Zopiclone addiction
Posted , 5 users are following.
I,ve been been taking zopiclone for years, 7.5mg ans happily off the bed.
but i found they gave me a bit of a high if i took them and didnt go straight to bed.
now if i take them, even at high doses such as 20 tablets, there is no high.
Im worried, does zopiclone addiction mean that you have abused the dug so much that you no longer get the high or feel sleepy?
0 likes, 11 replies
karen_57593 natalie34681
Posted
I'm taking zopiclone 7.5mg a night too sleep but I worry I will become dependant on it x
charlie95778 karen_57593
Posted
I have been using Zopiclone sporadically for 3 years, when my sleep pattern is disrupted. I only take it for 2 nights in a row MAX.
using it every day for less than a week is fine but any further than a week your body will learn to expect it and not sleep without it, and the dose will need regular dosage increases to keep the same effect. which is addiction.
Normally what I do to reset my sleep pattern is:- zopiclone one night, then nothing the next night, followed by zopi the next night.
by doing that in the short term it helps with body reset for natural sleep.
Also make sure you are practicing good "bed hygiene" so your brain associates certain things with sleep
karen_57593 charlie95778
Posted
Thanks for the reply I have never had a problem with my sleep until now I came off mitrazapine because it wasn't working but didn't know it had a sedative in it. So now without the sedative I'm suffering with insomnia I'm doing the same I'm trying too take it 3 nites s week only so like maybe Sunday Wednesday n Friday just so I can get some sleep. I didn't take any last night and sleep was very very disturbed but not as bad as before where I just didn't sleep at all. The doctor has also gave me diazapam if I don't take a sleeping tablet I take a diazapam because I don't know if it's anxiety that's stopping me from sleeping because I get anxious looking at my alarm knowing I've got too get thru the next day at work thanks for getting back too me
charlie95778 karen_57593
Posted
Hi
I too came off of a sedating antidepressant that caused a bad period of insomnia.
Thats good that they have given you some diazepam, obviously keep it to a minimum, but anxiety will deffo be playing a part in it. Diazepam is great for taking that anxiety away allowing you to relax. I imagine you probably feel quite tense when you go to bed because youre worried about getting to sleep.
The biggest thing that helped me was to literally give myself a talking too. I tried to convince my brain that it wasnt a big deal if i didnt sleep. a bit like a mantra. the brain is very easily manipulated by the power of suggestion. it may take a few days to really convince yourself but it is possible.
Try and shape your evenings for getting relaxed and ready to sleep. If it takes a bit of diazepam or zopiclone to get there in the short term it wont be a problem. once you feel like you are heading in the right direction, you could try taking half a Zopiclone rather than a full dose.
but the biggest thing is try not to let the insomnia worry or concern you near bed time, try and relax as much as possible.
If that doesnt help there are some other things you could try.
Charlie
karen_57593 charlie95778
Posted
I'm getting a bit better when it started I was very very anxious and obviously that just made it worse. I try not too take too much diazapam I just hope I get through this insomnia period it's been like this for 3 months I do think it's getting slightly better as time goes on. Last night was very disturbed because I didn't take anything but tonight I'm taking a zopiclone. I've tried everything doctors gave me antihistamines but they made me put on a lot of weight n very foggy headed n hard too wake in morning . Zopiclone I'm fine xx
charlie95778 karen_57593
Posted
Im sorry that you are going through such a rough time with the insomnia. 3 months is a very long time to have bad sleep, I can understand why you are using zopiclone tonight.
I think that if you where to deal with the anxiety directly it could give you more chance to reduce the meds.
I HIGHLY recommend EMDR therapy (Eye movement detraumatisation and reprocessing) the brain has a way of traumatising itself when something goes wrong i.e insomnia. Mine manifested as fear or going to bed because i was so concerned I wouldnt sleep. My brain effectively traumatised itself and then 'misfiled" the trauma as something to constantly remind me of, instead of rationalising it. EMDR effectively allows you to refile the anxiety, relieving you of the anxiety.
