Zopiclone withdrawal

[OliviaMorgan28]

Has anyone on here come off zopiclone I am on 7.5 MG and have been for 10 years now seen mental health nurse who wants me to me off it and has suggested alternative nights take a 3.75 but i am scared I suffer really bad anxiety and panic and don't know if this is the right way to taper off or should it be a longer process I changed anti depressants 2 years ago and the withdrawal was horrific for 2 weeks and can't face that again any advise welcome

[Xene]

Hi Olivia, I can relate to how you’re feeling. I’ve been left on Zopiclone for about 10 years without any clinical intervention.. Then all of a sudden they’re now concerned about the possible links to dementia etc. in the over 65’s. Quite honestly I think I was taking it every night as a placebo as it didn’t help me get to sleep. I think you would do better very slowly weaning yourself off it but be prepared for sleep rebound issues. Good luck 🤞

[OliviaMorgan28 in reply to Xene]

Thank you that is exactly my story 10 years no intervention and now all of a sudden want me off them because of my age 72 and I am the same they don't help me anymore to get to sleep I take at midnight and never get to sleep till 3 or 4 am but I am zonked coming down for food in the night but I don't even remember the next day till I see the biscuit wrappers on the side of the bed so how slowly did you wean off please

[Xene in reply to OliviaMorgan28]

Oh my word, I could be your twin.😂 I don’t have an internal clock anymore, day is night and night is day and I just sleep when I can whatever time I can.🤷‍♀️ Originally I was on 10.80mgs a night for years then I decided to wean myself off and asked a gp to cut my script to 3.75mgs a couple of years ago but never got off it. However I recently went three days with only two and a half hours sleep after a long haul flight and when I got home was really ill with either flu, Covid, who knows. So now I’m on day 15 without any Zopiclone so who knows who cares what will happen. I won’t be able to go back on it as a gp has removed it from my repeat prescription without any consultation, typical.🤷‍♀️ I can’t really advise you as we’re all genetically different but obviously you need to do it very slowly with the help of your gp, if they’re up to it. 🤞

[OliviaMorgan28]

Aw thank you for your reply good luck in the future

[Chinadoll81]

Was anxious as my zopiclone has been reduced to the 3.75 after bad bout of pneumonia (I have COPD). Glad to say having.no difficulties with change to lower dose but think I would struggle if it was stopped altogether. Blessings and love x

[OliviaMorgan28]

Thank you