Zopiclone withdrawal

How many mg of Phenergan do you take and have you been on them very long. I've just got some 10mg tablets I took 2 seemed to help. I can't do Ashton plan as it's based on gradually reducing your dose, and as I only take quarter of a tablet of zopiclone wouldn't work for me. The tablets so tiny impossible to cut them down any more.i desperately want to get off them who know what long term damage they are doing and very addictive. Everyone is different and if you're happy on them I respect that,  i wish I never started them but just my view 

Thank you for your respect and honesty. You'll be ok. I'm crossing everything that can be crossed for you and then some. Our lives matter.. Just a hug away. Lollipop 💛

Thank you hopefully eventually get off these awful tablets was told they weren't addictive. I can totally understand why some people don't want to come off them as insomnia awful as well I just don't want to be on them forever if I can help it.

You won't be on them forever. I got off a benzo 8 weeks ago after 23 years, it was prescribed and I too was not warned of the side effects and dangers. x

Well done to you. Can I ask how you managed to wean off zopiclone, and did you swap to diazapam in order to do it? The phenergan are working but I'm mindful that don't want to get addicted to them. Really think gp's should be more aware of how quickly people can be come addicted.

I I tapered off clobazam , still a benzodiazepine, not zopiclone.

Clobazam was rx for intractable epilepsy several years ago. I weaned off it some 9 weeks ago according to the Ashton manual. I did not crossover to diazepam.

Can I suggest you join one or more of the benzo withdrawal support groups online forums as with respect drs do not understand about the importance of a slow and safe taper . In US drs tend to expect patients to ct thus putting them at great risk. Since coming off this drug' my  mood has improved . I have still to get thru the withdrawal it is no walk in the park. I would never have agreed to go on this drug had I been told about the side effects especially when it is prescribed taken long term 

There is also the stigma of being labelled an addict attached to these drugs as has already been proven by the comments made by someone else on this forum.

Good luck in getting off this stuff it is a very wise decision.x

You won't be on them forever, others have got off them so can you.

Very wrong for us to be labelled as "addicts" haven't seen that ,we all started them originally to improve our health and were mis informed about how addictive they could be. My gp has now retired so hopefully if I see another one in the practice might get more help. I am tapering slowly as per your advice been doing it for about 7 weeks, if I can't swop to diazepam am now aware that zopiclone is available in smaller dosed tablet so will request that so I can further reduce the dose .

Thanks for the advice it obviously takes some time to wean off these things but the withdrawal symptoms are pretty tough. Least people like you give me hope that it can be done!

Hi I cannot advise on the actual tapering regime except to say that it has to be structured and slow to keep you safe.

The tapering regime is worked out according to the half life of the drug, how long you have been in it and the dose. The Ashton Manual is the guide that more and more drs are following. It is usally a 105 reduction every 2 weeks but u really need to read the relevant part of the naual. professor Crystal Heather Ashton is  professor of pharmacology based in London and she is quite famous. You must not updose or reinstate because that not only prolongs the tapering process but you risk re kindling. I can guarantee that you will start to feel better in time .The gaba receptors need time to recover their functioning . Drs if they are good drs will not offer u another drug to 'help' with withdrawal because you then have to withdraw from that drug!!!!

Supplements are contraindicated with benzos and esp in withdrawal because they also act on gaba receptors. Alcohol is contraindicated for several reasons it is liquid benzos..

sorry typos should be 10% every 2 weeks

Thanks I did look at the Ashton schedule, can't really follow it as the tablets are tiny and can't cut them into any smaller amounts than the 1/4 tablets I'm taking. Think it's really aimed at people taking much larger doses than me. I will see if I can switch to diazepam as recommended by her , as they are longer lasting so withdrawal symptoms meant to easier also as tablets larger it's possible to decrease the dose.. I don't drink but think will take the anti-histamine some nights as does help with the insomnia but certainly wouldn't take any other medication.

Just have to try to gradually cut down on the nights I take them. As unfortunately Ashton method not really practical on such a low dose. Appreciate the advice anyway. 

That's ok. Have u googled videos of water titration method of microdosing  benzos etc

I did google that the amount of tablet is so little think it would disappear if I tried to crush it then dilute it in water. It looks ver involved, thanks anyway. Will try get appt at the doctors tomorrow

I have 7.5mg tablets that I cut into quarters so roughly equates to 2mg ? Used to take half tablet but managed to cut down to a quarter. The Ashton plan only seems to work if you are take larger doses that can be cut down. It's initial getting to sleep that's the problem, think it it's psychological fact of taking a tablet that enables me to sleep, as still wake up after couple hours but can get back to sleep again. Probably only ever get about 5 or 6 hours sleep but better than nothing!