withdrawal

hi jaygee. the gp i seen was ok thank god he gave me diazepam for 2 weeks then to ring them and they will give me some more to taper off zopiclone, i have never taken diazepam how are they bit worried xxx

seem ok to me. I take the 9 mg around and a half before I go to bed and dont really feel any effects, still just watch tv, read etc after I've taken them. nothing worrying. I am sleeping quite quickly (also using a relaxation cd in bed) and getting around 6 hours, then some more snooze later. Do feel a bit more drowsy in the day because of their longer effects (which is why they work well for minimising any zopiclone withdrawal effects, along with the fact that they come in 2 mg pills so the tapering can be done in much smaller amounts.) but again, that's fine. I'm having more vivid dreams than usual but ok. I still feel better than on the zops. 

x thanks for reply. i have been given 9mg i have to take 2mg four a night seems alot! so i should take them an hour and half before bed ? do they help you sleep? its great that there better than zopiclone how long will the give you diazepam for? sorry loads of question bit worrying going onto something else x

I think it seems a lot because its coming in the 2 mg tablets - and thats why it is easier to taper off, so you can reduce a little at a time, unlike with Zopiclone. . I know you can get a 10 mg tab because my doc tried them with me before I went onto zopiclone. And back then  (about 14/15 years ago) that amount had no effect on me at all. Yes, I am sleeping perfectly well, taking a wee while to come to in the morning but Ive felt horrible with zop on waking and feel better with this. I'm expecting this process to take another four months if I reduce one mg per fortnight. Meanwhile I'll keep taking 5HTP and as I reduce, will top up occasionally with phenergan. My doc will keep prescribing diazepam as long as this process lasts. He knows it's the best to stay off zopiclone and says that even 10 mg diazepam is a relatively small amount.  Mind you, I am now retired and living in a much more chilled out environment so maybe thats helping. But I havent slept a single night without zopiclone for 13 years , having increased tolerance from 3.75 to 11 mg along the way and was acutely insomniac for years before I went on it. So not expecting an easy ride while my brain tries to recover. The big test will be how I sleep as I reduce.Give it a shot..

 

hi jaygee, you are giving me hope x thanks for quick reply im also on sertraline i tapered off mirtz 6 weeks ago and went straight onto sertraline seems ok x feels tons better on sertraline than mirtz awfull drug that was, im not working at the moment but due to start courses and to go on ema not applied yet so have to sign on . so getting my life together and started taking up mediation . got some radox before lol so sometimes i will need to drive in the morning to get to courses so worried i wont be able to drive in the morning, i live alone so can be hard. i have heard of phenergan and been thinking of getting some does it work? also heard of 5HTP . you have done so well and are really helping me xx

I live alone too Julie, so know it's a concern. But I've now driven twice in the mornings and done a training course and managed fine. I just take care.   I was also on Sertraline for a while and had no bad effects from it at all. I bought Phenerghan over the counter at chemist - it's an anti- histamine and the CITA helpline recommended taking it while on this tapering programme, but no more than twice a week so not to get used to it. So it's a possibility for occasional use later if and when I get more sleepless on diazepam reduction. HTP is available on health supplement websites, have to take it all the time but it helps the brain to learn to sleep eventually and is harmless.    I keep thinking, one step at a time. Right now, my brain is off Zopiclone!

ur a star thank you for replying! your doing so well its so good to hear good things reguarding coming off zopiclone. as you can imagine bit worried about taking diazepam tonight but here goes as to be done! are they stopping zopiclone all together my heart goes out to the people who were on a high dose seems so unfare!  do u feel much better off zopiclone ? i had noticed i wasnt coming round for a while in the morning i was a chef use to take me ages to come round .. 

Yea that was my main motivation for coming off...had been feeling horrible every day, tight bands round my eyes, a buzzing sensation all the time. If I'd felt ok with it I would probably have kept taking it. But also knowing my tolerance would keep me having to increase it. I'm sure there will still be websites providing it, in fact I've had two emails from other providers. I do feel different. More naturally sleepy.  One warning , though it might not happen to you. My first night just on the diazepam was difficult, very little sleep and nightmares. Don't be put off, that was the only time and it wasn't so hard. Id expected it and set up tapes and books etc. I slept the next night. 

are the medical team stopping zopiclone all together do you know! thanks for imforming me on 1st night . its my birthday and got my sister over tomorrow night so may give it a miss tonight xx dont want to be tired tomorrow