down becuse ive been on them too long i only take 15 mrg a day some days i may take 15 or if i feel ok i just take 10 but belive me coming of zop could be bad for them

     

    • angela15547
      angela15547 christine98681

      Posted

      Christine as you will have read I have come off zopiclone, I came off with my Doctors knowledge and agreement, it is NOT bad for me and telling people this you could set them back. It is not easy to come off but if you do it gradually you can get free from it. If you go into everything the drug company says about zopiclone especially if you have been a long term user you do yourself long lasting harm. Please do not tell people they will cause harm to yourself this is wrong, get your fact correct, it is you doing the harm.
    • christine98681
      christine98681 angela15547

      Posted

       Angela

      excuse me but what are you talking about were have i put it will do HARM firstly i never read about your experience and secondly which drug are you on about as ive said the same as you about the zopiclone as ive just read your reply by cutting down slowley isen't that the same as you said.

      i don't think you have read my answer correctly so i think you need to get your facts right before you start accusing me i do not get WHAT you are getting at  im coming of mine on my own back also 7.5 is a low dose compaired to Ruths dose even if taking 2 so thats why im down to 1 now or 1/2.

      .

      my dr told me if i wanted to come of one them i can but to cut down to 1  as i said .but im cutting this down to half ive tryed for yrs to get myself of them by doingt it my way this time.

      do not think im not getting side effects im also getting pains in my stomach but i don't no if its because of me getting down to half as ive always had problems with my stomack like i said ive gone 2 to 3 days without but had to take 1 or 2 again that never gave me any side effects.

       now im down to what ever i can cope with till i can get of it completly ive not been told of the side effects only by reading the instructions.im in the UK were you can only get up to 7.5 not a 100mgr im not supprised they are worse to come of i really sypathise with them it must be really terrible for them. i presume thats were you might be from.

       

      also 7.5 is a low dose compaired to Ruths dose even if taking 2 so thats why i take only 1 now or 1/2 my dr told me i could stay on 1 but i want out of them completly.

      so what is wrong whith  my reply its the same as your own without your syptoms i didn't go that far into it  you have told how you came of them in actual fact you have now helped me it could be why im getting the pains. 

      .i don't want to fall out with any one but nither do i want to be knocked down for something i dont no what ive supposed to have upset any one with .

       

      are you on about the right tablet??? or the diazapam by saying they wont take me of thay if so no they wont maybe im a  older than you with depression and been on them that long can do more Harm than good to me i didnt say  any one eles couldn't come of them  i would like you to reply back to me im at a loss with your reply.

       

      if its the diaz you are on about then im telling you the dr won't take me of them

    • angela15547
      angela15547 christine98681

      Posted

      I apologise if I have miss understood, I should have taken more care in reading your account. I do realise that Ruth is on a lot higher dose. I was talking about zopiclone, again I apologise , I do not want to fallout with anyone my intention was to try to help. I am an older lady and am on a lot of drugs due to various problems, it is no excuse but occasionally I do get alittle muddled. I will bow out of this discussion once I have answered my other question from someone else.
    • christine98681
      christine98681 angela15547

      Posted

      hi angie

      i accept your appologie but no way do you bow out of this discussusion  i would hate that  i just was upset the way you bounced on to me for not knowing what i had said or done any way forget it now.

       one other thing i did pick up on was you said you had a nasty taste in your mouth i have had the same thing all the time ive been on them can i ask you as this been the same for you ???

       It just stood out when i did read your reply ive also been on the heart tablets for 27yrs i was also put on the zopiclone at the same time so its hard to determind  i asked my dr but hes a waste of time hes never admitted it. plus i had 2 failed hip operation in the last 4 months i take pain killers for this so i can't blame them.

       I no this as nothing to do with zopiclone but Im bed bound through them making a right mess of the hip and so its nothing to do with atheritis but was through a small fall. this is beside the point  but don't no if its the zopiclone only thing i can't come of is my heart tablets.

       i did say i didn't read your reply till after i replyed to you it was just a coincedence of you to mention about your taste buds coming back just wonder if any one else as got that same horrible taste in there mouth.

       I some times wish i could throw the lot on the fire as ive had the heart tablets reviewed all through the 27 yrs  i no your not a dr but its intresting to no if you think it could be this tablet.

      Plus ive done this for only 3 weeks how long i dare go myself on this 1 or 1/2 before i take myself completly of it whats your thoughts on that with me taking the diazapam im a bit frightened .with the pain from the messed up hip im also on ora-morph and paracetomol

       

      Christine.

    • ruth93165
      ruth93165 christine98681

      Posted

      Hi Christine, 

      I have had the metallic taste in my mouth through out the 14 years  I was on the zoplicone. I can't say that I have noticed an improvement in taste though. Today I stopped by the vitamin store and asked the owner if she had something that would help with withdrawal and she gave me Bach's Rescue Remedy. It helped. 

