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Zopiclone withdrawal and diazepam

Posted , 13 users are following.

nikki30670
nikki30670

Hi. I've posted before but not about this specifically.

I'm in a real mess with medication and suffering with terrible anxiety and depression.

I've been taking Zopiclone for 6 weeks. Initially 3.75 and it helped but then stopped working. So doc said go up to 7.5. I've been on that for two weeks and barely getting two hours sleep.

Crisis team had put me on diazepam in July as was struggling with adapting to meds which I'm now meant to be reducing to change.

I need off the Zopiclone as I've been dry retching everyday since mid August and increasingly getting metallic and burning sensation in mouth which worsens as the day goes on.

My gp has set up a plan for me to taper off using diazepam. Last night I followed the plan and took 4mg diazepam with 3.75 Zopiclone.

Today I tried to rest and came round in a nightmarish panic with my head burning. 

I tried to stop the Zopiclone cold turkey last week (but using only 4mg diazepam) and ended up in sheer terror on the second night, unable to stay still, with thoughts of self harm, cold numb feet, and the same burning head.

Ended up with an ambulance here and a gp coming out. She said restart the Zopiclone.

But I want off it. 

Questions are:

Am I experiencing withdrawal after just one night on half dose?

Is it going to get better?

Anyone else had those kinds of withdrawals from Zopiclone?

I also need reassurance that upping my diazepam dose to get through this and while I'm sorting out medication (could be months) be ok? I know they're addictive. I'll be on @16mg a day. My gp is supervising and telling me I will eventually get off all this stuff. 

I'm scared. 

1 like, 84 replies

84 Replies

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  • michael63274
    michael63274 nikki30670

    Posted

    You can't be having withdrawals after one night or one missed dose.  I think it's in your head and your so worried your freaking yourself out.  4mg of diazepam is a very low dose.  I've been on 10mg and went cold turkey because I ran out and didn't have any major withdrawals expect for not sleeping.  I really think you have got this so worked up in your mind.  You really shouldn't be having withdrawals with the low dosages your taking.  Obviously talk to your doctor and see what he thinks. I'm going to start walking before bed and see if that will help.  I've developed a tolerance for the diazepam and it's taking to much to help me sleep so I'm stopping that.  Going back to basics and try exercising and maybe some sleepy tea.   I went 5 days without sleep last week. It sucks. It's 3:35 and it does look like sleep will get me tonight.  Hope you can get some rest. Good luck. 

  • claire1610
    claire1610 nikki30670

    Posted

    Join the club. I just spent the weekend getting off Zopiclone. It was not nice but feeling so much better today. The anxiety is a killer. What my psychiatrist did was take me off it completely. I have been given 3 Valium for three days. 2 for three days and then 1 for three days. I scared too. I just want to be normal. I highly recommend you see a psychiatrist and not a GP. They know more about this stuff. I was doing fine on my mess until I self sabotaged with getting on to Zopiclone which I know is addictive. So I am back to square one. Hang in there it will last but PLEASE go and see a specialist. This disorder we hAve is not for the faint hearted and I believe we are actually the strongest people to endure what we do. Good luck angel. Xxxx
  • shirley39147
    shirley39147 nikki30670

    Posted

    I had been taking 2 7.5 zopiclone for 8 years, Because of the oiode crisis most pain and sllep aides are impossible to obtain. I have b een left to go cold turkey and it has been 4 months of hell.
    • david34720
      david34720 shirley39147

      Posted

      did you develop any respiratory problems shirley?i think i have got some problem thi sand trying to get info cause my doc is useless

  • teresa_93726
    teresa_93726 nikki30670

    Posted

    Oh god... This is hell on earth
    • teresa_93726
      teresa_93726

      Posted

      I tried to get off them myself by just dropping a bit... After doctor bullied me... Is there anyone out there.. He's limiting my supply of duazapam to help me.. He won't give me any more so I'm just surviving on 1mg at mo but I'm worse today.... I've called an addiction team but I'm struggling like hell and scared like hell..

    • david34720
      david34720 teresa_93726

      Posted

      Heyy i am sorry to hear about your symptoms, BUT i do feel your pain!!! i have been very sick past 2 months and getting worse. going to emergency number of times and they just do the same tests over and over and find nothing. I came across and an article and it sounds like a very good possibility I have this. I am writing to you because you have had this twice and desperate for info. I am wondering what your symptoms were, how did you find out what is it, and how long did you have it? I am an healthy adult and here are my symptoms I have had, I have sore throat for a couple days, followed by severe fatigue and then, sore throat went away in a few days which might have been a cold which instigated this. I had respiratory problems, shortness of breath hyperventilating, as a couple weeks progressed I can't walk much farther than a block now without being out of breath. I have numbness in my hands feet that comes and goes, pins and needles in fingers tips, head pressure, feeling light headed, disorientated, nauseous, hard to focus, black pooh for like 3 weeks and i dont see it now, my toe nails seemed to be effected. I get anxiety now and some other things I never had. Any info I would very grateful, as doctors here in toronto seem clueless or dont care, sorry for the long message..just curious if you have some of these symptoms?

  • denyse07327
    denyse07327 nikki30670

    Posted

    what i did when it was getting unbearable is took on a psychiatrist and they help you with medication.  its nothing about why you r like that etc but she will prescribe the right medication so that you will enjoy life again!!!!
    • teresa_93726
      teresa_93726 denyse07327

      Posted

      I'm trying like hell to get referred to someone who knows what their doing. They've all said its gunna be weeks till I get any help.

    • teresa_93726
      teresa_93726

      Posted

      My doc has f****d me up big time
  • david34720
    david34720 nikki30670

    Posted

    Heyy i am sorry to hear about your symptoms, BUT i do feel your pain!!! i have been very sick past 2 months and getting worse. going to emergency number of times and they just do the same tests over and over and find nothing. I came across and an article and it sounds like a very good possibility I have this. I am writing to you because you have had this twice and desperate for info. I am wondering what your symptoms were, how did you find out what is it, and how long did you have it? I am an healthy adult and here are my symptoms I have had, I have sore throat for a couple days, followed by severe fatigue and then, sore throat went away in a few days which might have been a cold which instigated this. I had respiratory problems, shortness of breath hyperventilating, as a couple weeks progressed I can't walk much farther than a block now without being out of breath. I have numbness in my hands feet that comes and goes, pins and needles in fingers tips, head pressure, feeling light headed, disorientated, nauseous, hard to focus, black pooh for like 3 weeks and i dont see it now, my toe nails seemed to be effected. I get anxiety now and some other things I never had. Any info I would very grateful, as doctors here in toronto seem clueless or dont care, sorry for the long message..just curious if you have some of these symptoms?

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