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Sleeping tablets

Posted , 5 users are following.

bianca
bianca

At the ripe old age of 81 would it be harmful if I were to take half a tablet of Zopiclone each night in order to avoid waking up after 2 or 3 hours and being unable to get back to sleep.  I do take them occasionally but not very often.

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • lily65668
    lily65668 bianca

    Posted

    Hi Bianca,

    I'd advise against taking them every single night, even at 81. The problem with this is that it's easy to develop tolerance to zopiclone, or any other sleeping pill. After a few months, half a tablet would no longer be enough, and after another few months it would stop working altogether. Then you'd have to switch to another pill, only to go through the whole process again. Also, once you get onto higher doses of any sleeping drug, this increases the risk of falls if you have to get up in the night.

    Why not keep the zopiclone just for nights when you really need to sleep well? I mean before a journey or a particularly busy day. I do this, though I take an antihistamine, not a sleeping pill. (But you can develop tolerance to antihistamines too if you take them every night.)

    Most of us find we don't need as much sleep as we get older anyway. I'm not suggesting for a moment that there's nothing going on in your life just because you're 81. I'm 73 myself and still have quite a busy life. However, I still feel you'd do better just having zopiclone as a back-up, which you know will give you a decent night's sleep when you really need it, rather than becoming dependent on it.

  • apu91247
    apu91247 bianca

    Posted

    Hi bianca ,try drinking 300 ml of lukewarm baffelo milk mixed well with a half spoon turmeric powder,one hour before bed.This keeps you stay asleep till morning.
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