    • angela15547
      angela15547 christine98681

      Posted

      Hi Christine, I am glad we are ok again. I did have the metalic taste when on zopiclone, there was also another taste, unexplainable but I now do not have them. You say you are on 1 or 1\2 a tablet a day, if I were you I would get onto just 1\2then when you feel content on that take it alternate days until you are comfortable again, then miss another day and so on. This is how I got off the final dose so it is just my opinion but it did work. When I came off totally the first 2 days free of them were very good, I am afraid it lulled me into a falsefeeling of happiness, I thought I was free straight away. After2 days it hit me bang, I had sweats, tremours, dizzyness and generally feeling awful. This was not continual but in waves. The worst time seemed to start around 1600hours and that came in closer waves and I was begging my Hubby by 1830 hours to put me to bed, I did this for 4 to 5 days and then decided I had done to much to be defeated so I managed to increase the time I stayed up until I got to my usual time of going to bed 2100 hours, then I read for a while until my tablets kick in and I am relaxed. My sleep without zopiclone is alot better than it has been for along while. I still wake for my cup of tea and a biscuit around 0200 hours but that I think is a habit I have got into over the last few years. I do now have a fairly decent quality of sleep. On top of all this I have an enlarged heart and leaking valve due to atrial fibulation, and blood pressure, like you I can never come off tablets for this. I have severe arthritis in my joints and spine, also M.E. which has taken my mobility and my independence. My Hubby has been my carer for alot of years. I do have a few other problems but I ccpe with those. This is why I need to know which tablets I can reduce or lose as I am sure they affect each other. I hope you are able to reduce your zopiclone as I did and can soon be free from it.
    • christine98681
      christine98681 angela15547

      Posted

      HI Angila

      i will follow your pattern i took half last night tonight im trying to hold out i dropped to sleep at 1800 woke up at 2000hrs something is telling me to take it but im going to try and resist it if i can if i don't im never going to get of this half i didn't think only half could be so effective im not going to let it beat me you are lucky you have a supportive husband as mine is the opposite hes telling me if you want to take it get it down you this is the worst thing he can do all i get is yeve been on them all this time the not going to hurt you but i want of the things not just that but its this funny taste even when i have wake up its there all day and night  i will get through it one way or the other but you are more supportive no to me than him im deffinatly going to keep reading your instrutions now to get down to half im nearly there im going to take a drop of my ora-morph i can't win you want to come of one thing then depend on another but lucky i don't take much of that and with only been on that for the last 4 months should be easy to get of that as i only take that if the pain in my hip and feet gets too bad.

      im so sorry to here about your orther illnesses too well you keep posting and im glad you got back to me ok

      love

      Christine 

    • christine98681
      christine98681 ruth93165

      Posted

      Hi Ruth

      Ive not heard of this Bach's Rescue Remedy i don't no if i can get this as im in the UK but i would have to ask my dr if i can take it if we do have it as i have to be very careful on herbal remidies i can't take any anit inflamotry drugs either as im on warfrin.

       Its a coinsidence about this taste i never give it a thought it could be down to this when i went 2 to 3 days only on odd occations i wish now i could have done it then instead of giving in probbly i must have been addicted and never realised it till now but im on 1/2 now i feel im never going to get of the thing

      ive been studying about you wondering how you are getting on i was going to ask you last night but i dropped to sleep after i wrote to angie god i never thought it could be so bad to get of the flipping tablets and me been on only the 7.5 twice a night i would have thought it would have been a doddle.

      27 yrs is a long time i suppose to just come of it just like that all in one go i wouldn't have nown how it could effect us im doing this on my own back my dr told me if i wanted to come of them get down to 1 i did that now ive got down to 1/2 but i dont want that i want to get of it completly but im wondering how long is it going be to get of this 1/2.

        First about you as your husband got home??? hope hes more supportive than mine ive got down down to half last night but its terrible tonight some thing is telling me to take it the other half of me is saying no its down to will power now even though ive got the diazapam ive really got down with depression  .

       my feet and hip is giving me a lot of pain  i never thought it could be so bad to stop this 1/2 i took it last night but going to miss it tonight but if i take the ora- morph that makes me sleep one way or the other i will crack it

       

       i only take the ora-morph if i have to then its only a teaspoon but i never take that much if i can help it and thats only 3 times a day but im getting a lot of pain just at the moment in my hip and foot drop in both feet its driving me crazy  im trying to get of this one then end up taking some other its a vious circle .

      I think you are so brave i really feel for you that you was took of it the way you was  so how do you feel now??? 

      when i cut myself down to 1 i was ok now on 1/2 i thought i would be able to crack it straight away but still having a problem im still getting pain in my stomack but i do suffer from stomach trouble so its hard to say if it is the zopiclone or not.my dr thinks im on the 1 he useless but i will do it then i can say no thanks to him for any help.

       Ive got a husband that hardly ever talks hes not a good listerner only got a family that lives miles away i no this as nothing to do with you about my illnesse's expept the zopiclone but i feel really on my own some times it dose help to talk to other's as i don't see any one

      also thank you Ruth for opening up about this disscusion is helping every one about this drug.

      keep us posted

      Christine 

    • angela15547
      angela15547 christine98681

      Posted

      Hi Christine, glad to here you are having ago it is hard work but as you say helped by oramorph, which I am also on, is like having a crutch to help you along. Sorry to hear your Hubby isn't as helpful as he should be. I am afraid there are people like this but I hope it never happens that they need help in the way we need it, I would feel like being very hard and just say get on withit then and leave them to it. I say this but in the end I suppose I would try to help.

      I read your comment to Ruth and I am the same, can't take anti inflammatory drugs, I don't know alot about that system but believe it contains stuff that you can't take when on warfarin as we are. It is such a minefield for us when you have several problems and you can't takeone thing as you take such a such, then something else comes up and you can't take that. I hope you have added to your list of not to take benzodiazopine as once you are off zopiclone you can do harm to yourself and have bad side effects again.

      Stay on the half tablet until you are comfortable with it then reduce as I said previously. I have every confodence you will get off. You will have sweats, tremours etc for a while but if it works as it did on me you will wake up one morning and wonder why you feel as you do, then realise you feel alot better with no withdrawl symptons. If you are like I was it takes about 10 days, you do get the odd tremour or sweat odd days but you can cope with that.

      Good luck, I am always here for you as I am almost house bound.

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