To all users of Zopiclone

Hi. I went to the Doctors and got my prescription on Tuesday, he gave me 28 tablets. I went straight to my normal chemist in the medical centre and I didn't have any problems. He gave me the Mylan brand which I have never had before, they come in a pink box and are film coated tablets. Normally he gives me a blue box, the point I'm trying to make is that I didn't think anything of it but after reading this post it's got me wondering if that's the reason he gave me a different brand. I do hope they do not stop manufacturing it, I will be at a lost. 

Hi, I wouldn't worry if I were you. The problem may actually be with Boots. They tend to stock their dispensaries from their own warehouse stocks. They also try to stick to one brand when possible as they like consistency. So if Boots are out of something, chances are you small local independent pharmacy will probably have it in stock. I have heard nothing about Zopiclone being discontinued as an NHS prescribable item. Only if that happens will pharmacies stop stocking it, and that will be because the doctors won't be able to prescribe it. The only other time when supply might be difficult is if there is a manufacturing delay or problem which the pharmacist will usually tell you is the case. You don't have to leave your prescription at a pharmacy if they are out of stock of something, you can just ask for it back and try somewhere else!

I got my repeat prescription last Friday. The local pharmacy gave me Activas ones instead of Sanofi. I haven't tried them yet to see if they are the same... I suspect it is just cost cutting on the NHS as this has happenned for me for another prescription.

Just to answer an earlier comment, there isn't a 'usual' generic brand of zopiclone, there are several generic brands available in the UK.  If your presciptions says 'zopiclone' (rather than Zimovane which is the original brand) then a pharmacy is within their rights to give you whichever brand they purchase (although some will try to meet requests for specific brands rather than lose your custom). This really shouldn't be a problem as in the UK manufacturing standards are pretty strict, and any zopiclone 7.5mg tablet from any maunfacturer should contain 7.5mg of zopiclone. Sometimes different excipients are used, which are the other, inactive ingredients of a tablet, but this shouldn't change the effectiveness. A lot of the time when people think they notice a difference in the effectiveness of different brands of the sam medication, it can be put down to a psychological effect. People get a different shaped or different coloured tablet from usual, they often have less faith in it, resulting in a sort of placebo effect. Buying stuff from abroad, you never know...but stuff stocked in UK pharmacies should all be as effective as other brands. Some interesting research has been done that has shown that the colour, shape and size of tablets all have an effect on the perceived effectiveness. 

Up until last year I had been taking Zopiclone (2 a night) for many years.  Last June I had to see my GP for a review and he said that he would carry on as usual.   When my next prescription was due I had to go see my GP again and   he said that it had been decided  that no one needs sleeping tablets,and  I had to cut down to one a night, which caused me a considerable amount of stress, and I was taking two on alternate nights.  I was unsteady on my feet as a result of lack of sleep and on one occasion I fell heavily against the edge of a table,  My left side was so painfull that I could not sleep on that side for 3 weeks. My prescripyion has  now been discontinued   I now have an alarm svstem (for which I pay £3 a week) and if I am having difficulty.I can contact a help centre  There is an alternative, which is available without presriiption, called Dornomyl, but it is not as effecrive, and I now resort to alcohol for assistance

     

 

In June, 2013 I had to see my Doctor to review my Zopiclone.  He agreed to keep me on at 2 a night, and gave me a prescription for 28 days.  When my next prescription was due, it was refused until I went to see my Doctor  He said that the Gov't had decided.that no one needed sleeping tablets, and I had to cut down to 1 a night & gave me another prescription for 28 nights.  Trying to cut down to 1 a night was useless, and I took 2 on alternate nights .  I was very light headed as a result, and one day I fell very heavily against a table edge on my ribs, and couldn't sleep on that side for 3 weeks,  I still get pain on that side. When my next prescription was due I had to see a Doctor again.  This time it was a different one. She said that I was taking too many tablets. I said "do you believe this?  and she said yes.  So I took 16 out of my pocket and said "in that case, these do not exist"  She said "why didn't you tell anybody? and I said "because nobody asked me. I had been accused and found guilty without a trial.  I would never trust another Doctor.  She gave me a prescription for some more, but I have been refused ever since. I did get some from abroad, but I had to pay duty of £27 on the last lot  I now struggle from day to day, and drinkj alcohol on bad nights to help me sleep. If I was on drugs I would have had help to come off, but I have just  been dumped. I never want to see another GP again, but Isuppose that it is inevitable, but it weill be a last resort..     

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