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Zopiclone

Posted , 8 users are following.

patty_c
patty_c

I've been on Zopiclone 7.5mg for  4 years, I started with just a half and went to a whole within a year, I stayed that way but slowly they stopped being effective.  I will not go to more than that, I know it would be dangerous.  I first went cold turkey, I was so shaken and chatty, dizzy by husband thought I was drunk.  I then used only a half every other night for a week, then nothing.  I am not sleeping at all, maybe an hour.  I'm a mess during the day, I shake all the time, drop things, stopped exercise class because I don't think I could do it.   I read a lot of people's entry's and know depression could engulf me.  My daughter was killed by a distracted driver 2 years ago April, so I get up every morning and do my makeup, get dressed,clean house etc.  if I going to go crazy I. Want to do it in a clean house.   I think keeping a routine keeps me grounded.   How long will this last?  I need sleep so bad by morning I'm in tears.  My doctor told me this is not addictive.  Can I do this alone?  Do I need help?

1 like, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • patty_c
    patty_c

    Posted

    I went to my doctor yesterday, told her I had been off  zop for about 2weeks, and not sleeping, I also followed your advise and went to exercise class.  The Dr gave me a trazodone 50mg.  They are actually an antidepressant, but used a lot for sleep problems.  Took one last night and got a good 4 hours, I feel like a new person.  I don't know if it was the new pill, the exercise, or just time passing.  I will try these for a few days then try not taking them and see how it goes. Good luck to everyone, I wish I could wave a magic wand and give all a good nights sleep
  • robin23223
    robin23223 patty_c

    Posted

    Hi Patty, your post really moved me, I can only imagine your pain......I am not a doctor but disagree with your GP,s. View that zopiclone are not addictive, I define addictive as something or some behaviour that we just cannot do without, having been on zopiclone 7.5mg nightly for eight years I know I was addicted to them not cos' I liked taking them but for the need to sleep which like yourself was not happening, the weird thng about this drug is the after a while it actually causes insomnia, this drug is only good in the short term, so continued use is only gonna make matters worse and combined with the many side effects is not in my humble appinion going to help your mental state. I gave up using this drug very recently over a two month period starting on new years eve, I cut down gradually and have been totaly off them since 1st march, though I would not say it was easy I cannot say it was very hard either especially as a feel noticably better for doing it which I know from my previous experiances with illicit drugs over a long period that quality of life improves considerably post addiction. So although you could and probably should stop taking zopiclone I am woried how you will cope in the process, mental health issues are something I am very familiar with having struggled with it for most of my life, for me drugs were not the awnser though they helped in the initial short term they proved only to contribute to my deteriating state of mind as the years rolled by. Hope I have made sence , I am very happy to talk more with you on this subject if you want to. Whatever you choose to do I wish you well in your search for peace of mind and happiness ...Robin
    • patty_c
      patty_c robin23223

      Posted

      Hi, Robin.  I'm doing well, totally off zop, all side effects are gone and am sleeping pretty well.  If I'm upset I don't sleep, working hard on relaxation techniques.  I am on 50mg of trazodone. I'm going to wean off these in another week or so.  I still have some anxiety about sleep, but much better.  I will always miss my daughter, I can't expect that to get much better, people say time helps and it will be 2 years April 30th.  I have developed coping mechanisms , walking, just getting busy, it helps if I have a complete meltdown.  TZhanks for caring, it is so good to know there is support out there.  Patty
  • sheila65847
    sheila65847 patty_c

    Posted

    Hi patty

    well done you. I'm still anxious but hey if I don't sleep one night I will sleep the next. I find focusing on breathing best

    • patty_c
      patty_c sheila65847

      Posted

      Good luck,my thoughts and prayers are with you always.
  • patty_c
    patty_c

    Posted

    Last night was hard, fell asleep for an hour and then couldn't get back to sleep.  Tried breathing and not thinking but I could feel myself starting to panic.  After a few hours I got up and walked around, told myself to just calm down, prayed that helped.  Got back in bed and worked on mind control and breathing finally fell asleep about 2 hours later.  I really started to think I would never sleep again, the middle of the night is a lonely place and I wanted a sleeping pill and the peaceful escape.  I didn't take one and I made it thru the night and finally got a good 4 hours.  How much longer will this go on?
  • carmel91433
    carmel91433 patty_c

