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
ray32442 gail_27284
Posted
I have used it for maybe 10 years. Just use an alternative. See my previous notes.
Steve2018 ray32442
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.
ann55375 Steve2018
Posted
yes i used valium to come off zopiclone, but have now developed a tolerance to valium and quite down too. i take 5mg diaz at bedtime and now need to take smaller dose in dutime but i am very nervy. i think the valium has caused this as i didnt have it before. be careful changing over.
annesj gail_27284
Posted
Hi again Steve. Thanks for the links. 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.
Steve2018 annesj
Posted
That's great that you are trying to wean off. Yes they recommend at least 2 weeks st the reduced dose each time. 11 mg should still get you to sleep, If you don't sleep the first night , you should the second. I have found the night long but the good thing is that I didn't feel much more tired during the day after I did not sleep. Like I mensioned its not an easy process. Luckily I ve been able to sleep in 1-2 hour stretches and then wake up. I ll see how long I can hold out with no Zop.
annesj Steve2018
Posted
Okey so you managed to quit and no withdrawal symtoms?
I dont know if Im very sensitive but when I lower dose I get depressed. Have you felt that or anxeity? The wierd thing is (two things acctually) is that 1 mg makes a differnce there. Strange? Also, and very often, if I have depression or anxeity during the day it very often stoos around 9 pm in the evening. Mabye it is the Oxazepam that I stopped 9 weeks ago, dont know. Just think that if it was Zopiclone, the symtoms above would be worse the nearer the next dose?
Its good that you feel alright with little skepp. Is the dizzines gone?
Steve2018 annesj
Posted
Hi, Well I wouldn't go as far as saying no withdrawal symptoms since I have rebound insomnia and anxiety which at times for no reason I fell or hear my heartbeat. I believe that the anxiety is a withdrawel effect , hoping it wil subside after time. The lightheadedness feeling or dizziness is better some days and back on others. I think the effects of being on Zopiclone will take time, like weeks or months to disappear. The wiki document says most effects should subside within 6 months of complete stoppage which would be June 2019 for me if I can stay off. I believe there are 2 reasons for your depression at 9 pm, 1 because the drug is wearing off and 2 because its almost time to sleep again which you may have fear of not sleeping. I know I had that at the beginning and in fact I did spend some nights awake all night. Could not stand it and at times took a Zopiclone at 4 am just to get some sleep. . I'm glad I passed that phase but I knew what night I wouldn't sleep at that time because my brain was for some reason wide awake even though my body was tired. The good thing is the next day after not sleeping, the tiredness was not as bad as I had expected.
annesj Steve2018
Posted
My phone did an in correct spelling about the anxeity, Anxeity /depression ease up about 8-9 pm (if I have it, some days now I dont. It would be more understandable if the anxeity CAME about 9 pm.
Lets not hope we should suffer half a year! I havnt read Wikipedia about this, hope it was about benzos not Z drugs. Guess I have to read about it.
Hang in there