Weaning off zopiclone
Posted , 11 users are following.
Have decided to wean myself off Z ( with support from doctor ) ..has anyone done this successfully ....I've been using them for about 4 years
1 like, 77 replies
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Notes on Weaning off zopiclone
SoberGirl2016 gail_27284
Posted
I'll tell you how I did it personally (not medical advice!) I was put on a bunch of different drugs for ADD, depression and sleep. I decided to go off of my stimulant medication followed by a very gradual taper of my SSRI. I'd actually been on these drugs the longest. I found that coming off of the Zopiclone was the most challenging even though I'd been on this drug for the shortest amount of time. 7.5mg for about 3 years, daily. One and awhile I would skip a day or two or take 3.75mg. I was prescribed this by sleep disorders so my doctor wanted me to keep taking it daily. I get very restless legs sometimes when I sleep and have nightmares from past trauma.
I think in my experience coming off the stimulants helped to eventually wean the Zopiclone. I made a chart with little tick boxes so that I could check off every night that I slept (or sometimes didn't sleep much) that I went without the Zopiclone. I think that my dependency was a tolerance in my body as well as psychological because it was a relief to not have anxiety around sleeping and know that I would sleep. I did the dose reduction for about a month and a half. I was actually planning to do it even more gradually over the summer, however I am now surprisingly off the medication!
Once I reduced my intake by about half and sometimes only taking 3.75mg. I threw away the pills. Having them around is too tempting for me if I am not sleeping I will just take it. Also if my sleep gets really bad again, my doctor has a reoccurring script for them so it's not like I can't get more if my sleep becomes a chronic problem again.
I saw a NPD, and told my MD their recommendations. For the first time since 2012 I am on no meds currently. I'm taking GABA-T SAP before sleep and Melatonin. I really like the Liquid Melatonin SAP (it has a weird peppermint bitter taste) it seems to help trigger my brain into sleeping like the bitter blue Zopiclone taste. I also take a magnesium powder ( I use the calm natural brand) before bed. I drink calm tea before bed that I let steep for 15 mins to get the calm effect. I also take a calming tincture from my NPD. I am taking other supplements to help with my depression/ADD during the day combined with healthy food.
I've been sleeping well with no Rx medication for over a week. I actually used to read these forums and be so sad because I thought I would be on this medication forever. I wanted to add my story that it is possible to sleep without Zopiclone! I am starting to feel more rested and sleeping through the night. Thanks for reading.
ann55375 SoberGirl2016
Posted
I came off zopiclone too.
i am left with diazepam for anxiety and want to be clear of these eventually.
i am very interested in what you are taking.
can you delineate the actual things you use and at what time of day please? I also, take warfarin so have to be careful. Your healthy food approach seems really great. More details would also be great.
SoberGirl2016 ann55375
Posted
Genius Foods ----by Max Lugavere and Paul Grewal, M.D. A book about nutrition that helped me make actual changes, all common sense, yet the way it's explained helped me. Focus is on brain health. I ordered the book from my local library instead of spending money
Currently I am taking
Morning
Adrenal SAP two capsules am (NFH brand)
Prenatal/multi (New Chapter brand)
DHA (AOR brand)
Vitamin D drops (NFH brand) *I take a few drops in am and pm. I live in a very dark climate.
Night
Calm tea (steep 15 mins) Traditional Medicinals brand
Magnesium powder (Natural Calm Canada brand)
Tincture (made by my NPD) specific to my conditions and sleep
Gaba-T SAP x1 tab (NFH brand)
Liquid Melatonin SAP (NFH brand) *the taste of this peppermint really seems to help my psychological dependance on the Zopiclone. It comes in a spray low dose form so I also take in when I wake up in the night.
Obviously, run everything by an MD. I had to wait until I came off my SSRI before starting some of the supplements.
Steve2018 SoberGirl2016
Posted
ray32442 gail_27284
Posted
I have been on Zopiclone 7.5mg for about 20 years. I got all the side effects listed on https://www.google.ca/search?q=zopiclone+side+effects&rlz=1C1KUBR_enCA779CA779&oq=zopiclone+side+effects&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0l5.7615j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Went to see another Dr. who recognized the side effects right away. Asked me to wean off it gradually and recommended to use dopamine. I cut zopiclone in half and took melatonin (over the counter) 3mg. Slept better right away. Will increase the non-addictive melatonin if necessary. Comes in 3, 5 and 10mg.
lanzarote1960 gail_27284
Posted
SoberGirl2016 lanzarote1960
Posted
Thanks!
I am having trouble staying asleep. I get a strange restless nerve pain some nights it's so uncomfortable and makes me want to take the zopiclone. I was thinking it was withdrawal from the meds, however it been about 6 weeks now...I find my sleep is much better if I exercise a ton the evening and night before.
