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zopiclone

Posted , 4 users are following.

christine93608
christine93608

have been on zopiclone for 1 week, last night first night off them didnt sleep well and today very anxious..

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • lee08575
    lee08575 christine93608

    Posted

    Christine don't take them any more! They will only get worse! Really bad drugs, I took only for a couple of months and had a full withdrawal meltdown that took me a long time to recover from!

    If you take them take them maybe once every 3 nights, though I wouldn't advise taking them at all dependency comes very quickly and unexpected and no amount of zopiclone can help you sleep through it!

    • christine93608
      christine93608 lee08575

      Posted

      Thanks Lee, i had a tough night not much sleep altho my doctor had given me travel pills to take instead of zopiclone it just wasnt the same. I'm also on sertraline anti depressants. Just one week in and the anxiety is horrid, i just want to feel better!

  • tess33005
    tess33005 christine93608

    Posted

    Christine, do NOT sudddenly stop taking zopiclone.

    Although it is highly addictive, you need a substitute with which to taper off safely.

    You're going to have terrible withdrawal symptoms if you carry on like this.

    Google The Ashton Method.

    You need to be put on diazepam and slowly taper off that.

    I'm a nurse, and I'm also doing a taper. My doctor immediately put me onto diazepam and it's being slowly reduced and I feel fine.

    Please, please, don't go cold turkey.

    Love Tess x

  • tess33005
    tess33005 christine93608

    Posted

    Honestly, you won't feel better if you haven't replaced the zopiclone with prescribed diazepam. You're going to have to trust me on this.

    Lee has said, don't take any more, but she also added that coming off them was hell, which it is UNLESS YOU TAPER CORRECTLY WITH DIAZEPAM.

    I am not encouraging you to get addicted to diazepam - far from it. The idea is to taper with a long-acting medication, and drop a couple of milligrams of it every fortnight.

    Cold turkey is dangerous and horrible.

  • lee08575
    lee08575 christine93608

    Posted

    Tess is right if you can taper off with something else then do it.

    I didn't have that luxury unfortunately I had to do cold turkey. And it was hell, I thought I had lost my mind!

    I just used alcohol to try and level out (it wasn't the best method but it helped a bit)

    I wouldn't wish the withdrawals on anyone so if you can do a taper then do, but whatever you do get off these horrible drugs!

    Good luck!

    • tess33005
      tess33005 lee08575

      Posted

      I remember you saying that beforre, Lee.

      I have been lucky - I found a brilliant doctor who is tapering me with diazepam.

      I really hope you're okay now, Lee.      love Tess.x

    • lee08575
      lee08575 tess33005

      Posted

      Thanks Tess,

      Yep I'm doing a lot better than I was. Still not quite back to 'normal' I have good days but I think more than anything the memory still haunts me and I worry so much I'm just on the precipice ready to fall back! I'm doing everything I can though. Not drinking or taking anything. My Dr. Did put me on Beta Blockers recently which seemed to help a bit but I want to stop them as I feel a little detached...

    • tess33005
      tess33005 lee08575

      Posted

      If you DO fall off the precipice, stay with us. I think you'll be okay. You did an amazingly difficult thing so I'm not surprised that you have residual anxiety.

      In fact, I'm beginning to notice a pattern - people who tapered too quickly, or went cold turkey, seem to have long-term problems with derealisation.

      Must write a thesis on it. Love T

  • paula88407
    paula88407 christine93608

    Posted

    Hi Christine,I was on zopiclone for 3 plus years.have done a switch over to diazpam with a longer half life...2nd night free of the nasty sleeping pills!!I know it's one addiction for another,but the idea is come off very very slowly.i so learnt the hard way I went cold turkey for 3 weeks.had to reinstate was trapped in hell!!thanks too tess above,I did the cross over.SLOWER THE BETTER....you can do this!an were all here to support you Xx

    • tess33005
      tess33005 paula88407

      Posted

      Paula, I'm so glad to read that you're feeling better now.

      Keep going. you can do it.

      love Tess x

  • christine93608
    christine93608

    Posted

    thanks everyone for your comments, i am hanging on in there if only just sometimes. I know i shouldnt have taken the zopiclone even if it was for only a week it feels like from the very first tab i am addicted and to do without is horrid but had 2 nights now and slept better last night. I think i have accepted that i do have a mental health issue and just need to work at things to get better. I have a lot of personal issues which i am struggling with but i do have supportive children who i love and i want to get better for them and my animals. Hopefully the sertaline will help too, it great to have support on here too thanks guys xx
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