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Zopiclone Withdrawal - is this normal?

Posted , 7 users are following.

Glenn2810
Glenn2810

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this is normal. I have been on Zopiclone for aboyt 4 years now. My dose was 7.5 but for the last month and a bit i've been taking 3.75. I take the zopiclone along with diazapam,phenergan,zopiclone and mirtazapine. I have been on most of those for four years. I have suffered two serious relapses in that time. I've been back on my feet now for about six months so I thought I would get my dose of zopiclone halved. But I feel ill. I feel sick. My sleep is not restful sleep, I have the most vivid nightmares and I just feel awful. It seems like the last six months have meant nothing as I feel so awful and down. I am studying with the Open Universty and prior to my dose being changed I was on track with it. But since my dose has been changed. I have no desire to do anything? Is this normal, I did not realise that just halving the dose would affect me this badly? Please tell me I am not alone in feeling like this

0 likes, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • katz31
    katz31 Glenn2810

    Posted

    What you are experiencing is withdrawal

    Symptoms from halving your zopiclone

    Dose. Did your DR change your dose or

    Did you decide on your own?

    Normally when you stop cold turkey you

    Can expect the symptoms to last 5-7 days,

    If you wean off gradually when you drop a

    Bit you will feel some withdrawals untill you

    Stabilize, then drop again untill you are on

    None, weaning will stop you feeling the full

    Force of withdrawals but it obviously takes

    Longer than just stopping.

    Good luck

    Kate.

    • Glenn2810
      Glenn2810 katz31

      Posted

      Hi Kate,

      Thanks for the reply, my sleep has been like that since the GP halved my dose. Whilst I did expect some symptoms of having the dose changed. I did not expect it to be so severe and for so long? I've been on the changed dose for approx 5weeks now.

  • katz31
    katz31 Glenn2810

    Posted

    Your sleep will be disturbed for a while but

    Will return to normal after a couple of weeks.

  • smcg3182
    smcg3182 Glenn2810

    Posted

    I experienced the same symptoms when I was coming off zopiclone. Horrible nightmares, lack of sleep, shaking, nausea and headache.

    It lasted for one horrible week, but I was determined to come off it after reading about it on here. I'd been on 7.5mg for ten yrs.

    The horrid withdrawal has no gone. Ii feel more lucid and clear headed. My confidence has improved.

    I do still experience disrupted sleep, but I'm learning to cope with it.

    Zopiclone is, in my view, a dangerous drug that causes more problems than it solves.

    Good luck to you.

    • Glenn2810
      Glenn2810 smcg3182

      Posted

      Thank you. I'm just worried because I've been feeling horrid for a month now and I really can't take anymore of feeling like this sad
  • ruth93165
    ruth93165 Glenn2810

    Posted

    Everything that you have described can be withdrawal symptoms from zoplicone. Are you doing this under a doctors care? That's the best way. I would go more slowly if you really want to get off of it, and consider increasing one of your other meds.
    • Glenn2810
      Glenn2810 ruth93165

      Posted

      Yeah this was done under Dr's orders. The reason being I am on so much medication and I felt I was in such a good place so we made the choice to just halve my dose of zopiclone. The problem being because I am on so much other medication, I think my GP would be hesitant to put me on any new medication or increase my medication. All I know is, I feel terrible. I feel sick, so so so tired and irritable
    • ruth93165
      ruth93165 Glenn2810

      Posted

      I would encourage you to be honest with your doctor about how you are feeling. If you come off too fast you might just end up back on it. Maybe try something natural like melatonin or an amino acid supplement
    • Glenn2810
      Glenn2810 ruth93165

      Posted

      Thankyou Ruth. I am glad I stumbled across this site. It is giving me the hope that I will manage to overcome this little blip!
    • ruth93165
      ruth93165 Glenn2810

      Posted

      You're welcome! I had a serious addiction to zoplicone and I have been off of it for 3 months so if I can do it so can you.

    • smcg3182
      smcg3182 Glenn2810

      Posted

      Stick with it Glenn.. You can do it. Ice been off it for about 5weeks now and I don't regret it.

      Everyone is different so speak to your doctor b4 substituting one medication for another. Good luck.

    • sarah03222
      sarah03222 ruth93165

      Posted

      Hi ruth just wandering how you got off zopiclone iam on 15mg a day 2 tablets 7.5 I take at lunch time 1 and the other about 4.o.clock I sleep fine but take mirtazapine on night.any advice would be grateful x
  • mary_70540
    mary_70540 Glenn2810

    Posted

    If it was me going through that again the advice I give to myself is ,"hang in there the worst is over " after a month your well on your way ,well done you have done really well ,good luck ,chin up and positive thinking x

  • mary_70540
    mary_70540 Glenn2810

    Posted

    Also can I just say ,you obviously had sleep problems before taking zopiclone so chances are you will still have problems with sleep,but hopefully the anxiety and the nightmares will go ,that in itself made things so much easier ,good luck
  • sarah03222
    sarah03222 Glenn2810

    Posted

    Hi Glen you should be feeling better by now.as you are still on zopiclone and valium you are also on mirtazapine what dose are you on cause 45 mg should help you sleep
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