    Posted

    Hi Patty I know it's hard hardly slept last night as well, and to make matters worse my husband's coughing and sneezing kept me awake all night, so I really don't know if I would have slept if he would have been ok. Tonight will tell. I keep on telling myself it will get better because my body needs to rest so I'm hoping it will be soon. My 3 week period is coming up on Sunday so things should start to get better. Hang in there Patty because I know I am.
    • patty_c
      patty_c carmel91433

      Posted

      Thanks for the support.  I think we have both been doing this for about the same length of time.  Are you taking any other meds?  My GP put me on 50mg of trazodone, it seems to help, or maybe just time passing is helping.  Let me know when you are free of all this and any helpful tips you have.  It's good not to be alone.  Earplugs help with husbands.
    • carmel91433
      carmel91433 patty_c

      Posted

      Hey Patty I'm on 25 mg. of amitriptalyne as well, I want to start weaning off those as well but want to start sleeping a bit before starting on those and to tell you the truth i don't even think they're helping me. I find all these drugs are so addictive. During my eighteen years my doctor prescribed many different drugs for sleeping and zopiclone was the one that worked for a while but it didn't last long, I tried many times to wean off but after not sleeping for 3 to 4 days I started again. This time I really am determined to get off this poison. Our bodies are not meant to take all this junk and I will be free of them once and for all. So Patty we can do this with the support of all our friends on here to encourage each other. Patience is a virtue they say. Good luck!!
    • patty_c
      patty_c carmel91433

      Posted

      I googled amitriptalyne and it is addictive and can cause withdrawal if you stop it quickly.  Is there anything your GP can give you that is less addictive?  I have even tried gravol wich is for motion sickness, it will help with the occasional nights sleep but it only works about once a week because your body gets used to it.  When my prescription is done for the trazodone in 20 days, I'm going to ask GP to decrease to 25mg instead of the 50 I'm on now.  I don't want to trade one addiction for another
    • jackied68
      jackied68 patty_c

      Posted

      Hi. I too had a bad night and took Zoplicone. I fell asleep on the sofa for about twenty mins then took myself off to bed. I then couldn't go to sleep and I have to be u early for work. Totally fed up with it. Sometimes I sleep sometimes I dont. AmyltriptLine didn't work mertazapine knocks me out completely. I'm in Peri meno and my hormones all over the place and insomnia is killing me at the moment 😪
    • carmel91433
      carmel91433 patty_c

      Posted

      Hi Patty I am giving it a try, I will take it every other night for a couple of weeks then every two nights and so on. She had put me on the amitriptalyne for sleeping as well, she said the zopiclone was for falling asleep and the amitriptalyne for keeping me asleep, needless to say they haven't been doing that for a long time, guess I was fooling myself thinking i couldn't sleep without them.i was on trazodone for many years as well but she switched me because i wasn't getting any sleep at all. Vicious cycle isn't it? Now I want to do my body a favor and get off all this poison, hard but determined and doable. Will let you know how it's going and good luck to you Patty.
  • sheila65847
    sheila65847 patty_c

    Posted

    Hi all

    it took 3 weeks before my 1st night of decent sleep, if that helps anyone. I tend to wake briefly thro the night, sometimes i get up for a cuppa other times I don't. I play the radio quietly and find that distracts me therefore helps. Also i try to walk for an hour each day and I have a banana and warm milk before bed. We are all doing soooo well, not to be taking zops. I am so glad this forum was here for support.

    • patty_c
      patty_c sheila65847

      Posted

      I'm going to try all your tips, they make sense.  Going to line dancing class today, hopefully that helps.  Going to buy bananas too, never heard of that.  It is the panic that I fear the most.  I'm 67 and retired so I really can sleep in if I want, but I try to always be up to make my husband lunch for him to take to work.
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