Zopiclone long-term, what are side effects/risk?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi all,
I was wondering whether anyone can tell me what the risks are of taking zopiclone in the long-term? I have been taking them, well more specifically one tablet, about once a week for roughly three months (I have in the past cut one tablet, which is 7.5mg, into thirds, so that it "feels like" I am taking one whole one every night - if that makes sense).
I do usually try to avoid taking them at all costs because I'm terrified of dependence, but sometimes when my valarian root tablets don't work or I am feeling particularly restless I don't see any other option.
So I was wondering if anyone can help with A) explaining the risks of using zopiclone in the long-term i.e. every night because I can't seem to find anything proper online, B) any personal stories about using zopiclone for long-term, as well as side effects you've experiences, and possibly C) any other natural remedies that may help.
Many thanks!
0 likes, 9 replies
derek76 Freakingout22
Posted
Does your reduced size dose work for a good nights sleep ?
Freakingout22 derek76
Posted
Yeah it actually does seem to work... I think I had one night once where a quarter didn't quite do the trick because it took me a few hours to get to sleep, but usually it works a treat!
lily65668 Freakingout22
Posted
Not quite sure what the question is. You seem to be saying you're taking a tablet once a week, but asking whether it's safe to take every night.
As a general rule, you're fairly safe taking any sleeping pill on an intermittent basis. It's only when you take it every night without a break that you're likely to run into tolerance problems.
Freakingout22 lily65668
Posted
I thought I made it clear what my three questions are... Yes I myself take ONE a week, but I would like to know what the actual risks would be if I, or anyone else were to take them every night long-term. Everywhere online it says don't take in the long-term but I can't actually find WHY that is, apart from becoming dependent, tolerance etc.
lily65668 Freakingout22
Posted
Well, that IS why! Tolerance to a drug means you have to keep taking more and more of it to get the same effect, so it eventually stops working altogether. There are a lot of people out there who have gone through every known sleeping pill and not one of them works any more.
At the same time, the side-effects don't always fade, so these individuals may suffer brain-fog, daytime drowsiness etc. without reaping any benefit from their sleeping meds. Don't you think that's a sufficient risk to avoid taking them every night?
On the other hand, someone like you taking one a week runs little or no risk of ever developing tolerance. Psychological dependence is a different problem, which depends to a large extent on the individual. Sleeping meds very rarely cause physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop them - unless you've been unwisely self-medicating on benzos like Valium or Xanax to help you sleep, of course.
Incidentally, the same goes for over-the-counter antihistamines, which can be equally effective for mild insomnia. You can also develop tolerance to these if you take them every night. I regularly took small doses of an antihistamine (promethazine in my case) as a sleep aid for 40 years without ever developing tolerance. In my mid-20s I developed severe insomnia after a 14-month period working an impossible experimental shift system (as a nurse) and it persisted for the rest of my working life. I would take promethazine for a maximum of three nights in a row to get some decent sleep, then tough it out for at least a week. Much the same as you're doing with zopiclone. In all that time it remained effective without ever having to increase the dose - which I'm sure wouldn't have been the case if I'd taken it without interruption. Happily, my insomnia disappeared on retirement (a message in there, I feel) but it occasionally resurfaces on "nervous" nights, and I still find promethazine works.
Bottom line: never be tempted to start taking zopiclone every night. That's the slippery slope. Oh, and I assume you get basic blood tests, including liver and kidney function, at regular intervals. Long-term use can occasionally cause toxicity in these areas, but usually only if you have an underlying problem, and this isn't likely at your levels in any case.
Gareth51625 Freakingout22
Posted
I wouldn't take Zopiclone every night. Some people have experienced withdrawal after only one week of nightly use after stopping. There's a reason doctors are unwilling to prescribe longer than a week or two and it's because people can become addicted. Zopiclone is not a "Benzodiazepine" like Diazepam or Temazepam etc but it works on similar GABA receptors that Benzodiazepines do. These drugs including Zopiclone increase GABA. An increase in GABA relaxes the brain, reduces anxiety and slows down the thought process so it's much easier to fall asleep. Alcohol also works in a similar way. Before Benzodiazepines became popular Barbiturates were the go to pills for sleeping and reducing anxiety but these were found to be even more addictive. I've personally taken Zopiclone, Zolpidem and Diazepam. The latter when I was in the mental health unit at the hospital to relax me. The other two for sleep. I find Zopiclone to be more effective. Zolpidem only keeps me asleep for 2 or 3 hours.
daz84596 Freakingout22
Posted
Good information from Gareth there.
Indeed, the main method of action for this sleeping aid is to attach to the GABA receptors in the brain, so that when GABA attaches to the receptors, it has a much stronger effect than it otherwise would. That sounds good, doesn't it?
Unfortunately, it's not. I like to think of it as driving a car in first gear; if you put the gas pedal to the floor in first gear, sure, you will go faster, very quickly. But what happens if you KEEP flooring that pedal, in first gear? Well, you wear out the engine. This is what happens to the GABA receptors; they become that 'overworked' for want of a better phrase, that they ultimately end up being destroyed.
No (or a low number of) GABA receptors results in low GABA activity in the brain. And let me tell you, as someone who was seriously, seriously messed up by this type of drug, when this happens, you have a world of problems. Not only can you not sleep (and I'm talking an absolute vicious insomnia that just will not quit), but you have racing thoughts going through your mind that you simply cannot stop. The latter point is because one of GABA's jobs is to put the brakes on intrusive thoughts - you'll have a thought go through your mind that you know is silly, you dismiss it, and before you know it, you've forgotten it. That's GABA at work. Without GABA, all these thoughts just don't want to go. They'll rattle around all day, poking, prodding, begging to be examined and scrutinized: and usually, people give in, which causes the problem to grow. This is all because, put simply, the brain lacks the chemicals it needs to be free of them. And they aren't pleasant thoughts, your brain knows exactly what you fear and it will present you with it. Thanks, brain!
I really don't want to scare you, I want to inform you; you asked for this information after all! Overall, you really, really, REALLY don't want to be in this situation.
I believe that answers part a) and b) of your question. Now, the really meaty part - c) - natural remedies. This is an area I can talk about all day with great enthusiasm, because I can truly, sincerely say that my life has been saved by natural remedies and brain training/meditation.
My GABA receptors were that damaged I couldn't sleep for days on end and had terrible,terrible intrusive thoughts and anxiety that, put bluntly, I could have been sectioned for. I sought out alternative help and found an expert who prescribed me anxiety destroying/sleep inducing amino acids/herbs/vitamins, and brain rebuilding techniques that healed me. I have messaged you the details. Please feel free to ask questions here, that goes for anyone else reading this 😃
chantelle92860 daz84596
Posted
hi i think i have exacly wat your talking about i was on zopiclone for 2 years 7.5mg at first i took it when i had hangovers which deveoloped into me taking it for anxiety then i started taking it everyday i never got them my mate ust to get them for me of the streets iv come totally of them jow and take a diazapam a night and will eventuallt come of them i am struggling with really bad intrusive harm thoughts that i have found a therapist whos calling me tommorow please if you could message me to help me get ouf of this situation please x
nick15746 daz84596
Posted
Hi there
could you please message me the details on your natural sleep remedies?
many thanks
Nick