How long did it take for things to feel clearer?
ray32442 SoberGirl2016
Posted
Steve2018 ray32442
Posted
Ray, same here, I tniried going off and did it for 16 days in a row with about 5 of those sleepless, the others only 3-4 hours sleep. Now Im back on 2-3 mg per night but will try alternate days again since I noticed increased tinitus and not feeling like muself again.
lanzarote1960 gail_27284
Posted
annesj gail_27284
Posted
Anyone getting day anxeity or depression from Zopiclone? I do. And I think its horrible. I have to withdrawal but its not easy after 3 years.
Steve2018 annesj
Posted
Its normal to feel depressed, especially if Zopiclone makes you feel not like yourself or giving lightheaded feeling along with added anxiety
annesj Steve2018
Posted
Thanks. How are you doing with Zopiclone? How do you know whats a sideeffect and whats w/d? Is it like that the symtoms go away if you increase the dose? Im not sure, think increased dose also can give sideeffects...
annesj
Posted
I was on Oxazepam before too. I quit them by tapering in 8 weeks. It was hard☹️
Steve2018 annesj
Posted
Anne, this is probably one of the toughest things to figure out. All I know is that I had dizziness and the doctors could not find any physiological reason for it so I think Zopiclone could be responsible. One thing for sure is I am weaning off (and tried even totally not taking any) and I have some sort of anxiety feelings and of course insomnia. I am seeing a neurologist to talk about it this week and he'll probably prescribe an alternate medication, maybe tranquilizer like ativan or other to help during the getting off zopiclone withdrawel period which I read can be 3 weeks to 6 months for most side effects.
Steve2018 annesj
Posted
Was taking Oxazepan good for you. I mean did you have any side efffects the next day. How did you feel, Has anyone used Valium as a substitude for zopiclone and wean off that slowly therafter. I read that this may be a usefull method as Valium comes in as small as 1mg doses.
Steve2018 annesj
Posted
There is a lot of info in this article from wikipedia, but of special note is the section on protracted withdrawel syndrome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine_withdrawal_syndrome
annesj Steve2018
Posted
I had interdose w d from them jumping and down in dose. Didnt know first. Panicattacks etc. Ate them for PTST at first and for 1.5 year. It was no game to come off, panicattacks anxeity, GI problems, musclepain etc.. Its a benzo. Short life compare to Valium.
annesj Steve2018
Posted
Hi again. I usually take 12 mg (about one and a half tablett). Saturday and Sunday I took a bit less, about 10 mg. Dont know what is causing the anxeity. Im so tired off this, I have felt this off and on since I tapered Oxazepam. Now Im not sure what is what (decreased zopiclon dose or the w/d from Oxazepam. Do you have anxeity all day or does it get worse during the day?
I try to write down dose and how I feel. But have not found a pattern. Mabye I feel a bit better when taking 12 mg than 10 mg. Hang in there
Steve2018 annesj
Posted
Hi, Thanks for the info. I will be doing research before replacing Zopiclone with any other medication for sure. Ideally I 'd like to be off everything but it seems right now that I would have sleepless nights, fatigue the next day if I do that. To answer your question, I find the anxiety increases at night when going to bed and if I'm experiencing dizziness , disequilibrium or head in the clouds feeling in high trafic areas such as in a shopping center with lots of visual distractions and people.
annesj Steve2018
Posted
I found a good page. I cant copy its a PDF. Google Hypnotic reducing and stoppning. There is shedule too. Let me know if you find it and what you thought
Steve2018 annesj
Posted
Hello Anne, Thanks for the info. I did see this tapering schedule on another link at one time. I also met with a neurologist and he recommended to get off Zopiclone and thought my lightheaded and swaying issues come from long term use of the drug. He said to try increased amountts of Melatonine ie. 3, 6, or 9mg. to see if it can assist in sleeping. Also mensioned CBD oil if it helps. Advised not to go on other drugs as the side effects may be the same as Zopiclone and more addictive.
I'll have a look at the links mensionned in your document too.
Other Treatment Options for Insomnia
Benzo.org website
http://www.benzo.org.uk/
Northumberland, Tyne&Wear NHS Foundation Trust Slee
p Guide
http://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/leaflets/Sleeping%20Probl
ems%20A4%202010.pdf
First Steps (Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Tru
st)
http://www.cumbriapartnership.nhs.uk/uploads/First%
20Step/sleeping%20problems.pdf
annesj Steve2018
Posted
Steve I guess my answer came to ray. And I cant check it out from my phone.
annesj Steve2018
Posted
Couldnt find the pages only the first link was to open .
The positive in the document I send you was that they wrote about that when decreasing the dose many Z users feel better.
Im cutting now, since 5 days. I hold this dose for a whole, now 5 days. I didnt sleep last night. Thinking back I got worse when increasing the dose, and in the next after a higher dose and in the evening, nearer the next dose I felt dizzy. Hm Im not english, hard to explain in a foreign language...
Ive read on many forums about cut only 10%. I went from 12, 5 mg to 11 mg. Also many say to hold the dose at least 2 weeks. In The document I send the say 1-2 weeks.
It was good to hear that it was not any neuroligic problem you had.
Have you cut?