It can be achieved in just a couple of sessions with someone well qualified with the method.
I have had EMDR a few times for different things and it has really worked for me. The thing I like about it is that you dont have to verbally go into detail, you do all the work following the therapists fingers with your eyes. Though it can be a bit emotional its really worth it!
Anyway, I hope you managed a good nights sleep. 😃
karen_57593 charlie95778
Posted
Oh thanks for that I will defo look into it thank you
charlie95778 natalie34681
Posted
zopiclone taken in the long term will 1) Make you reliant on them for sleep and 2) its effects will weaken overtime, meaning that you will require more of the drug to achieve the effect.
A lot of sleeping tablets will cause a "high" if you resist the sedation, Zopiclone being one such drug.
I am highly concerned for your wellbeing if you are taking 20 tablets at a time! it is incredibly dangerous to take a "system slowing" drug to this excess and it is also highly irresponsible of the prescribing doctor to be allowing this. 20 tablets is equivelant to 150mg of the drug, which is one hell of a dose!
I would highly suggest if this is becoming a problem, that you seek addiction treatment.
Zopiclone when taken in the long term can be VERY damaging.
Miss_Rx natalie34681
Posted
I've been addicted to Zopiclone for over 10 years. This started for me just as you described. it worked to get me to sleep but then I realised it made me feel just nice & calm... unfortunately, it no longer works for sleep. I got do addicted & was overcome with anxiety attacks that only Zopiclone could stop, that I now can't "function normally" without it. I still get the genuine stuff from up but have had to start buying it online as, with anything, I've needed more & more. it's become very expensive, it's destroying my life & those around me who care about, especially those who I keep it hidden from. if I have no Zopiclone at all I will not leave my home... as soon as I have it back, people don't see me "drugged up" or drunk, and think I'm coping fine with the anxiety, when I'm not, I'm using these tablets.
I would urge you to get help. I've been warned that because I've abused them do much. it could take years & years to get a proper sleep pattern again, it has & is affecting my memory & definitely affecting us financially.
it's not been easy to get help locally so I'm looking online for any help I can & tips etc.. I've started reducing, using mindfulness etc... but I think it's going to take some time. I am currently on anywhere from 6 - 14 tablets a day & feel it's killing me. I don't get that "high" so much now, it's like a fix instead because my body is used to it.
I wish you the best of luck & if anyone can help me out of be grateful. thanks
annesj Miss_Rx
Posted
Im so sorry M Rix. These drugs (Z and benzos) can give you all sorts of withdrawal AND interdose w/d. Panicattacks, fear, tinnitus, its a very long list. Its very good you are trying to reduce. Take it slow so you dont get to many withdrawal symtoms.
Miss_Rx natalie34681
Posted
I've been addicted to Zopiclone for over 10 years. This started for me just as you described. it worked to get me to sleep but then I realised it made me feel just nice & calm... unfortunately, it no longer works for sleep. I got do addicted & was overcome with anxiety attacks that only Zopiclone could stop, that I now can't "function normally" without it. I still get the genuine stuff from up but have had to start buying it online as, with anything, I've needed more & more. it's become very expensive, it's destroying my life & those around me who care about, especially those who I keep it hidden from. if I have no Zopiclone at all I will not leave my home... as soon as I have it back, people don't see me "drugged up" or drunk, and think I'm coping fine with the anxiety, when I'm not, I'm using these tablets.
I would urge you to get help. I've been warned that because I've abused them do much. it could take years & years to get a proper sleep pattern again, it has & is affecting my memory & definitely affecting us financially.
it's not been easy to get help locally so I'm looking online for any help I can & tips etc.. I've started reducing, using mindfulness etc... but I think it's going to take some time. I am currently on anywhere from 6 - 14 tablets a day & feel it's killing me. I don't get that "high" so much now, it's like a fix instead because my body is used to it.
I wish you the best of luck & if anyone can help me out of be grateful. thanks